Capitalism Guarantees Rising Inequality

[PredFan]

Where is Democracy to be found in a world where the three richest individuals have assets that exceed the combined GDP of 47 countries?

A world where the richest 2% of global citizens "own" more than 51% of global assets?

Ready for the best part?

Capitalism ensures an already bad problem will only get worse.

"The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that income inequality 'first started to rise in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in America and Britain (and also in Israel)'.

"The ratio between the average incomes of the top 5 per cent to the bottom 5 per cent in the world increased from 78:1 in 1988, to 114:1 in 1993..."

"Stiglitz relays that from 1988 to 2008 people in the world’s top 1 per cent saw their incomes increase by 60 per cent, while those in the bottom 5 per cent had no change in their income.

"In America, home to the 2008 recession, from 2009 to 2012, incomes of the top 1 per cent in America, many of which no doubt had a greedy hand in the causes of the meltdown, increased more than 31 per cent, while the incomes of the 99 per cent grew 0.4 per cent less than half a percentage point."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

There are alternatives that don't require infinite "growth."

Capitalism guarantees equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. The quality of your outcome is totally dependent on you.

 

[Mac1958]

.

I'll try again.

Clearly there are people here who are more than willing to point out what they perceive to be the evils of capitalism.

So, and I'm sure you've thought this through, what precisely would you like to see? Let's get specific here, with ideas and/or examples of the following:

• New regulations you'd like to see on business
• Specific marginal income tax rates
• Macro comparisons with other countries
• Constitutional amendments, if any
• New culturally-oriented laws, if any
• Any other specifics of any kind

Let's take full advantage of this forum, and of the anonymity provided by the internet, and really get into the nuts & bolts of what you'd really like to see. You don't like capitalism, great. Take the reins, what, precisely, is your answer for America?

And by the way, it would be great if you could identify potential problems with each idea, so that we can all understand that you've thought it through and recognize red flags that we would need to consider and address upon implementation.

Thanks.

.

Well golly batman, you got me. I'm just a poor stupid election worker and not an economist, but even a poor stupid fucking election worker can see that the income inequality in this country is unsustainable. This moron also knows that we've had this kind of inequality before. What did we do then?

I asked a sincere, straightforward question. If you don't have specific ideas, that's fine. I would love to know the answers to these questions -- who knows, maybe I'll learn something -- and I'm thinking that if I can't get any answers here I'll try a new thread.

.

 

[Stephanie]

There used to be an incentive for the wealth to somewhat trickle down as a consumer with disposable income was the goal of capitalism but today the financial markets are so rigged that we are in effect paying tribute to these people and the goal is simply to skim off the top of everything while contributing little to overall prosperity.

go make your OWN prosperity and quit wanting other to do it for you..that's what is dooming this country and our Freedoms

 

[PredFan]

Do you have any proof of that statement?

"In a world of plenty why are hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of people vulnerable at all? The vulnerable and exploited exist because of an inherently unjust social-economic system, which has caused extreme global inequality and built a divided and fractured world society."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

I don't really care about other countries.

Just compare the "poor" in the US to the rest of the world and you have to come to the conclusion that our system is better for poor people.

Right...fuck income inequality because our poor have microwaves! We win!

Wrong argument. He was making the point that our poor are richer than they used to be and richer than the poor of other countries. Because of capitalism.

 

[PredFan]

.

I'll try again.

Clearly there are people here who are more than willing to point out what they perceive to be the evils of capitalism.

So, and I'm sure you've thought this through, what precisely would you like to see? Let's get specific here, with ideas and/or examples of the following:

• New regulations you'd like to see on business
• Specific marginal income tax rates
• Macro comparisons with other countries
• Constitutional amendments, if any
• New culturally-oriented laws, if any
• Any other specifics of any kind

Let's take full advantage of this forum, and of the anonymity provided by the internet, and really get into the nuts & bolts of what you'd really like to see. You don't like capitalism, great. Take the reins, what, precisely, is your answer for America?

And by the way, it would be great if you could identify potential problems with each idea, so that we can all understand that you've thought it through and recognize red flags that we would need to consider and address upon implementation.

