Thoughts on capitalism...

Linda Morales said:Look, if you're sitting on a mountain of cash and want to drop it all on a house upfront, sure, that’s one way to play it.
But let me hit you with a reality check: if that's the house you live in by yourself, it isn't an asset—it's a damn liability.
And seriously, you’ve gotta double-check the tax laws in whatever state you're in (because those rules shift faster than you can blink) before you make any massive moves.
In some places (I think Tony Blair mentioned something similar back in the day in the USA), if you sell a house you bought outright with cash, they'll come knocking for capital gains tax that could eat up something like 40% of your profit.
But, get this—if you take out a mortgage and then remortgage it to the max before selling it just to pay off the loan (meaning you technically walk away with zero profit), you might dodge that 40% hit entirely.
Usually, the truly wealthy folks don't actually "own" anything in their own names to avoid tax evasion traps; everything they have is tucked away inside various corporations or shielded through other clever setups.

Linda Morales said:Exactly. Once you’ve paid off your mortgage, you’re financially independent. They can't touch you. And that’s what scares them, because if you don't owe anyone a dime, you're a free man by their standards.

And truly free people aren't useful to any government in this world, because then there’s nobody left to enslave. A person without debt is like a serf who finally broke free and gave the middle finger to his former feudal lord.

So naturally, they try to skin you alive—that 40% tax hit is basically revenge because they can't force you to work for them through credit or some other shady scheme.

But look, if we realize the trap exists—if we see that the ultimate goal is to have most of your working life spent paying someone else off—then there has to be a way to screw this SHIT SLAVE SYSTEM. There is, but it’s some complicated, ancient Voodoo-hoodoo science. That's why lawyers make bank while the rich just get richer. But if they can pull it off, damn it, then so can I. I wasn't born yesterday...

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:How incredibly naive you are...😲 🤣

It’s like claiming it doesn’t matter whether you own your home or you're just renting—as long as there's a roof over your head, right?
When you're a tenant, you're essentially just paying off your landlord's mortgage.
Some people have truly had their brains washed by capitalist propaganda...😉

goldengull3 said:I don't see much difference between working for Matt or Hans if they're both just going to use my labor to buy some massive yacht. At the end of the day, I only care about two things: getting paid my salary, seeing the tax money go to the government, and making sure they actually respect the employment contract. That's it.

Capitalism? Sure, it’s great. You work, you earn, you spend. If you actually think you're some big shot, you start a company—and if you make it, you're cruising around in a yacht, a private jet, and a Lincoln limousine. If capitalism weren't working, socialism wouldn't have collapsed. People would be fleeing the USA for Cuba, not the other way around. I guess.

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:If goldengull3 is right about being self-sufficient and standing on his own two feet, then that’s the peak of happiness—there’s nothing better than that.
🙄
Haven't you bothered to read the last few posts from Jason Wells4 and Linda Morales on this page?
goldengull3, people who actually LIVE under capitalism have provided some sharp observations regarding the reality of the system here, but apparently, you—someone who has NEVER lived under capitalism—think you know better.🙄 🤣

goldengull3 said:Look, I (like the average Canadian, Czech, or Slovak) live in a much more realistic version of capitalism than any of you outsiders. Our capitalism lacks all those efficient safety nets. Honestly, I'd go as far as saying it’s pretty brutal. Especially during that "primitive accumulation" phase back in the '90s—though things have shifted since then. I'm excluding those living in the USA, though, because by definition, the USA isn't a welfare state (by choice).

If people hate capitalism so much, they can always pick Cuba or North Korea as their ideal diaspora destinations. I’m really curious why nobody from there ever posts here.

Let me repeat: capitalism is great. If I don't like my boss, I find another one. If I sell a project, I hunt for a percentage. I don't have arbitrary wage coefficients forcing me to be equal to some slacker in my firm. If I don't like being managed, I just start my own company.

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Haven't you realized yet that you're actually living in a state of servitude?
It might take a few more years for things to fully crystallize before you see it clearly.🙂
Besides, if everyone decides to start their own business, who is left to actually do the work?

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:I'm asking you again... I didn't say Mexico was a socialist country just because people migrate to the USA en masse?
I've already told you... look at the bottom line if that's all you care about; capitalism is undeniably effective.👍

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Clearly, you've never worked for a major corporation, so you don't understand how office politics stifles optimal productivity, forcing workers to compensate with extra effort...

Vicky said:Look, I—along with pretty much any average Canadian, Czech, or Slovak—actually live through a much more raw version of capitalism than any of you guys living abroad. Our system doesn't have all those fancy, efficient safety nets to cushion the blow. Honestly, it’s pretty brutal. Especially back during that "primitive accumulation" phase in the 90s; things are different now, sure, but still. I'm making an exception for people in the USA, though, because let's be real—the US isn't a social welfare state by design. They don't want it to be.

And if people have such a massive problem with capitalism, they can always just pick Cuba or North Korea as their dream destination. I'm dying to know why nobody from those places ever chimes in here.

