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The conflation of slavery with capitalism is too easy a target, so I'll address a highlight: "what’s striking about capitalism is that we’re all trying to esca
by bentona 8y ago
The conflation of slavery with capitalism is too easy a target, so I'll address a highlight:
"what’s striking about capitalism is that we’re all trying to escape it — even most of the capitalists — because it makes us so miserable, mean, and foolish."
Philanthropy is not "escaping" capitalism. Going to mars is not "escaping" capitalism. Achieving financial independence is not "escaping" capitalism. These are all choices that are enabled via the autonomy that capitalism grants. Yes, some people are consumed solely by the pursuit of money, but capitalism is about choice, not money.
Many choose to exercise their capitalism-granted autonomy by giving things to others. There is absolutely nothing contradictory about charity in a purely capitalistic system, and is in fact, given that charity by definition is voluntary, only possible sans coercion.
- jraph 8y agoCharity makes sense in a capitalistic world, because some people get the "choice" of being poor in it.
- sillyquiet 8y agoin contrast to government-owns-the-means-of-production socialist systems, where nobody gets the choice to not be poor.
- anonuser123456 8y agoThat's not true. The ruling elite make out quite well in such arrangements.
- jraph 8y agoA worse system does not make another one better.
- lrdd 8y agoDoes the lack of any better solution justify it?
- polyphonic01 8y agoMany people do. Many poor people make bad life decisions which lead them, unfortunately, into their poverty.
- ddw 8y agoAnd many people choose to be born into poverty with never a chance to succeed.
- ttonkytonk 8y agoActually, if you think about it, capitalism (in the U.S. at least) really doesn't give you the choice to be poor, essentially requiring you to live at a relatively high standard.