The Depravity of Capitalism

[Cerosis]

Originally Posted by mavric240

But this is not a thread about WMD's or the Iraq war, so I am asking if we can get back to the topic. I only say this because I see the thread getting out of hand. Like I said to Mistrust this has been a good conversation and I don't want to see it closed because we got off topic. I will be glad to argue in favor of capitalism and its economic advantages. I hope that we can continue to share and debate different views of economic development and its impact on society.

I see the connection quite clearly. For capitalism to exits it relies on innovation and the introduction of new industries and products. For instance Biotechnology is a new industry and it is a hot market with many, many up and coming companies competing for the next big break though.

For older industries such as automotive, petrol, media the market is much thinner because large companies have eliminated most of the competition. In such a market those who control those few industries wield tremendous power both in the social and political world. Now I'm not saying that the media or big business knowingly passed on false information to the American people but it was in the best interest of big business for America to go to war and it didn't matter with whom just with someone large enough for the army to flex its muscle and for all the companies to get their cut.

The war was touted from the beginning as a zero sum war, paying for itself quickly out of oil revenue and resulting in an American ally in a troubled region. Either those initial estimates were completely fabricated or those in charge were looking through some seriously rose colored glasses. The ethnic divides in the country was one of the principal reasons for the invasion how could anyone believe that after decades of vicious repression the various ethnic groups will buddy up and progress peacefully into a brave new Iraq?

The fact is that all sources of information passed on the propaganda ignoring the nay sayers as unpatriotic. How is the commander of the armed forces who served during Desert Storm and was touted as a Middle East expert, "ridiculous" when he appeared before congress and said to secure a post war Iraq they would need 250 thousand troops?". Coincidentally he resigned shortly after and Rumsfeld gave the much lower figure of 140 thousand.

Since the start of the war which companies have gained the most? Oil Industries have had year after year of record profits. TV news networks, papers, and radio shows have all increased their subscriber base / audience. The defense industry has made billions producing new mine resistant vehicles as well as experts / mechanics to keep our war machine working in a very technologically hostile setting. Was there collusion on the part of these industries to promote a baseless war? Maybe. Are they profiting from the failed state it is in? Absolutely.

Point is that many Americans are either uninformed or misinformed about events not through their own faults but because main stream media pushes it to the back pages or ignores it completely. If you read reports written by independent sources or from other countries you get a much broader look at the current crisis because at heart control of information is power and capitalism is all about building up personal or collective power.

[Warrenx]

One last thing I want to add: do not be fooled by "enlightened self-interest" because in the end actuality is the antonym of principle.

[Delauney]

Just wondering where the OP got the idea that competition is a new thing. Why do you think life moved onto the land? The ocean had massive amounts of competion for limited resources, while the land was largely untapped. Plants moved up, out of the water to take advantage of that fact and animal life followed shortly thereafter. Innovation/evolution is entirely driven by competition.

Capitalism is simply the economic expression of the most effective development and growth process we've ever seen. Competition also means that those who are the most effective need to be able to reap the rewards of their own development and growth. Whether those rewards accrue to the individual or his/her decendants or relatives is immaterial, there must be incentive to advance and grow.

[Maltyrius]

Bear in mind that that OP is banned (for other reasons not related to this thread) so ongoing dialog around this might be one-sided.