Current Events > To reach Bezos' net worth while working the minimum wage...

(+) Yeah! (+)

RchHomieQuanChi posted...

I think capitalism is better than something like, say, feudalism. I won't deny that.

But I also feel it has run its course and by nature is incredibly unstable and unsustainable. If we cannot have a true meritocratic system, then it would be preferable to have a system that doesn't leave poor people to their own devices.

What do you believe is next if capitalism has run its course, and is there any evidence to show that the new system won't be worse than the current one (assuming you have a particular concept in mind, of course)?

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Southernfatman posted...

Basically, from many here:

"Rich people rule. Poor people drool. Get gud scrub. Bootstraps!".

But the only alternative other than letting government control everything is bootstraps.

Would you trust the US government to run a business better than amazon?

It is really easy to say "fuck rich people" but the amount of people who want to say "fuck these rich guys lets give it to these other rich guys" is pretty damn crazy.

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You know that if America switched to the exact same laws that Norway or Sweden uses, it would still be capitalism.

It's impossible to tell if a lot of people are talking about more regulation/a strong welfare system and social safety net or true socialism with a planned economy.

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s0nicfan posted...

What do you believe is next if capitalism has run its course, and is there any evidence to show that the new system won't be worse than the current one (assuming you have a particular concept in mind, of course)?

I believe socialism, if implemented correctly, would be the next best step. It would allow for a more Democratic society that doesn't concentrate socioeconomic power into the hands of the few while giving them the ability to rig the game in their favor.

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Why do so many conservatives fail to understand the motivation for minimum wage when you can literally google and find its original purpose and intent?

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Damn_Underscore posted...

You know that if America switched to the exact same laws that Norway or Sweden uses, it would still be capitalism.

It's impossible to tell if a lot of people are talking about more regulation/a strong welfare system and social safety net or true socialism with a planned economy.

Yeah sure. A system like Norway or Sweden would still be preferable to what the U.S. is doing.

But I do believe we'll eventually need to move past capitalism altogether.

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

I believe socialism, if implemented correctly, would be the next best step. It would allow for a more Democratic society that doesn't concentrate socioeconomic power into the hands of the few while giving them the ability to rig the game in their favor.

this seems further away from a meritocracy though

ROOTFayth posted...

this seems further away from a meritocracy though

That's the point. A true meritocracy cannot exist so long as socioeconomic conditions allow for an unleveled playing field. Capitalism's entire core philosophy is built around a concept that's never existed.

So why not instead implement a system that doesn't concentrate socioeconomic power into the hands of a select few?

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Sweden had to enact market reforms in the 90s to reverse decades of relative economic decline under collectivist policy lol

https://www.reforminstitutet.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Twentyfiveyearsofreform140301.pdf

In the 1990s, the entire tax system was reformed, a public expenditure ceiling was put in place, collective wage bargaining found an entire new form, Sweden entered the EU, state owned monopolies became subject to competition and the fixed exchange rate was abolished. Moreover, privately owned companies were allowed to start schools and enter healthcare markets. Also, completion legislation was strengthened thereby reducing the number of cartels and their impact.

RchHomieQuanChi posted...

So why not instead implement a system that doesn't concentrate socioeconomic power into the hands of a select few?

Man are you going to be disappointed when you find out what happens when socialist take control of a country.

Broseph_Stalin posted...

Man are you going to be disappointed when you find out what happens when socialist take control of a country.

Let me guess....Vuvuzela?

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Bezos deserves his wealth

Take your pick the outcome is always the same lol

Broseph_Stalin posted...

Take your pick the outcome is always the same lol

Yes it is....U.S. sanctions and imperialism destabilizing the country

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

Yes it is....U.S. sanctions and imperialism destabilizing the country

"The 2010 economic crisis in Venezuela was caused by sanctions placed on it in 2019" might just be my favorite tankie take.

Broseph_Stalin posted...

"The 2010 economic crisis in Venezuela was caused by sanctions placed on it in 2019" might just be my favorite tankie take.

They exacerbated Venezuela's problems. They did not "cause" them. There were a number of problems with Venezuela that cannot be attributed solely to "socialism".

Sanctions did prevent them from making an economic recovery, however.

