Wild Capitalism

stormyeagle65 said:When you look at North Korea, unemployment sits at 5% and the crime rate is just 2%.
They don't even need five different types of packaging for their goods.
But my uncle is out there doing his best to push those wild stories about how people in Korea are eating each other or using human beings instead of traffic lights to direct cars. I mean, honestly, what do they expect? Since the country has a nuke, people can't exactly figure out how to export "excellence" or democracy when they're dealing with empty bank accounts and nothing but dreams of a better life.

Oh, really? So what, everyone is lying? Like, Americans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese—everyone without exception is just making it up, but you're the only one who knows the one true, perfect truth? 🙂Got any actual sources for that?

Melissa Rivera5 said:So, what's your actual point here? Are you suggesting we should just raise kids to be total savages who step over anyone in their way, with zero morals or respect for anyone?

No, I mean that the Catholic Church uses Christianity just to manipulate people through guilt trips and the whole "hope for heaven" thing once they die...

History shows us that a functional version of socialism can actually work—just look at how it was successfully implemented back in the USA before its creators eventually phased it out. On the flip side, you have highly effective capitalism, much like what we see in Denmark, where they’ve managed to maintain incredibly high employment rates. Ultimately, whether any system succeeds or fails boils down to one thing: the quality of the dialogue between politicians and the public, coupled with the direction set by the world's sole superpower. If the communication breaks down, the results are bound to be just as messy.

Kyle Nelson2 said:I'm with you on this...
Christianity basically gutted the West because it prioritizes faith over actual reason, which was pretty much set in stone after the Council of Nicaea.
They started portraying priests as "shepherds" back around the 3rd century, and it hasn't stopped since (and if they're the shepherds, what does that make the rest of us?)

In a place like rural America, where those old traditions still run deep, you really see the damage it does...

Even before Christianity really took off, the ancient world was already spiraling—we're talking massive social upheaval, a huge surge in mysticism, all those Eastern cults moving in, and a slow economic death spiral, etc.
Look, regardless of what anyone wants to believe—it’s just an objective fact—Christianity is what actually saved the West.
The Greco-Roman world basically just waltzed right through the front door—or maybe more like a side entrance—of Christian theology anyway.
That Nigerian council was basically just a formality to rubber-stamp the alliance between Church and State... which, let’s be real, was pretty much inevitable given how things were playing out back then.

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The whole "priest as a shepherd" thing started popping up around the 3rd century—and honestly, it hasn't budged since. Makes you wonder, though... if they’re the shepherds, what exactly does that make the rest of us? Since we’re such a deeply Catholic country with those old-school rural roots, it shows—and honestly, it’s working against us.

It was pretty much inevitable that hierarchy would seep into the Church... but let's not forget where we started—that original, egalitarian Christian vibe. At the end of the day, the whole concept of human value and equality actually stems from those Christian roots.

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Melissa Rivera5 said:I mean, I guess there isn't much to say about it... maybe? Just feels like things are already laid out.

I mean, honestly? It’s just... everything. Everything about it. I guess there isn't really a better way to put it. kaže: Thank God we have capitalism out here in the West. I mean, people say things, but at least there isn't widespread starvation... though I guess seeing folks living in cardboard boxes in Detroit kind of complicates that whole idea, doesn't it? Maybe.

😁 Man, listen... under capitalism, yeah, some people struggle while others are loaded. But under communism? Nobody has anything. I mean, if you want actual proof, just look at what happened in Venezuela or North Korea. It’s pretty much a given. 🙂

Not even one... Honestly, the economy in America is doing great. You know how I know? Because people only bother getting together for protests or referendums when they're obsessing over who's sleeping with who or some other social stuff.🙂 I guess most people just don't care about the big stuff. Like, they'll overlook massive political corruption, having hundreds of thousands of people out of work, or our school system basically falling apart... even though we're dealing with some of the worst corruption levels in the West. It’s kind of wild. The conclusion? Apparently, none of that actually matters to anyone. 🙂 Why would I bother?

I guess I'm just saying... maybe we should look at this differently? Like, if you really think about how capitalism works in the US, things aren't always as black and white as they seem. I don't know, it's just a thought. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but it feels like there's more to the story.

I didn't even mention capitalism, though... I was just talking about communism. I mean, honestly, not a single country under a communist regime actually made it—they all just collapsed. But hey, I guess you don't see the issue there. And then somehow I'm the one with the brainwashed mind while you're over here seeing everything perfectly objectively. 🙂

I guess I don't really know how to put this, but... maybe? It’s just one of those things, I suppose.

I mean... honestly? It’s just all too much. Everything feels totally extra lately. kaže: I mean, honestly? I’d much rather just keep the money I actually earn instead of having someone else step in and take a cut of my hard work. Just feels more right, I guess.

Your own money? Under communism, you don't really have "your" money. It all belongs to everyone. And if you somehow manage to earn more through your own hard work, they’ll just take it away from you—you might even end up in court just for being too successful. I mean, who are you to decide what you deserve?

And how do you know that? You don't. You're just talking nonsense.

