Confused About Capitalism

[yohami]

Who is going to be the gardener? thats a good question. Right now, the gardener is whoever has money. Democracy / communism are useless. Maybe some sort of meritocracy, but then again who would judge.

Thanks, I will read Ayn Rand. However I find it disappointing that you missed the chance to say something by yourself by recommending some author.

[abilitydefined]

It boils down to this:
according to our founding fathers, taxation without representation is WRONG, and undermines the very idea of a capitalistic society. When we as a nation allowed our government to break up our militias and take us off of the gold standard, as well as impose taxes on a federal level, we allowed our nation to deviate from the very ideas that were supposed to keep us as individual achievers safe against the claims of our neighbors "NEED."
NEED is not a valid claim against the abilities or resources of another. Ever.
The government has used this idea of our neighbors need to tax the shit out of us, as well as set up corporations that are able to rape us thoroughly, completeley undermining the principles that this country was built on. Our country is NOT capitalistic. I wish that it was. we are a welfare country and our own sense of guilt about the problems of our neighbors (whether in this country or another) is what keeps us from rising up and dealing a resounding slap in the face to "big brother" and any of the corporations that fund him in exchange for tax breaks and fucked up legislation that wrecks our environment, and keeps cleaner and more cost efficient energy from replacing the dinosaur juice that we use now to conduct our affairs. Enron could not have happened without massive governmental support, directly or indirectly I dont think matters. The point Im making is that pure capitalism would not have allowed that stranglehold to exist. Competition would have stepped in imediately, and their would have been no crisis at all.
ahh... fuck it. I wont start ranting. If anyone wants to dialog more about this one on one, hit me up at abilitydefined@Yahoo.com otherwise, thats my two cents.

[izzme]

ability D, dude your giving me hope that sometime in the near future we will shake off the yoke of corporatism. i't pretty much started with the industrial revolution. in england first then the rest of the world.communism was a reaction to the excesses of predatory practices inherent to unregulated capitalism. communism sucks because of the extent of central planning that concetrates power in another form the party power bosses.i wish i had the time to answer all the questions posed to me by mr. whammy but i'm lazy and occupied by other things.to do this subject justice i would have to write a treatise that probably be booklength and only be an outline. liberty is a struggle thats best suited for the young because they have the audacity to question authority with passion and drive. i'm old [61] and tireing of the effort.i'm focused on personal goals,like getting my studio together with almost no money. i just about get a woody thinking about spending hours and hours working on my music. ptetty selfish i know but it's been an unrealized dream,that is attainable now thanks to the digital revolution. i value our form of government[constitutional,democratic,republic]because it has the elements needed to maintain our freedoms. we just need to recognize if our government is contolled by globalization focused corporation we could end up like the frog thats put in a pot of water on a stove that you turn the heat up little by little so that the frog sits there happily thinking whats the problem the water is fine untill eventually[too late] he 's cooked to death!!!!! somethin to think about!

[yohami]

izzme, Im happy you´re setting your studio. When can we hear some music?

[brandondrury]

i value our form of government[constitutional,democratic,republic]because it has the elements needed to maintain our freedoms. we just need to recognize if our government is contolled by globalization focused corporation

I'm with you 100% on that one. While the popularity contest has it's flaws, it seems to be the best way to keep most people relatively happy.

There have been examples of devestating corporate behavior. I detest the people that just say "corporations suck" as this is a ridiculous notion 99% of the time. However, there is no doubt that the control in Washington is sliding more in the favor of the lobbyists and a little less in control of the people.

Brandon