Seriously, I'll say it again—capitalism works. If I don't like my boss, I find a new one. If I sell a project, I grab my cut. I don't have some arbitrary wage coefficient forcing me to earn the same as the guy doing nothing at my firm. And if I hate being managed? Fine, I'll start my own company.

mistyhound2 said:Good grief, what on earth are you raving about? It sounds incredibly simple when you're sitting there in your armchair in some small town in the Midwest—or wherever it is you're hiding—but reality isn't quite that straightforward...

I'm genuinely curious: how can you claim we don't live in a "real" capitalist country? You've been pushing this narrative for at least two or three years now.

goldengull3 said:I have infinitely more options now than I did before 1990. When it comes to picking a career, a car, where to live, or even just deciding on a vacation spot... the choices are endless. It’s a different world.

Look, like I said—if you're actually interested in knowing what's up, in, on, or under... well, that’s pretty much all there is to it.

Look, not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. I'm the first to admit it—I work for someone else. If I don't like my boss, maybe I'll just find a different one. Simple as that.

Where you just start from scratch every single time.

Well, just ask the Mexicans. They should probably step up their production levels. If the Irish could pull it off, I guess they can too.

So, if capitalism is such a miracle, why isn't it working wonders over in Mexico? I guess there's a catch somewhere.

So, you got any other ideas? Cuba? Where exactly are they stealing used toothbrushes? I mean, what are people actually posting about on travel forums? Give me something concrete.

Of course, Cuba isn't the answer.
I mean, is Mexico really any better than Cuba? Especially under capitalism, I guess.
Look, society evolves. Part of that evolution is becoming higher quality and more equitable, but that only works if everyone actually steps up and does their part.

It’s the same story with me, whether I'm at work or sitting in class.
At work today: supervisor screws up, and because of her mistake, we all have to redo everything. We’re missing lunch, too. And the worst part? Total silence. Nobody says a damn word.
Just me.
And then somehow, I’m the one being difficult.
I could switch jobs, I guess. But what’s really the point? It’s the same story everywhere you go.
Just to be clear, the supervisor doesn't actually have to do anything extra even though she messed up. So I guess it’ll be the same story next time too. Who cares, right?

That’s why I’m heading to school.
Just another example from school.
So, on last week's midterm, they somehow managed to include two questions from a chapter we haven't even covered yet. Total mistake, I guess.
So I’m sitting here watching... half an hour passes and absolutely nothing. Forty-five minutes, and still total silence from everyone. Not a word.
In the end, I'm telling you, even the instructor was like, "My bad, you don't actually have to answer these questions—just cross them out."

That’s just the capitalist mindset for you. You work, you stay quiet, and you don't rock the boat. You can't afford the drama when you've got a mortgage, car payments, and credit card debt hanging over your head.
How exactly is that supposed to be great?
Are we mice, or are we people?

goldengull3 said:1. Why isn't America a "true capitalist country"?
2. I'm getting an education. It's cheaper here than elsewhere.
3. Offer me a different social model then. Personally, I much prefer capitalism over that self-managed socialism crap I saw firsthand (back when I did two years of internship work at OAR during high school).

I mean, for all you people living abroad who claim to hate capitalism, why the hell did you move to a capitalist country in the first place if you had the choice? 😕

mistyhound2 said:Regarding point one, don't make me laugh.🤣

mistyhound2 said:And for point two, are you whining now? Of course you are. Typical.

mistyhound2 said:As for point three, who said I don't like capitalism? I left on my own accord; nobody forced my hand. In fact, just a few days ago, I was appointed "managing director."😁 So, I have a job, a house, two cars, and my own firm... where else would I go? It isn't exactly the utopia you seem to imagine, though.

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Here’s another example, goldengull3.
A friend of mine works as a software developer.
She’s at a decent firm with good pay—but she’s pulling so much unpaid overtime that it’s actually wrecking her nerves and her health.
Under the laws here in the States, IT firms aren't required to pay tech specialists for overtime.
Technically, you have the right to refuse—they can't fire you for it—but when everyone else is grinding away silently, you end up being the black sheep.
And they’ll likely start nitpicking every tiny mistake just to find some "legitimate" reason to let you go.
So, she finds a new job at a different company; the salary is lower, but there's no overtime.
Fast forward a few months, and the new crew is pulling overtime too—now she’s stuck in the exact same spot, just with a smaller paycheck.

goldengull3 said:I mean, for those of you living abroad who claim to hate capitalism... why did you even move to a capitalist country if you had a choice in the first place?

Gary Cox72 said:If things are that bad over there, just tell her to hurry up and move to America. If nothing else, IT specialists make decent money. 😉

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:That’s just the capitalist mindset for you—keep your head down, work hard, and don't rock the boat. You don't want trouble when you've got a mortgage, car payments, and credit card debt hanging over your head.
How exactly is that supposed to be a good thing?
Are we meant to be mice, or actual human beings?