Capitalism can not eradicate poverty

MHz

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Tribes don't need guns and fences to keep their people in.
NeWs FlAsH The Tribes aren't the ones with the guns and the fences. Hire them as security in stores to stop shoplifters and they can run the pawn shops that the new comers (former ISIS members, let's not kid ourselves) will be sucked into using until the price of admittance has been paid off.
 

captain morgan

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Mar 28, 2009
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Poverty can eradicate capitalism. Limit profits to single digits and anything above that just lowers the price of the item. It can be broken by raking in 500% percent or more.

Sure, see how long the 'employee owned company' decides to stay in business once their human nature takes over and they ask the question as to why they should do all that work and take on all the risk.

On the upside though, there won't be a 500% mark-up on items as no 'items' will exist

You're rewarding the student because he showed up, it certainly could not have been for his excellent answer.

You have to admit that it was a clever answer

All I was trying to say is that communism and tribalism aren't that much different. Capitalism hides its dictates behind curtains of public relations designed to assure you that your choices are enhanced when in fact only the colours differ.

In all honestly, I do agree 100% with what you have stated, however, you'll notice that I have been careful to recognize (communist) nations as opposed to communities.

The communistic model can only work (theoretically) on a micro basis... The moment that the 'community' reaches out and treats with outside communities, the entire basis of the communism of community 'A' is upended
 

JLM

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lotsa isms come and go. People still can't get along regardless of what ism people pull outa their a$$

For sure.............we're getting further and further from World Peace by the day. It will be a lot worse after Justin's imports arrive!
 

Cliffy

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Nov 19, 2008
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Tecumsehsbones

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How can you tell the difference between tribalism and communism?
Can you tell the difference between your as* and a hole in the ground?


Sorry, I couldn't resist.

No you didn't. Owning any real stock isn't at all viable to the average worker plus it's not at all equivalent to owning the means of production. LMFAO.
As taxslave points out, there are many companies that are entirely employee-owned. And I note that you haven't said a word about my other examples. They are:

1. Co-ops
2. Partnerships
3. Family businesses worked by the family.
4. Family farms worked by the family.

Instead, you picked the one you thought you could refute (though you were wrong), and ignored everything else.

Let's see. . .

1. You got a Book.
2. You got a doctrine.
3. You got a special vocabulary.
4. Your Truth is unsupported by evidence.
5. Your system can only work if everybody participates, freely or by force.
6. When your system is in place, eternal bliss for all will be the reward.

In what way is this not a religion?
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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... an autocracy/oligarchy exists currently and is quite typical in capitalism - which is literally the rule of the wealthy.
I agree. So what?

That is close to the distinction Lenin made, I guess. It's both a common usage and the opposite of common usage. A lot of people, probably in this thread, would argue that counties labelled communist are true communist countries. But there's no way you could argue that citizens or workers own the means of production in China, North Korea or the Soviet Union. In fact, you could make a better argument that publicly traded companies in capitalist countries fit this definition of communism better.

But if that's the distinction you make, I understand your point. Communism is the more utopian of the two and therefore less attainable if not impossible.
Exactly. I was using the definition of communism provided by Stanford U.'s dictionary. It is pretty much the same definition the Oxford U.'s definition is: "A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs."
Besides being extremely unlikely to attain a truly communist country, I doubt anyone would be happy with having no individualism at all. Some dude at the other end of the country would have as much say as you over what colour you painted your house, for example. And some lazy dude who barely puts in any effort to getting to work on time, let alone working, would be paid the same as the dude who puts in 100% effort.
Marx and Engels were not the people that came up with the idea of communism. The concept goes way back to Aristotle et al. The difference being that Aristotle and pals were not discussing entire countries. They were considering small communities and cities at the grandest scale.
 
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HarperCons

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Oct 18, 2015
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As taxslave points out, there are many companies that are entirely employee-owned. And I note that you haven't said a word about my other examples. They are:

1. Co-ops
2. Partnerships
3. Family businesses worked by the family.
4. Family farms worked by the family.

Instead, you picked the one you thought you could refute (though you were wrong), and ignored everything else.

I understand about small employee-companies. They are rare, and every study points to them being more successful. You aren't helping your argument. :lol:

Let's see. . .

1. You got a Book.
2. You got a doctrine.
3. You got a special vocabulary.
4. Your Truth is unsupported by evidence.
5. Your system can only work if everybody participates, freely or by force.
6. When your system is in place, eternal bliss for all will be the reward.

In what way is this not a religion?

This can just as easily be applied to Capitalism, lol.

I agree. So what?
So your implication that this is inherent in socialism/communism is nonsense. An oligarchy is a product of a capitalist system, in a communist system material wealth is not highly valued.
 

AnnaG

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I can say no no no, because it's an objective fact you silly fool. There is no workers owning the means of production in capitalism, you're being utterly ridiculous. Let's do some reading before spouting off.
As I said before, there are actually quite a few companies that are completely owned by the workers. Stamping your little feets, pouting, yelling, and holding your breath till you turn blue cannot change that fact. Here, kid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_employee-owned_companies

You clearly don't have the slightest clue what communism is, what socialism is, or what even your beloved capitalism is. If you aren't going to make the effort to learn and let the bourgeoisie propaganda teach you instead, you're a total lost cause and a waste of my time.
You only say that because you have obviously not read anything about the philosophy on communism that started way back when Aristotle and others were discussing stuff. What you have done is similar to reading a title of a book on philosophy and running with it, instead of reading the book from cover to cover.
 