Thanks.

.

Well golly batman, you got me. I'm just a poor stupid election worker and not an economist, but even a poor stupid fucking election worker can see that the income inequality in this country is unsustainable. This moron also knows that we've had this kind of inequality before. What did we do then?

No, you can't see it. You are just regurgitating what you've been told by the media and politicians that you like. Learn the difference.

 

[Stephanie]

Inequality is the new progressive/Democrat/commie talking point to PIT the people in this country AGAINST each other

another form of Class Warfare

people better get a clue already

 

[PredFan]

There used to be an incentive for the wealth to somewhat trickle down as a consumer with disposable income was the goal of capitalism but today the financial markets are so rigged that we are in effect paying tribute to these people and the goal is simply to skim off the top of everything while contributing little to overall prosperity.

Capitalism isn't about wealth trickling down. That is a side effect. If the middle class is waiting for trickle down wealth well then they are pretty stupid and that's why they are stuck.

 

[peach174]

It's plain old common sense.
Does someone who is getting aid actually get out of poverty or does it keep you dependent on that aid?
It keeps you dependent.
Free markets help the poor.
History and statistics have proved it over and over, again and again.

Free Markets Help the Poor Better Than Aid Does | Michel Kelly-Gagnon

It is just amazing how many people buy into the lies that Socialists put out there on inequality.

 

[georgephillip]

No one has benefitted more from capitalism more than poor people. Their quality of life is a million times better than it used to be.

Do you have any proof of that statement?

"In a world of plenty why are hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of people vulnerable at all? The vulnerable and exploited exist because of an inherently unjust social-economic system, which has caused extreme global inequality and built a divided and fractured world society."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

I don't really care about other countries.

Just compare the "poor" in the US to the rest of the world and you have to come to the conclusion that our system is better for poor people.

Do you care that the US has 5% of the world's population yet consumes 30% of natural resources?

 

[Stephanie]

Do you have any proof of that statement?

"In a world of plenty why are hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of people vulnerable at all? The vulnerable and exploited exist because of an inherently unjust social-economic system, which has caused extreme global inequality and built a divided and fractured world society."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

I don't really care about other countries.

Just compare the "poor" in the US to the rest of the world and you have to come to the conclusion that our system is better for poor people.

Do you care that the US has 5% of the world's population yet consumes 30% of natural resources?

holy smokes
so how do you suggest we stop from doing that?
all move back into caves? grass huts, burn elephant dung for heating? so we can be, Equal

 

[Stephanie]

this is from truthout, a commie propaganda site

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Once again...an appropriate place to put this famous debate with Milton Friedman

 

[peach174]

Where is Democracy to be found in a world where the three richest individuals have assets that exceed the combined GDP of 47 countries?

A world where the richest 2% of global citizens "own" more than 51% of global assets?

Ready for the best part?

Capitalism ensures an already bad problem will only get worse.

"The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that income inequality 'first started to rise in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in America and Britain (and also in Israel)'.
"The ratio between the average incomes of the top 5 per cent to the bottom 5 per cent in the world increased from 78:1 in 1988, to 114:1 in 1993..."

"Stiglitz relays that from 1988 to 2008 people in the world’s top 1 per cent saw their incomes increase by 60 per cent, while those in the bottom 5 per cent had no change in their income.

"In America, home to the 2008 recession, from 2009 to 2012, incomes of the top 1 per cent in America, many of which no doubt had a greedy hand in the causes of the meltdown, increased more than 31 per cent, while the incomes of the 99 per cent grew 0.4 per cent less than half a percentage point."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

There are alternatives that don't require infinite "growth."

What type of system of Government started to rise in the 70's and 80's in those countries?
Socialism. Government assistance programs.

 

[Seawytch]

We created the inequality, we can fix it.

 

[georgephillip]

Seeing how much of modern technology wouldn't exist if not for capitalism and freedom of thought. I'll just have to say that life would be utter hell without capitalism.

When has pure socialism been successful? The human economy works like a engine...You need input and out put. Socialism is only good at output....

How are you defining "input" and "output"?
Modern technology stems from human labor and much of the research that has made it possible comes from public and not private capital.

