5 ms·
Many forget History. Especially since the fall of Berlin's Wall, capitalism went wild. The threat of communism disappeared. Beware the backlash. Capitalism is I
by fabrice1 9y ago
Many forget History. Especially since the fall of Berlin's Wall, capitalism went wild. The threat of communism disappeared. Beware the backlash. Capitalism is I believe the best way to move forward. We need to develop a more human capitalism. Profit must be share. Not just with investors, shareholders. We need to stop "maximization" profits by squeezing wages...lets aim to reasonable profits
- tabtab 9y ago"Communism" and "capitalism" are not mutually exclusive. As I interpret the terms as usually used today, communism is mostly a political system while capitalism is an economic system. As China and Singapore show, (mostly) capitalism and totalitarianism can exist in the same country. Similarly, "democracy" and "capitalism" can be independent things. But I realize the terms are not so clear cut: history shuffled things since they were coined.
- fabrice1 9y agoYes today "Communism" and "capitalism" are not mutually exclusive. I was referring of the general understanding of communisn as an economic and political system. Indeed I believe-correct me if I'm wrong- China gradually buried the economic side in the early eighties with Deng Xioping. Capitalism can be a hard place when you are left behind but is the best system coupled with democracy and freedom of speech. My idea of human capitalism is to share profits with those left behind. Imagine if all businesses shared their profits. Utopic? I don't think so. We just need to push for it. I myself was homeless, rough sleeping before getting back on track. I now prepare to launch a start-up with the idea of sharing profits with those left behind. Radically lifting homeless families out of the streets in India. That what I call human capitalism
- tabtab 9y agoDo you mean voluntarily sharing? The biggest problem I see with that is that during recessions, the ratio of need to "sharers" goes way up.
- fabrice1 9y agoYes voluntarily sharing (10%) and why not "obligatory sharing" by law (although I'm not a partisan of it right now)but if this idea of businesses sharing with those left behind spread it could forced businesses to share by public pressure. CSR is too often a joke, a token contribution to give the illusion they care. If the ratio of need to "sharers" goes up maybe the sharing may increase. But it is a whole new culture that would have to be nurture. Most of investors, shareholders are let's say a bit selfish. But if we can convince them it is in their self-interest to learn to share it may work. History is a constant reminder that when people are too unhappy the "elite" is in trouble. People need hope they can move up the social ladder.
- atmosx 9y agoA human capitalism? Brecht would have a laugh or two :-)
- fabrice1 9y ago"Washington’s law (1792), the first American law on profit sharing, said that the tax credits would be divided 5/8 to the crew and 3/8 to the owners, recognizing that both workers and shareholders play an important role in building up an industry. Furthermore, the law said that the ship owners could only benefit from the tax credits if they honored the broad-based profit sharing on profits on the entire catch that was common in this industry for well over a century. When Jefferson asked the largest ship owner in Philadelphia about the practice, he said that the ships with profit sharing were more productive and more efficient than the ships with simply fixed wages." I would call it human capitalism making sense economically http://fortune.com/2014/04/17/southwest-airlines-profit-sharing-payout-what-capitalism-should-be/ http://fortune.com/2014/04/17/southwest-airlines-profit-shar...
- marenkay 9y ago> The threat of communism disappeared And the thought that capitalism might be a threat disappeared too. Though up to this point it ain't proven that either capitalism or communism is better. So far it looks like both have just fallen prey to the inert greed of human beings.