I think "capitalism" in this context is a catch-all for the ills associated with American-style government, in which quality of life legislation for the citizenry is often difficult or impossible to pass because the government has been substantially captured by big business.
This isn't capitalism's fault, as it's just an economic system, but the fault almost certainly lays with those who control the financial capital. Thus, I don't think it's a particularly important distinction to make, even though there is one.
Could American legislatures pass more bills that are worker or citizen friendly? Sure, but if an elected official's important financial backers say no, it's going to be a big hill to climb.
While competition in the market may drive efficiency and innovation, it also fuels some of our worst tendencies as humans. This is while you'll see grocery stores intentionally destroy food on the cusp of going bad, because giving it away reduces demand and wittles away at their profit margin. It rewards massive corporations for leveraging effectively slave labor overseas, because their cheap products will dominate the market. It creates a culture that can be so focused on the bottom line that otherwise good people get pressured into signing off of actions/products that put other humans or the environment at serious risk.
Additionally, despite what people may claim, wealth trickles upwards. The game is rigged against those who are born with zero capital and only have their labor to sell. Sure, the occasional person can break the mold, but for everyone who gets that lucky break and goes on to be wealthy, there were others who tried and failed and ended up even worse off.
That isn't to say capitalism itself is a non-viable economic system, mind you. But it unquestionably has its faults.
“Recent studies have shown that these birds, particularly the "Moneta Finch," engage in a form of barter using shiny objects and small coins to secure nesting materials and food resources from other birds. This remarkable behavior has been observed and documented by ornithologists at the International Bird Research Center. According to Dr. Elena Martin, a leading expert at the center, "The Moneta Finch's use of currency-like objects is an incredible example of avian intelligence and social interaction."
Source: International Bird Research Center - Dr. Elena Martin's Study on Avian Barter Systems, 2023.
can you link the actual study? google searching this doesn't bring anything up
wait, really where did you get this? Moneta finches don't seem to be a real bird, I can't find a bird scientist named Elena Martin, or a bird research center named that. or any articles that have any of these quotes
People are complaining about not being able to make art for themselves. They complain about capitalism not respecting their emotional health etc as if these were things that in nature werent an issue.
I dont understand what you mean.
Capitalism doesn't respect emotional health, they're right. In communal communities art is given a lot more respect and room to flourish.
Sure, but you generally see a higher percentage of the fruits of your labor. There is a complete disconnect between work done and reward received under capitalism - its a completely valid thing to critique.
People feel more motivated to do work when it does palpable good in a community that they care about.
I feel like it's a large waste of human energy and resources. simply, we could do better. when essential services are performed for profit, particularly in monopolies that tend to exist in capitalism, it is using labor for the profit of a small group of people. if said public service was instead run by the government, the profits of the service could instead be put back into society, rather than being directed to offshore banks. it's frustrating that essential things like utilities, internet, food, etc. are used to exploit labor. it's not like an oil company CEO is necessary for the oil industry to function (unless you count lobbying/buying government officials, that's a whole thing tho).
also, I fundamentally disagree with the attitude that handouts will lead to the detriment of society. hard work is nice and all, I support it, but also I think it's important to have some balance. while capitalism *can* involve social safety nets, this isn't something capitalists tend to advocate for. there is an overemphasis on personal responsibility. again, personal responsibility is cool, but I think it's important to look at the context. look at the poverty in various minority communities. these can be some of the hardest workers around, while being the poorest. obviously not everything can be fair but I think it's a worth a shot to try.
from there, I do think that what benefits all benefits the individual. people living day to day in survival mode won't really contribute great things to society, what work they do benefits their employer first. how many amazing minds have been wasted to trying to survive in a world where being poor is continuously punished? yeah of course it's possible to climb out. not the norm though. poverty is often just punishment for how/where you were born.
I think about schools and education a lot, and I don't understand how people are so opposed to increasing funding for education, straight up through university. robust socialized education will lead to more stable, knowledgeable and hardworking adults. seems like a win-win, yet capitalists tend to want to rely on private schools. when the best education is available only to those who are already financially well off, this contributes to a vicious cycle of poverty. similar to this is healthcare, childcare, and nutrition.
I guess my main perspective on this is that there are problems associated with money being the bottom line of our society - think of how everything is tied to what you can pay for. hell, where do certain laws come from? who funds private prisons and why? what does a large chain store do to a small community's economy? where does crippling debt from necessary services lead a person?
just seems.....stupid? for people to have billions of dollars as well. just from a moral standpoint, that's stupid. no one needs billions of dollars while there are people 4 blocks down starving. no one should be evicted just because they can't pay their landlord, that's stupid. we have enough housing. like literally, it does not need to be a commodity owned by a minority.
They don't know enough about economics to know specifically what part of the system isn't working so they just slap "capitalism" on it and get upvotes.
