socialism v. capitalism: Rating Options

[NoSex]

i view capitalism as a mode of economic & social infancy. i think that it is regressive to society, poisonous, & under-developing.

i point to these basic "flaws" in capitalism*:
1. the emphasis on profit as opposed to utility.
2. the creation of oligarchy & plutocracy.
3. the unfair/uneven distribution of wealth.
4. the creation of a significant class divide.
5. the inability of capitalism, alone, to provide the people with necessities.
6. the exploitation of the working class.
7. the existence of crime in excess, caused by class struggle, poverty, & proletariat anxiety.
8. the creation of an oppressive institution (i.e. the police state, the church, the education system) in order to secure profits to a specific & elite population.

i point to these basic "benefits" in socialism*:
1. the emphasis on utility.
2. the destruction of plutocracy & (in many forms) oligarchy.
3. the fair distribution of wealth.
4. the destruction of a significant class divide.
5. the ability of socialism to provide for its people, necessities.
6. the affirmation of the working class.
7. the absence of crime invoked by squalor & proletariat anxiety.
8. the destruction of specific oppressive institutions & the opportunity to reform the state (i.e. despite the pull of capital & profits).

DISCUSS.

*quotation marks provided for argument's sake. whatever.

[Uronacid]

Socialism looks great on paper, but history has shown us it doesn't work. Unfortunately it's marred by the corrupt leaders of government looking out for their best interest rather than the interests of their people. Not only that, individuals take advantage of the socialist system and those who work hard aren't rewarded for their efforts. Eventually those who work hard submit to the laziness of their neighbors because there is no reward to their efforts and the country slowly suffers as a whole as average citizen becomes more and more of a burden to its society. This system has been tried several times, and each time it has been met with failure in comparison to our semi-capitalist government. What makes anyone think it will succeed?

Capitalism isn't controlled by any one person or group of people. This is, in part, why it's so much more successful than socialism. It gives everyone the potential to become the best that he or she can become. Capitalism puts the responsibility of their well being on the individual. That said, capitalism doesn't provide for a person, but people provide for themselves. Every person is born equal, but no-one will have equal outcomes.

[mipadi]

Socialism looks great on paper, but it doesn't work. Unfortunately it's marred by the corrupt leaders of government looking out for their best interest rather than the interests of their people. Not only that, individuals take advantage of the socialist system and those who work hard aren't rewarded for their efforts. Eventually those who work hard submit to the laziness of their neighbors because there is no reward to their efforts and the country suffers as a whole.

Capitalism looks great on paper, but it does't work. Unfortunately, it's marred by the corrupt leaders of government looking out for their own best interest rather than the interests of their people. Not only that, individuals take advantage of the capitalist system and those who work hard aren't rewarded for their efforts. Eventually those who work hard submit to the laziness of their neighbors because there is no reward to their efforts and the country suffers as a whole.

[Uronacid]

Capitalism looks great on paper, but it does't work. Unfortunately, it's marred by the corrupt leaders of government looking out for their own best interest rather than the interests of their people. Not only that, individuals take advantage of the capitalist system and those who work hard aren't rewarded for their efforts. Eventually those who work hard submit to the laziness of their neighbors because there is no reward to their efforts and the country suffers as a whole.

Capitalism is largely marred when gov't attempts to implement socialist policies on the business world. For example, the affordable housing “mission” that the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were charged with fulfilling.

I think the only person able to be a great and successful socialist would have to be Jesus (pbuh) himself.

Only because he's considered to be perfect, blameless, and selfless.

i duno, i mean i know a ton of people who work hard and capitalism hasn't given them anything for it. it's not like everyone has even close to an equal chance to succeed, because for example, people with more financial resources have a HUGE leg up. i don't see how every person is born equal in capitalism...
plenty of people weren't born equal with me

Everyone's born with equal rights.

[brooklyneast05]

Everyone's born with equal rights.

but not an equal chance, oh ok.

[Uronacid]

but not an equal chance, oh ok.

You do have an equal chance. You're born into a world full of infinite possibilities. My god, Obama is living proof of that. Here's a man with interracial parents, his father passed away, he admits he did drugs as a child, and now he's the president.

Do you believe it's unfair for one family to make wise investments or start a business while the next generation reaps the benefits of it? You have the option to do the same. Your families previous generation had the option to do the same. While you may have to struggle at first, you can do it. Everyone is born with the potential to do great things. In a socialist system our potential is squashed by our government.

Exactly.

For once we agree on something!! YES!!!