the main problem with the globe

This is where you are so completely out of touch with reality.  It may be called "capitalism" but it's not what we have in the US.  Just look at the basis for everything, the USD (Federal Reserve Note).  What are the mandates of the Fed:

Tell me, are any of those 3 stated goals capitalistic?  They sure all seem socialist to me.  And just like any socialist society, the US will fail because you eventually run out of productive members of the society to plunder.

Ahh, just like any good socialist, you got yours from pludering others.  You've commented about how low your electric bill is because you plunder others to pay for it via massive solar subsidies.  Then you use the fact that your bill is ultra low to point out how little impact a carbon tax would have on you.

"there are loads of socialists there too, I have been following some of them, with some admiration I might add,"

 For someone who does not like guns, you sure like to use them to force people to do what you think is good. (indirectly by using the govt that is).

Really? The US is not Capitalistic? It’s just hilarious listening to the sincere protestations that what we really need is more Capitalism in America, because you know, what just happened to us in 2008, you see, this had nothing to do with Capitalism.

And here is where the tut-tut-tut and finger wagging starts, the hands begin waving and gesticulating widely, and  pronouncements are held forth that what we are seeing is not capitalism at all, no, it is (insert –ism of choice, preferably as a pejorative).

Now, a reasonably competent 8^th grade civics student could discern that what passes for political economy in our country has about as much in common with Adam Smith’s version of Wealth of Nations as the William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch, but the reasons why this is so requires us to be informed by history, which tells us clearly, and unequivocally that Capitalism:

-         Inherently, and unavoidably ALWAYS results in centralization and consolidation of capital and other resources, providing fewer choices and reduced freedom to the consumer.

-         Resorts to coercive laws of competition, which ALWAYS requires a growth imperative in order to sustain itself. ONE of symptoms which manifests is the creation of money through convenient quasi corporate/government mergers such as the Federal Reserve Bank, to create a reliable, unfettered supply of CAPTIAL to guess who- the Capitalists.

-         Requires ceaseless expansion of markets to maintain the aforementioned growth imperative using military means if necessary,

-         Requires ceaseless expansion of labor markets to bias surplus value away from the domestic worker, usually presented as a response to regulatory overhang which serves two purposes; a.) It creates a pressure point to reduce domestic regulation of capitalist endeavor, and b.) Provides a plausible excuse as to why all the jobs are disappearing and the ones that remain are at McDonalds.

-         Requires ceaseless expansion in the pursuit of raw materials and other essential resources, using military means if necessary.

-         When consolidated capital reaches a critical mass of assemblage, the target elevates to Government entities, resulting in regulatory and legislative capture, all in pursuit of an unfair playing field to further the profitability of the multi-nationals.

-         Capture of the mainstream media to propagandize the messaging in support of initiatives, ideologies, and political candidates sympathetic to the corporatist agenda.

-         Structural and pathological inability to act a priori with respect to resource allocation, proper regulatory oversight for dangerous for-profit activities, and irresponsible deferral of even basic human rights in pursuit of a profit motive.

Roll all of this up (and more)  and wrap it with a popular culture based entirely on narcissism and Objectivist fiction, and you net out a belief system in the populace that tries, in vain, to support this monstrosity by:

-         Insisting that the only obstacle to getting yours is hard work and honest behavior, which will overcome all adversity.

-         Trying to use inappropriate deduction reasoning methods to deduce why it’s all going wrong.

-         Refusing to recognize even the most obvious of all observations, that the decline of capitalism is intrinsic, and is not caused by external forces, nuances of monetary systems, or governmental overreach. Rather, and here it comes, naively conflating cause with effect, e.g. government policies (some quite destructive) which  are a RESPONSE (and NOT a CAUSE) to an unstable and wilding gyrating free market system that is perpetually on the verge of catastrophic collapse, and left unfettered, will in fact collapse, and catastrophically, EVERY TIME.

