Socialism is democracy expanded to the economy. And I hope we can all agree that democracy is better than feudalism / oligarchy. The unchecked power disparities that capitalism creates betray every ideal that democracy stands for
Capitalism doesn’t create disparities, people are making those choices. They don’t have to and many don’t. The problem is some do and those individuals who do would make any type of society have tough issues to solve.
Capitalism doesn’t create disparities, people are making those choices
Wealth naturally accumulates under capitalism.
If I own your house, and every month you pay me 1500 dollars, and we both work normal jobs, I will always have more money than you at the end of the month, which I can put towards using that money to make more money; acquiring a greater portion of the wealth created by your labor, say by buying shares in the company you work for or buying more properties so I can raise rent across the board. Now could society as a whole choose to not buy and sell capital? I guess, but then you wouldn’t have capitalism.
You’re pretending that humans are 100% rational actors and not animals who react to our emotions most of the time. Capitalism incentivizes greed and wealth hording. Of course capitalism is bad and leads to people making bad decisions.
People would suddenly stop wanting extra in a pure socialist society? Ending millions of years of ingrained tendencies? Of course they wouldn’t. Some would find a way to take over or take advantage. It’s why we can’t have nice things…I mean it’s why we can’t all have a nice thing.
I agree it’s a great step but I am not sure humans can do it. A few select humans who choose to live that way like a commune maybe but a society like that for everyone I don’t know. I don’t have that much faith in humanity…especially at the moment.
We don’t really have ‘pure’ socialisim and we don’t also have ‘pure’ capitalism, which is for the best really.
Capitalism cannot model societies needs. Collective risks and fundamental human needs in the moment are areas that socialism is a decent starting philosophy.
The things that societies ‘want’ is often better done with capitalism. Entertainment, luxuries, some sorts of technological advancements.
Key thing is to apply nuance to get the best out of whatever system we choose to game ourselves with.
Socialism is democracy expanded to the economy. And I hope we can all agree that democracy is better than feudalism / oligarchy. The unchecked power disparities that capitalism creates betray every ideal that democracy stands for
Capitalism doesn’t create disparities, people are making those choices. They don’t have to and many don’t. The problem is some do and those individuals who do would make any type of society have tough issues to solve.
Wealth naturally accumulates under capitalism. If I own your house, and every month you pay me 1500 dollars, and we both work normal jobs, I will always have more money than you at the end of the month, which I can put towards using that money to make more money; acquiring a greater portion of the wealth created by your labor, say by buying shares in the company you work for or buying more properties so I can raise rent across the board. Now could society as a whole choose to not buy and sell capital? I guess, but then you wouldn’t have capitalism.
You’re pretending that humans are 100% rational actors and not animals who react to our emotions most of the time. Capitalism incentivizes greed and wealth hording. Of course capitalism is bad and leads to people making bad decisions.
People would suddenly stop wanting extra in a pure socialist society? Ending millions of years of ingrained tendencies? Of course they wouldn’t. Some would find a way to take over or take advantage. It’s why we can’t have nice things…I mean it’s why we can’t all have a nice thing.
At least socialism doesn’t inherently reward such behavior like capitalism does. Like, isn’t that a good first step? Stop incentivizing sociopathy?
I agree it’s a great step but I am not sure humans can do it. A few select humans who choose to live that way like a commune maybe but a society like that for everyone I don’t know. I don’t have that much faith in humanity…especially at the moment.
Humans definitely can’t do it if we insist on a system that rewards greed.
We don’t really have ‘pure’ socialisim and we don’t also have ‘pure’ capitalism, which is for the best really.
Capitalism cannot model societies needs. Collective risks and fundamental human needs in the moment are areas that socialism is a decent starting philosophy.
The things that societies ‘want’ is often better done with capitalism. Entertainment, luxuries, some sorts of technological advancements.
Key thing is to apply nuance to get the best out of whatever system we choose to game ourselves with.