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

They exacerbated Venezuela's problems.

When your economic crisis predates the sanctions by NINE YEARS it's safe to say they aren't really the problem, yeah.

Bad economic policy created the crisis in Venezuela.

DarkRoast posted...

As someone who did literally everything a capitalist system tells you to do in order to become successful - worked extremely hard in school, went to medical school, paid off all my loans, invested my money, I have one thing to say:

There is literally no way to get ahead unless you are either extremely lucky or you are born into wealth. Yes, I'm not in debt. Yes, I can buy basic material things. But there will never be a point in my life I can afford the kinds of things a wealthy person can, from a luxurious retirement to exclusive goods.

this is just shameful misinformation, wtf happened to you? If youre not a multi millionaire within the next 10 years its because the world has ended or youre not trying anymore

you paid off your loans really fast, at that rate you can get to $1 mil net worth in 5-6 years and then the second is even faster.

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

How does your advice help someone who doesn't have the money to go to school? Or someone that's already paid their dues and still can't find work due to an oversaturated job market?

Poverty and income inequality doesn't exist in a bubble. There's a reason these things are happening and it has nothing to do with people pursuing "useless" degrees.

i went to college for free (and then with some loans when I blew my scholarship over a girl and dropped out the first time)

these options are accessible to anyone, FAFSA is a thing and I recommend it

dont get me wrong tho, id still say college should be free. But until it is, people should major in stuff that has a known ROI and not go until they can pick and stick to one of those options

what popular majors are oversaturated these days?

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pure_temper posted...

what popular majors are oversaturated these days?

I know plenty of law school students and even some STEM majors struggling to find long-term employment.

The more people that pursue those degrees, the less valuable those degrees will be.

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

Nah, the wealth disparity is perfectly reasonable and capitalism is working as intended.

I like capitalism because it feels good to know you're earning your way in life and you can live better than the lazy ass that doesn't want to work.

I completely understand the problems with it though. The super elite rich are way too out of proportion and it's just not right. Nobody deserves to make THAT much more than another....but what can you do? Many ways to take and distribute their wealth but that on principal isn't fair, despite how badly it needs to be done.

The problem is greed and our nature rather than any individual wealth system. Capitalism, social, and commy...any of these COULD yeild a utopia when done right. None of them will ever be right though due to the greed and evil in the world.

RchHomieQuanChi posted...

I know plenty of law school students and even some STEM majors struggling to find long-term employment.

The more people that pursue those degrees, the less valuable those degrees will be.

this is anecdotal and i could as easily say ive never known any of these people or accountants or nurses or etc to have a problem with actually finding employment

including tradespeople who...if anything are actually becoming more valuable with each passing year

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s0nicfan posted...

So your issue is that Capitalism claims to be something you don't think exists in a system right now. Okay, fine. Is it closer or farther away from your definition of merit than other economic models? Because throwing out a system that's elevated more poor people than any other in exchange for a worse system because of false advertising seems a bit like shooting yourself in the foot to spite someone else.

That last sentence is... deceiving, to say the least

The Great Depression was caused by unmitigated capitalism. It was the introduction of what modern Republicans would call "socialism" that stabilized our economic structure until Reagan took office. That was when Republicans, many knowingly, sabotaged our economic system to favor the rich

And before someone says "but...", this is proven by the "Double Santa Claus". This was a technique of lowering taxes, claiming it would raise tax revenue, and then complaining when your opposition is in power about the deficit. Considering every Republican president since Reagan has increased the deficit while every Democrat has decreased the deficit, the strategy has been blatantly used

Demon1050 posted...

I like capitalism because it feels good to know you're earning your way in life and you can live better than the lazy ass that doesn't want to work.

I completely understand the problems with it though. The super elite rich are way too out of proportion and it's just not right. Nobody deserves to make THAT much more than another....but what can you do? Many ways to take and distribute their wealth but that on principal isn't fair, despite how badly it needs to be done.

The problem is greed and our nature rather than any individual wealth system. Capitalism, social, and commy...any of these COULD yeild a utopia when done right. None of them will ever be right though due to the greed and evil in the world.

A good start would be to have billionaires pay at least the percentage of their income as the middle class pays

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