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Capital is so trapped up that people don't even have the capital to take care of basic needs.

fuzzfactor 7y ago
Seems to me capital is not just ordinary resources. More like when preservation or a positive return is intended in a businesslike situation, even though negative returns are often encountered. Other people's money can be used to leverage some amazing outcomes. When capitalism is dominated by greedy capitalists, basic needs are not intended to be taken care of, since no return on that type investment can be recognized. When capitalism is dominated by benevolent capitalists, basic needs are intended to be taken care of, since huge return on that type investment can be recognized.
- pizzazzaro 7y ago
  So... How are we to ensure that we have these "benevolent Capitalists"? Seriously. Capitalism has shown twice within 100 years that it will manufacture sociopaths en masse. This is where we are now, and what made the Labor movement possible. (Join the IWW.) This is what created the Great Depression - too much concentrated Capital, too few profitable projects. This is normal to Capitalism - booms and busts that wipe out us little people, but those big players quickly find themselves with enough wealth leftover to live as Feudal Lords. From Cigarette Companies hiding that their product cases cancer to oil companies hiding that their product is actually killing the planet, even as they buy up patents for any competing technologies - the Modern Corporation has proven itself incapable of doing right by our world. Here's a fun documentary on the structure of modern Corporations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMNZXV7jOG0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMNZXV7jOG0
- fuzzfactor 7y ago
  pizzazzaro wrote: >So... How are we to ensure that we have these "benevolent Capitalists"? Good point, that's a tough one. Sometimes there will obviously be a devastating shortage, or none available at all. Maybe the only benevolence some cultures will be able to muster is an incomplete removal of opportunity. I would estimate real benevolence should be obvious to the widest of consensus, and easily distinguishable almost universally from situations where there is some doubt. Not saying it's easy or possible to ensure anything, especially an anti-greed approach during a greed-power consolidation trend lasting longer than a lifetime.

Seems to me capital is not just ordinary resources. More like when preservation or a positive return is intended in a businesslike situation, even though negative returns are often encountered. Other people's money can be used to leverage some amazing outcomes. When capitalism is dominated by greedy capitalists, basic needs are not intended to be taken care of, since no return on that type investment can be recognized. When capitalism is dominated by benevolent capitalists, basic needs are intended to be taken care of, since huge return on that type investment can be recognized.

pizzazzaro 7y ago
So... How are we to ensure that we have these "benevolent Capitalists"? Seriously. Capitalism has shown twice within 100 years that it will manufacture sociopaths en masse. This is where we are now, and what made the Labor movement possible. (Join the IWW.) This is what created the Great Depression - too much concentrated Capital, too few profitable projects. This is normal to Capitalism - booms and busts that wipe out us little people, but those big players quickly find themselves with enough wealth leftover to live as Feudal Lords. From Cigarette Companies hiding that their product cases cancer to oil companies hiding that their product is actually killing the planet, even as they buy up patents for any competing technologies - the Modern Corporation has proven itself incapable of doing right by our world. Here's a fun documentary on the structure of modern Corporations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMNZXV7jOG0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMNZXV7jOG0
fuzzfactor 7y ago
pizzazzaro wrote: >So... How are we to ensure that we have these "benevolent Capitalists"? Good point, that's a tough one. Sometimes there will obviously be a devastating shortage, or none available at all. Maybe the only benevolence some cultures will be able to muster is an incomplete removal of opportunity. I would estimate real benevolence should be obvious to the widest of consensus, and easily distinguishable almost universally from situations where there is some doubt. Not saying it's easy or possible to ensure anything, especially an anti-greed approach during a greed-power consolidation trend lasting longer than a lifetime.