HarperCons

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Oct 18, 2015
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Exactly. I was using the definition of communism provided by Stanford U.'s dictionary. It is pretty much the same definition the Oxford U.'s definition is: "A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs."
Besides being extremely unlikely to attain a truly communist country, I doubt anyone would be happy with having no individualism at all. Some dude at the other end of the country would have as much say as you over what colour you painted your house, for example. And some lazy dude who barely puts in any effort to getting to work on time, let alone working, would be paid the same as the dude who puts in 100% effort.
Marx and Engels were not the people that came up with the idea of communism. The concept goes way back to Aristotle et al. The difference being that Aristotle and pals were not discussing entire countries. They were considering small communities and cities at the grandest scale.

First of all, individualism is a cancerous ideology that hypocrites like Ayn Rand propped up. The fact is, our advances in humanity came from society working together, not a few working alone. But at the same time, this doesn't mean you aren't your own person and can't make your own decisions, especially on trivial things like painting your own home (wth are you talking about now).
Now your hypothetical "lazy dude", will only get enough for the bare necessities of life, where others who put in the work could get more, not equal pay. No one should be forced to work to live - which is what capitalism has us do for the benefit of the very wealthy.

As I said before, there are actually quite a few companies that are completely owned by the workers. Stamping your little feets, pouting, yelling, and holding your breath till you turn blue cannot change that fact. Here, kid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_employee-owned_companies
It's rare and if you looked through some of those companies, they aren't all workers owning the means of production.

You only say that because you have obviously not read anything about the philosophy on communism that started way back when Aristotle and others were discussing stuff. What you have done is similar to reading a title of a book on philosophy and running with it, instead of reading the book from cover to cover.
What the hell are you talking about now. Your misunderstanding of all these things has nothing to do with me not reading Aristotle.
I've proven sufficient knowledge where you haven't, you've only spewed liberal narratives.
 

AnnaG

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So your implication that this is inherent in socialism/communism is nonsense.
Prove it.
An oligarchy is a product of a capitalist system, in a communist system material wealth is not highly valued.
Here, I will finish that sentence for you ..... "An oligarchy is a product of a capitalist system, in a communist system material wealth is not highly valued except by the individual." The more humans you involve in your little utopia, the less chance it has of actually working. As you sarcastically but ignorantly put it earlier, "blah bla human nature blah blah", or something to that effect. You poor brainwashed, little kid, unless you can get rid of the human hunger for power, comfort, and laziness, the sooner you will achieve your ideal. Until then, reality defeats your pathetic little arguments and people like me will keep aiming reality at you.
 

HarperCons

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The problem is you think traits which aren't inherent in humans, are. You've got a flawed understanding of what human nature is. What is learned in a system that does have bad traits inherent in it like greed, and what is actually biologically inherent.
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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First of all, individualism is a cancerous ideology that hypocrites like Ayn Rand propped up.
hehe Sorry, but when the first two human met, individualism was invented. Humans are not bees or ants.
The fact is, our advances in humanity came from society working together, not a few working alone.
That is not entirely true so it cannot be fact. It would be more like SOME advances were brought about by cooperation, some were not, and some were an individual effort.
But at the same time, this doesn't mean you aren't your own person and can't make your own decisions, especially on trivial things like painting your own home (wth are you talking about now).
Your communism would strip people of individualism. I thought that would be blatant, but apparently you cannot think in depth.
Now your hypothetical "lazy dude", will only get enough for the bare necessities of life, where others who put in the work could get more, not equal pay. No one should be forced to work to live - which is what capitalism has us do for the benefit of the very wealthy.
Sorry, child, but now you are not talking about communism.

It's rare and if you looked through some of those companies, they aren't all workers owning the means of production.
First you said employee-owned companies cannot happen in capitalist countries. Now you say that it is rare.
Perhaps you should read the Greek philosophers' ideas and discussions instead of posting your inane little rants and raves in here.

What the hell are you talking about now. Your misunderstanding of all these things has nothing to do with me not reading Aristotle.
I've proven sufficient knowledge where you haven't, you've only spewed liberal narratives.
That is a cute and quaint little dream you have going there, child. But it is still a dream.

The problem is you think traits which aren't inherent in humans, are. You've got a flawed understanding of what human nature is. What is learned in a system that does have bad traits inherent in it like greed, and what is actually biologically inherent.
roflmbo
As soon as a fetus grows enough brain, its entire existence is all about gratifying its own needs.
For fµck sakes, you not only have a shallow grasp of philosophies, you cannot grasp biology or psychology. Did you get all your little pile of knowledge from Marx and Engels?
 

Corduroy

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Feb 9, 2011
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As I've mentioned before, the odd part is that socialism (meaning worker ownership of the means of production) is perfectly feasible in the so-called capitalist countries. Again, co-ops, worker ownership of stock, partnerships. Family businesses and family farms worked by the families. All provided for in the laws of the "capitalist" countries. Practiced, too.

"Meaning worker ownership of the means of production" - that is essentially the definition of socialism in my opinion and if that exists to an extent in "so-called capitalist countries" to what extent does it exist in so-called communist countries?



The version of communism that you want to portray exists only in theory... Texts books are great and all, l but the only functioning examples of Communist states have all been nothing but total failures on every level, including the theoretical basis.

It's amazing how well you can say the opposite of what you want to say. I don't understand how you can possibly believe you made sense with this post as it contradicts itself so much that it actually supports my point.

How can you have functioning communist state if it fails on every level? And how do you think you're convincing me that these states are in fact communist if you say my idea of communism is theoretical and that these states failed totally even on the theoretical level?