I mean, I'm mostly with you on how that old system looked—total mess—but saying nobody owned a damn thing in "real socialism" is just wrong.
The top brass—de facto if not de jure—basically walked away with a massive slice of the pie compared to the actual working class.
I mean, in some broke-ass society that claims to be all about equality, even the tiniest little privileges become huge deal-breakers—like having special supply lines just for the "deserving comrades" or whatever. It’s ridiculous.

Not a single one... Honestly, the economy in the States is doing just fantastic. You know how I know? Because the only time people actually bother to show up for protests or referendums is when they’re obsessing over who’s sleeping with who—or whatever other nonsense social drama is happening.🙂 Most people care way more about that than stuff like political corruption, having 400k people out of work, being one of the most corrupt spots in the West, or our schools falling apart—but apparently, none of that actually matters to anyone. 🙂 Why would I?

In America, we’ve got zero horizontal solidarity—it’s all just cronyism and top-down power plays. Though, honestly, those protests and referendums weren't just about stuff you think is irrelevant... look at the recent education reforms, that's a prime example.

Most people out here just don't have the right training. There's a massive gap in knowledge, nobody's really staying ahead of the curve or keeping up with how things are moving globally.

So, you end up with this huge chunk of the population stuck in blue-collar roles—low pay, zero stability, just grinding away at jobs that could disappear tomorrow.

But honestly, it goes deeper than that. It’s a systemic issue about whether our society can even survive or actually grow, regardless of which version of capitalism we're running.

The politicians? They won't touch it. They don't have the guts to be real with people, so they just peddle these endless fairy tales and empty promises that everyone ends up swallowing whole.

goldengull3 said:The Federal Reserve shouldn't be meddling in that at all.

They dictate things like reserve requirements—which can certainly throttle overall lending—but banks, much like any other corporation, invest wherever the profit margins are highest, specifically where they can capture the best interest rates. What you’re suggesting is akin to walking into a Walmart and ordering them to stock more flour and less chocolate.

If the government actually wants to stimulate credit for the economy, they have their own banking channels to handle that.

The real crisis lies elsewhere entirely—it's the fact that citizens are diving into consumer loans as if those goods were being handed out for free.

While the Federal Reserve has various levers to pull within the market, its objective isn't turning a profit; it's managing the nation's economy. Looking back through history, the American National Bank has consistently maintained such a rigid exchange rate policy that they’ve essentially turned the American Kuna into a museum piece, yet I have never once seen any evidence that this actually helps curb imports or jumpstart exports.

We are currently facing a situation—one facilitated by the American National Bank—where the population is saddled with debt tied to foreign currency clauses. This flies in the face of the law that establishes the American Kuna as the sole legal tender in America. Furthermore, the artificially low value of the American Kuna has systematically dismantled domestic manufacturing, fueled unemployment, and ultimately triggered mass emigration.

If you saw a similar mess in Germany, where Mercedes-Benz vehicles became so overpriced that nobody outside the European Union would touch them, the Euro would plummet like a rocket, and the government would move at lightning speed to declare those currency clauses null and void. But then again, they actually know how to run an economy...

darkbadger46 said:History shows us that a functional version of socialism can actually work—just look at how it was successfully implemented back in the USA before its creators eventually phased it out. On the flip side, you have highly effective capitalism, much like what we see in Denmark, where they’ve managed to maintain incredibly high employment rates. Ultimately, whether any system succeeds or fails boils down to one thing: the quality of the dialogue between politicians and the public, coupled with the direction set by the world's sole superpower. If the communication breaks down, the results are bound to be just as messy.

Not quite. That feels more like a quasi-justification for capitalism. For every Denmark out there, you’re bound to find a whole host of other countries struggling just to stay afloat. 🙂

Capitalism can't really function merely as an internal political framework; it operates as a geopolitical force.

Larry Wilson25 said:That sounds like someone who’s been way too deep into authority-driven political indoctrination.
In this day and age, politics should really just be serving capital (the economy).
True sovereignty in economic thought is worth more than dozens of tanks or howitzers.

Look, boy, if it weren't for capitalism, you wouldn't even have free access to the internet to post your nonsense. Honestly, every single word in your post is pure stupidity.

I am a mod, sure, but I rarely use or abuse my authority. If you were over on the Travel sub (or maybe the Politics one), you'd know that. 😉
It's mostly about protecting free speech.

Don't go judging me based on my role or let those biases get to you. ☕.

darkbadger46 said:History shows us that a functional version of socialism can actually work—just look at how it was successfully implemented back in the USA before its creators eventually phased it out. On the flip side, you have highly effective capitalism, much like what we see in Denmark, where they’ve managed to maintain incredibly high employment rates. Ultimately, whether any system succeeds or fails boils down to one thing: the quality of the dialogue between politicians and the public, coupled with the direction set by the world's sole superpower. If the communication breaks down, the results are bound to be just as messy.

🤦

"Successful socialism" is an oxymoron.

Timothy Robinson78 said:🤦

"Successful socialism" is an oxymoron.

So what you saying is... would China have actually fared better—whatever "better" even looks like—if the Kuomintang had won the civil war back in the late '40s?