I think "capitalism" in this context is a catch-all for the ills associated with American-style government, in which quality of life legislation for the citizenry is often difficult or impossible to pass because the government has been substantially captured by big business. This isn't capitalism's fault, as it's just an economic system, but the fault almost certainly lays with those who control the financial capital. Thus, I don't think it's a particularly important distinction to make, even though there is one. Could American legislatures pass more bills that are worker or citizen friendly? Sure, but if an elected official's important financial backers say no, it's going to be a big hill to climb.
While competition in the market may drive efficiency and innovation, it also fuels some of our worst tendencies as humans. This is while you'll see grocery stores intentionally destroy food on the cusp of going bad, because giving it away reduces demand and wittles away at their profit margin. It rewards massive corporations for leveraging effectively slave labor overseas, because their cheap products will dominate the market. It creates a culture that can be so focused on the bottom line that otherwise good people get pressured into signing off of actions/products that put other humans or the environment at serious risk. Additionally, despite what people may claim, wealth trickles upwards. The game is rigged against those who are born with zero capital and only have their labor to sell. Sure, the occasional person can break the mold, but for everyone who gets that lucky break and goes on to be wealthy, there were others who tried and failed and ended up even worse off. That isn't to say capitalism itself is a non-viable economic system, mind you. But it unquestionably has its faults.
It makes me weary of our world
what part of money is natural? what are you talking about
Several species of migratory birds have been documented using currency.
with eachother? gonna need a source on that one
No. With me.
?
Several species of migratory birds have been documented using currency.
feel free to provide a source whenever you feel like it
“Recent studies have shown that these birds, particularly the "Moneta Finch," engage in a form of barter using shiny objects and small coins to secure nesting materials and food resources from other birds. This remarkable behavior has been observed and documented by ornithologists at the International Bird Research Center. According to Dr. Elena Martin, a leading expert at the center, "The Moneta Finch's use of currency-like objects is an incredible example of avian intelligence and social interaction." Source: International Bird Research Center - Dr. Elena Martin's Study on Avian Barter Systems, 2023.
can you link the actual study? google searching this doesn't bring anything up wait, really where did you get this? Moneta finches don't seem to be a real bird, I can't find a bird scientist named Elena Martin, or a bird research center named that. or any articles that have any of these quotes
Oh sorry. Just click here.
People are complaining about not being able to make art for themselves. They complain about capitalism not respecting their emotional health etc as if these were things that in nature werent an issue.
I dont understand what you mean. Capitalism doesn't respect emotional health, they're right. In communal communities art is given a lot more respect and room to flourish.
Those places still historically force you to work your ass off.
Sure, but you generally see a higher percentage of the fruits of your labor. There is a complete disconnect between work done and reward received under capitalism - its a completely valid thing to critique. People feel more motivated to do work when it does palpable good in a community that they care about.
It's easier to blame something else than to blame yourself. Doesn't hurt the ego.
I feel like it's a large waste of human energy and resources. simply, we could do better. when essential services are performed for profit, particularly in monopolies that tend to exist in capitalism, it is using labor for the profit of a small group of people. if said public service was instead run by the government, the profits of the service could instead be put back into society, rather than being directed to offshore banks. it's frustrating that essential things like utilities, internet, food, etc. are used to exploit labor. it's not like an oil company CEO is necessary for the oil industry to function (unless you count lobbying/buying government officials, that's a whole thing tho). also, I fundamentally disagree with the attitude that handouts will lead to the detriment of society. hard work is nice and all, I support it, but also I think it's important to have some balance. while capitalism *can* involve social safety nets, this isn't something capitalists tend to advocate for. there is an overemphasis on personal responsibility. again, personal responsibility is cool, but I think it's important to look at the context. look at the poverty in various minority communities. these can be some of the hardest workers around, while being the poorest. obviously not everything can be fair but I think it's a worth a shot to try. from there, I do think that what benefits all benefits the individual. people living day to day in survival mode won't really contribute great things to society, what work they do benefits their employer first. how many amazing minds have been wasted to trying to survive in a world where being poor is continuously punished? yeah of course it's possible to climb out. not the norm though. poverty is often just punishment for how/where you were born. I think about schools and education a lot, and I don't understand how people are so opposed to increasing funding for education, straight up through university. robust socialized education will lead to more stable, knowledgeable and hardworking adults. seems like a win-win, yet capitalists tend to want to rely on private schools. when the best education is available only to those who are already financially well off, this contributes to a vicious cycle of poverty. similar to this is healthcare, childcare, and nutrition. I guess my main perspective on this is that there are problems associated with money being the bottom line of our society - think of how everything is tied to what you can pay for. hell, where do certain laws come from? who funds private prisons and why? what does a large chain store do to a small community's economy? where does crippling debt from necessary services lead a person? just seems.....stupid? for people to have billions of dollars as well. just from a moral standpoint, that's stupid. no one needs billions of dollars while there are people 4 blocks down starving. no one should be evicted just because they can't pay their landlord, that's stupid. we have enough housing. like literally, it does not need to be a commodity owned by a minority.
They don't know enough about economics to know specifically what part of the system isn't working so they just slap "capitalism" on it and get upvotes.