 

[editec]

.

I'll try again.

Clearly there are people here who are more than willing to point out what they perceive to be the evils of capitalism.

Capitalism does not necessarily lead to evil but it must lead to wealth inequity. Capitalism require capital formation.

• 
  New regulations you'd like to see on business -

• 
  
  I'd like to see us change the way we treat corporations. Specifically we need to rethink the LIMITED LIABILITY corporation. Also corporations are NOT people and money is NOT speech.
  
  
  

  Specific marginal income tax rates

  Progreessive taxation works and suit a capitalist society. We simply need to mess with the numbers a bit. right now the stupidly rich pay almost no taxes.
  
  
  

  [*]Macro comparisons with other countries

  
  

  [*]Constitutional amendments, if any

  
  

  [*]New culturally-oriented laws, if any

  
  

  [*]Any other specifics of any kind

  
  We should treat ALL INCOME the same as it regards taxes.

 

[Stephanie]

We created the inequality, we can fix it.

Yeah, we can give everyone unicorns too

they tried FIXING poverty and we still have the same amount and worse today

You people go take YOUR money and go FIX inequality...We are sick of your pie in sky ideas of some liberal utopia and sucking our blood, sweat and tears and monies from OUR FAMILES

 

[georgephillip]

Where is Democracy to be found in a world where the three richest individuals have assets that exceed the combined GDP of 47 countries?

A world where the richest 2% of global citizens "own" more than 51% of global assets?

Ready for the best part?

Capitalism ensures an already bad problem will only get worse.

"The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that income inequality 'first started to rise in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in America and Britain (and also in Israel)'.
"The ratio between the average incomes of the top 5 per cent to the bottom 5 per cent in the world increased from 78:1 in 1988, to 114:1 in 1993..."

"Stiglitz relays that from 1988 to 2008 people in the world’s top 1 per cent saw their incomes increase by 60 per cent, while those in the bottom 5 per cent had no change in their income.

"In America, home to the 2008 recession, from 2009 to 2012, incomes of the top 1 per cent in America, many of which no doubt had a greedy hand in the causes of the meltdown, increased more than 31 per cent, while the incomes of the 99 per cent grew 0.4 per cent less than half a percentage point."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

There are alternatives that don't require infinite "growth."

What type of system of Government started to rise in the 70's and 80's in those countries?
Socialism. Government assistance programs.

Reagan and Thatcher were not socialists.

"Income and wealth inequality have always existed. However, the worldwide gap between the 'rich and the rest', as Stiglitz puts it, 'widened even more, right up through about World War II'.

"But it took the combined doctrinal political idealism of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (in power during 1979-90) and US President Ronald Reagan (1981-89) to hyper-accelerate levels of inequality, and set the divisive competitive tone for the years that followed."

Spotlight on Worldwide Inequality

 

[Seawytch]

We created the inequality, we can fix it.

Yeah, we can give everyone unicorns too

they tried FIXING poverty and we still have the same amount and worse today

You people go take YOUR money and go FIX inequality...We are sick of your pie in sky ideas of some liberal utopia and sucking our blood, sweat and tears and monies from OUR FAMILES

When we fought the war on poverty, we were winning. When we stopped fighting, we started losing again. Imagine that?

According to Joseph Califano, who worked in the Johnson White House, “the portion of Americans living below the poverty line dropped from 22.2 percent to 12.6 percent, the most dramatic decline over such a brief period in this century.” That’s a staggering 43 percent reduction. In six years.​

Marco Rubio Is Wrong: The War on Poverty Worked

The War on Poverty’s surprising success

Don't you get SS?

 

[iamwhatiseem]

One thing the socialist morons always ignore (besides every conceivable and historical fact pointing the opposite since the dawn of man) - is the "evils" of capitalism don not arise from capitalism itself.
Extreme inequality arises from crony-capitalism. Or if you prefer a corrupt capitalist system.
Capitalism can only be corrupt with the help of government. Or the duplicity of government.
And this is what we have today. We do not have proper capitalism anymore. We have a bastardized corrupt system that extracts wealth rather than builds it.