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The trust placed in the US’s constitutional and legal frameworks to safeguard transactions is commendable but often doesn't reflect the full picture. While thes
by postpawl 2y ago
The trust placed in the US’s constitutional and legal frameworks to safeguard transactions is commendable but often doesn't reflect the full picture. While these systems are designed to prevent overt harm, they frequently fail to protect against subtler forms of exploitation prevalent in many capitalist enterprises. For instance, industries like fast food and tobacco not only legally sell products known to harm health, but they also heavily market these to vulnerable populations, maximizing profit at the expense of public well-being.
This issue isn't just about individual interactions or the inherent honesty of our society; it's about systemic structures that prioritize profit over people. The reality is that our economic model often allows, and sometimes encourages, practices that are detrimental to consumer interests but beneficial to corporate bottom lines.
- kstenerud 2y ago> The reality is that our economic model often allows, and sometimes encourages, practices that are detrimental to consumer interests but beneficial to corporate bottom lines. Thank you for proving my point. There is no such thing as a perfect system, and there never will be. Human society is simply too complex to be modeled perfectly - and without a perfect model, a perfect system is an impossibility. That doesn't mean we shouldn't seek to improve it, but it ALSO doesn't at all detract from the marvelous, unlikely miracle we witness every day and are so blasé about that we'd even contemplate supporting those who intend to burn it to the ground. Every time I bring this subject up, the curmudgeons always come out to tell us how bad we have it today. And they can do it too, because everyone who experienced the before times is now dead and can't speak up (I'm only old enough to speak up about the air pollution). Only a careful study of history can give a (partial) picture of just how shitty life was for 99% of people compared to today.
- postpawl 2y agoWhile it's true that no system is perfect, recognizing the US's achievements doesn't mean we should overlook its flaws, especially when they're as tangible as rapidly rising costs for essentials like housing and healthcare. The harsh conditions of the past shouldn't justify complacency today. Instead (as Rawls recommends), we should acknowledge these challenges should compel us to strive for a fairer distribution of resources and opportunities, ensuring progress continues for future generations.
- jahewson 2y agoCould you criticise US capitalism in the form of a sea shanty?
- jahewson 2y agoI’m not sure why you’d place the blame on capitalism for this set of problems. If the reward were status or sainthood or whatever else, enough people would still be sufficiently motivated to mistreat each other. That the reward is “profit” in the form of some government money tokens doesn’t seem particularly important. If you look at the food in the US for example one of the most distorted elements is the abundance of high fructose corn syrup - because the government subsidises it.
- postpawl 2y agoThe issue isn't simply that profit motivates bad behavior, but rather how our capitalist system, particularly through lobbying and legislation, disproportionately amplifies the influence of well-capitalized interests. For instance, the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup in our food supply isn’t just a random government subsidy; it's a direct result of agricultural subsidies shaped by powerful lobbies. These policies don’t emerge in a vacuum but are crafted in ways that systematically benefit the incumbents with the most capital, often at the expense of public health and smaller competitors. This underscores a structural imbalance where laws and subsidies are swayed more by capital than by the collective welfare of the populace.