-         Valorizing the use of capital, elevating those that exploit others successfully to rock star status, and hold forth those as a shining example of what to aspire to.

-         Denying any effects of global warming or climate change because to do so would recognize an expansion limit, and capital abides no limits. Note the ENTIRE elected field of Republican Representatives and Senators has taken the position against global warming and climate change. Every one.

-         Denying any meaningful environmental consideration, see reasons above.

-         Demonizing the underclass as slovenly, lazy, and undeserving of any middle class existence.

And last, but certainly not least, the compete denial that the sequential assembly of the aforementioned factors leads us from Adam Smith’s 1776 writing to exactly where we are today, every single time.

But other than those minor quibbles- it’s a great system.

No rhare....  our power bills are in credit not just because we have subsidised PVs, but because we only consume 2.2 kWh/day.  I know plenty of people with 3.5 kW of solar on their roof who STILL have to pay for power because their consumption is so excessive.......

Even if we had no solar power, our bills would be $42 a quarter.  And our C tax would amount to $4 a year.

And in any case, I got the subidies because they were on offer, I just played the game.....

Mike

Rhare,

it's all swings and round-a-bouts, or bread and circus's for the masses my friend. Just like the $1.5 trillion dollars from half the US income-tax bill that promotes a socialised military. From a country that uses the magnanimity of digitally created out of thin air dollars to pay for the scarce resources from foreign lands via wistful use of entropy and entrapment, that in many cases were taken first by "coup d'état" - also known as "Coup", "Putsch" or "Overthrow" - in other words by using (legalised?) "Illegal Force" and the way of the "Plunderer" State, by setting standards by laws that are (so far at least) bent in your favour.

Three quarters of the energy burnt in the States today was gotten there over time - mostly at the point of a gun - so that you could be a part of the party that became wealthy enough to afford the sustainable solar system that supplied the hot shower you bathed in, and the burned toast you ate for breakfast this morning.

Welcome to the bigger picture. Any which way you look at it, it's called hypocrisy, and if you dig as deep as this, that includes me too ...

Save your chide, I'm laughing too loud ... ... !!!

~ VF ~

Thanks for that......  a much better reply than I would've mustered!  Americans have the Capitalism they deserve.  Capitalists way back in 1913 decided this, and now you have to live with it.  I prefer to deal with reality, or reality deals with you.

Mike

Darbikrash,

Mannnn!!!! Brilliant, just brilliant!!!!!!

I was writing my last post while you sent yours in!!!!

I needn't bother linking you to my latest Adam Curtis thread I created today. You could just as well be he himself!!!!!!

Much Respect,

~ VF ~

Not this again.........  Greg, I frankly don't care what you think.  I wasn't going to reply to this inflamatory post and even considered flagging it, but AFAIC, people who don't "do what [I] think is good" will simply not survive.

I don't need a gun, that's why I don't have one.  please go away.

Hmm, let's see signed into law by Woodrow Wilson a leader of the progressive movement (socialist lite).  Oh, let's see JP Morgan (also a progressive) major involvement.  Gee, all these capitalists, oops - wait progressives.  Calling the FED a capitalist institution is just plain delusional.  Manipulation of the money supply completely destroys the root of capitalism, without a sound currency, everything else is faulty as we are now seeing.

Wow, you had me fooled!

But you, VF, Darbikrash have all shown your arrogance to your fellow human beings.  I guess you feel you will all be among the chosen elite in the socialist movement since you all seem to enjoy telling others how they must live, as opposed to trying to educate people and allow them to make their own choices.

A nice article was on biggovernment.com today nicely covering the arrogance of those in the progressive movement:

The Audacity of Progressivism

Arrogant, dismissive, and abusive, doing quite well all in one post...No confusion on your view of those you deem to be below you.

FYI - gregroberts was referring to your advocating the force of goverment (the gun - which they have and use if you don't comply).  Hmm, another good place for a link to my favorite article on this subject:

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