Timothy Robinson78 said:🤦

"Successful socialism" is an oxymoron.

Perhaps. But then again, I suppose "fair capitalism" is an oxymoron too.

gentlelynx11 said:Perhaps. But then again, I suppose "fair capitalism" is an oxymoron too.

Capitalism is the fairest system we have. 👍

Timothy Robinson78 said:Capitalism is the fairest system we have. 👍

So what, would you just shove Paralympians in the same lane as the able-bodied Olympians? 😁
Or maybe we should just scrap the Paralympics altogether for the sake of "fairness"?

Timothy Robinson78 said:Capitalism is the fairest system we have. 👍

🤦

If you don't want to take my word for it, just look at the data available online; it all supports my point. Human civilization has never seen such rapid progress as it has during the era of capitalism. Countries under a capitalist system consistently outperform socialist ones, offering higher standards of living, more robust human rights, better social safety nets, higher education rates, and superior healthcare systems.

Maybe give those facts some thought before you continue criticizing capitalism using your iPhone. 😁

Timothy Robinson78 said:If you don't want to take my word for it, just look at the data available online; it all supports my point. Human civilization has never seen such rapid progress as it has during the era of capitalism. Countries under a capitalist system consistently outperform socialist ones, offering higher standards of living, more robust human rights, better social safety nets, higher education rates, and superior healthcare systems.

Maybe give those facts some thought before you continue criticizing capitalism using your iPhone. 😁

If we’re going to have a conversation that isn't basically a toddler's picture book or some glossy ad pamphlet, we actually need to define what we mean by capitalism versus socialism—including all the different variations and how politics and economics have evolved together over time.

Timothy Robinson78 said:If you don't want to take my word for it, just look at the data available online; it all supports my point. Human civilization has never seen such rapid progress as it has during the era of capitalism. Countries under a capitalist system consistently outperform socialist ones, offering higher standards of living, more robust human rights, better social safety nets, higher education rates, and superior healthcare systems.

Maybe give those facts some thought before you continue criticizing capitalism using your iPhone. 😁

That bolded part is subjective, though. A higher number of highly educated people? Well, obviously, since capitalism essentially invented new tiers of what qualifies as "highly educated." It quite literally manufactured entire university systems just to chase a profit margin. And a better healthcare system? For whom, exactly? Only for those who can afford it.

As for that iPhone argument... it misses the mark entirely and suggests a pretty basic misunderstanding of how capitalism actually works. An iPhone isn't inherently tied to capitalism through any direct cause-and-effect relationship. Whether technology itself has reshaped the world—for better or worse—is a completely different conversation.

Timothy Robinson78 said:If you don't want to take my word for it, just look at the data available online; it all supports my point. Human civilization has never seen such rapid progress as it has during the era of capitalism. Countries under a capitalist system consistently outperform socialist ones, offering higher standards of living, more robust human rights, better social safety nets, higher education rates, and superior healthcare systems.

Maybe give those facts some thought before you continue criticizing capitalism using your iPhone. 😁

While his premise might hold some weight, I find it rather debatable; as our friend above pointed out, top-tier education and medical care often seem reserved for a select few. Furthermore, that little jab about the iPhone feels like it perfectly encapsulates the darkest side of capitalism—that relentless, unyielding hunger for profit. After all, "Designed in California, Made in China"—and we all know which political system governs that manufacturing hub, don't we?☕

So, how would you actually go about making sure everyone gets the best possible education out there?

gentlelynx11 said:That bolded part is subjective, though. A higher number of highly educated people? Well, obviously, since capitalism essentially invented new tiers of what qualifies as "highly educated." It quite literally manufactured entire university systems just to chase a profit margin. And a better healthcare system? For whom, exactly? Only for those who can afford it.

As for that iPhone argument... it misses the mark entirely and suggests a pretty basic misunderstanding of how capitalism actually works. An iPhone isn't inherently tied to capitalism through any direct cause-and-effect relationship. Whether technology itself has reshaped the world—for better or worse—is a completely different conversation.

Capitalism invented colleges to drive profit. 🙏

Without even diving into the logic behind your rambling thoughts, let’s just address the "negative" aspect of profit. First off, I assume you fail to grasp that a better healthcare system and state student grants aren't free? Where do you think that money comes from? You actually believe the government just prints enough cash to fund a welfare state? 😁

gentlelynx11 said:That bolded part is subjective, though. A higher number of highly educated people? Well, obviously, since capitalism essentially invented new tiers of what qualifies as "highly educated." It quite literally manufactured entire university systems just to chase a profit margin. And a better healthcare system? For whom, exactly? Only for those who can afford it.

As for that iPhone argument... it misses the mark entirely and suggests a pretty basic misunderstanding of how capitalism actually works. An iPhone isn't inherently tied to capitalism through any direct cause-and-effect relationship. Whether technology itself has reshaped the world—for better or worse—is a completely different conversation.

Just tell me you vote for the Workers Front. 🤣

It seems my comment about the iPhone hit a nerve... though I assume you won't renounce your status as a high-society poser in favor of universal education, right?