NationStates Jolt Archive

One of the oldest debates. My interest in this topic was sparked as I recently discovered The Communist Manifesto on my bookshelf. No idea how that got there. I did not put it there! I swear! Anyway, which is the better form of Government and Economics? I say Capitalism.

Socialism. Easily. Hands down.

Socialism.

All tied up...

All tied up...
Now socialism winning... I will try not to provide any more running commentary...

Capitalism owns j00 4ll.

Capitalism owns j00 4ll.

I'll grant that it is indeed among the most, if not *the* most selfish and materialist system ever devised. It owns socialism on that count.

Doh! Maybe we socialists need some grassroots energy to rock the polls.

Capitalism is best.

Capitalism its the only system that is for the individual rather than the masses and it works well to unlike socialism which is proven to be shit. Also capitalism is in my view not necessarily selfish thats what charity is for everyone enjoys and loves capitalism its funny that people will bitch about it and then run out and buy a bunch of shit

abetterearth.org has a funny video on capitalism check it out

The problem you run into with socialism, is that everyone just does the easiest jobs, and no one will do the important jobs. Why bother? You make the same amount either way, and no one cares if you work harder. Without benifits to working harder, no one will. Human Nature 101. Cap works, Social dosn't.

It depends on whether you are driven by egocentric motivation, or altruistic motivation. Capitalism thrives on the former, socialism thrives on the latter. However, the majority of people are egocentric, and it is by default how humans are.

I don't think a socialist/altruistic nation is impossible. But you'd have to swim against the river of how humans naturally think. Capitalism on the other hand 'goes with the flow', meeting little resistance, and as such is much easier.

Capitalism made Paris Hilton who she is today.

The problem you run into with socialism, is that everyone just does the easiest jobs, and no one will do the important jobs. Why bother? You make the same amount either way, and no one cares if you work harder. Without benifits to working harder, no one will. Human Nature 101. Cap works, Social dosn't.

The concept of human nature is bullshit- If we were all naturally selfish and cared only about individual advancement above everyone else, we would all be lone hunter-gatherers who killed any other of the same sex in order to preserve and improve our chances to reproduce with the opposite sex. Think about it.

It depends on whether you are driven by egocentric motivation, or altruistic motivation. Capitalism thrives on the former, socialism thrives on the latter. However, the majority of people are egocentric, and it is by default how humans are.

Both are just property systems. One can be selfish or altruistic in either framework.

Both are just property systems. One can be selfish or altruistic in either framework.

Not true. One can be either selfish or altruistic in a capitalist system. But try being selfish in a socialist system, and the secret police will be at your door to enforce "altruism."

Not true. One can be either selfish or altruistic in a capitalist system. But try being selfish in a socialist system, and the secret police will be at your door to enforce "altruism."

Secret police? Wtf are you on?

socialism no doubt about it.

I think that the best economy is a mixed one. A capitalist system will inevitably work the best, but it should be insured that everyone's basic needs are met, so equal oppurtunities for education, necessary medicine, housing, and food. Although this should apply to the people who actually work, to prevent some from milking the system.

Socialism works in theory, but has been consistently proven not to. In a society where all others are equals, there will always be someone who feels that they are more equal than others. I agree with what has previously been stated; that human nature runs with capitalism, socialism against it. I personally think that socialism is more sustainable in the long term than capitalism in terms of finite global resources. In theory! However, we know right now from the Chinese that this isn't the case. There just happens to be an enormous, untapped coal seam in China which is going to be burned to the detriment of the rest of the world.

I'd vote in favour of Socialism instead of Capitalism. Do note that Communism and Socialism show similarities, but are not entirely the same. I am a Socialist/Social-Democrat myself and I think the only way the world can become a better place is by showing more compassion for poor regions and countries. Economical boundaries cause problems for poor countries to export their goods to the US or Europe and surprisingly enough, you could say that protectionism, which could be linked to capitalism, is the cause of that. The measures taken to avoid cheaper foreign products to enter the US/Europe are importquota and/or importtaxes. (for non-NAFTA or non-EU countries) Besides that example, I'm also in favour of taking care of people who seem to live in poverty in your own country. It seems perfectly natural to me that you make sure that anyone can live a normal life, no matter what their income is. In capitalist societies, however, that isn't quite the case. People are obliged to get a job, but if there aren't many around for receiving an income, you'd be poor and unemployed and probably even homeless.

Not true. One can be either selfish or altruistic in a capitalist system. But try being selfish in a socialist system, and the secret police will be at your door to enforce "altruism."

BS. In anarcho-communism, at least, if you are selfish, people will simply decide that they don't want to share with you. There's nothing about secret police in many forms of socialism.

I don't usually bother locking duplicate topics (else I'd toast just about every lame Bush/Kerry thread) but there's already a Socialism vs Capitalism poll on the first page.

Hence, locked.


http://www.satanstephen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/DrChaotica.jpg (http://www.satanstephen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/taunt1.mp3)
Myrth
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