this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2024
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Capitalism is a scam.
It's an unsustainable system predicted on infinite growth that necessitates unconscionable inequality.
I know it is popular to say that infinite growth is a requirement of capitalistic systems. First of all a proof is never provided. Secondly, Japan might be a counter example, where the GDP has stagnanted for two decades.
Tell me you don't know the definition of socialism without telling me you don't know the definition of socialism.
While Socialism may not be against Free Markets, Capitalism /= Socialism.
Socialism is when the workers collectively own the means of production.
So like in a factory, everyone employed there also has ownership stake in the company, and they can vote on leadership internally. Instead of relying on government regulations to be able to have things like paid lunches and guaranteed sick days, instead they can come to collective agreement on those things, with the vote of every worker/owner. They can still sell products on a free market, but the "capital" part of the equation has been removed.
In capitalism, in a factory, the factory has been purchased by a Capitalist who, by definition, is someone with a lot of Capital (money/wealth) and they bought the factory whole with the capital. Now, they are going to hire workers with the capital as well, and the workers have to follow any and all their rules, like a little fiefdom of a dictatorship and nobody gets an opportunity to vote on leadership. They have no control over pay, working conditions, or much else, and they rely on the Government to enforce it otherwise.
Socialism really doesn't have anything to do with government regulation, taxation, or social safety nets.
Maybe you're specifically thinking of Communist Russia which allowed for small businesses to have private ownership, or perhaps you're thinking of Anarcho-Communism?
But the reality is, private ownership is the antithesis of collective ownership, so most socialists aren't really on board with that.
Via Wikipedia, which makes the point numerous times, with a plethora of scholarly references:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism
But don't worry, I fully expect a response that keeps arguing the same thing with no evidence to support it. That's what I usually get here, it's like the world has become illiterate.
Here's the summary for the wikipedia article you mentioned in your comment:
Socialism is an economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes the economic, political, and social theories and movements associated with the implementation of such systems. Social ownership can take various forms including: public, community, collective, cooperative, or employee. No single definition encapsulates the many types of socialism, but social ownership is the common element. Traditionally, socialism is on the left-wing of the political spectrum.
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socialism has nothing to do with taxes
there is a cure for political illiteracy
I'm not aware of any common sense regulations that take precedence over corporate profits, but keep up the good fight I guess.
I didn't miss it.
You misunderstood my comment. These regulations you're talking about either don't exist or they are ineffective, because we are suffering the greatest economic inequality in history while corporate profits are at an all time high.
But good luck, I hope you become super rich doing business so you don't have to suffer with the rest of humanity. Have fun buying clean water tokens in a couple decades!