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Capitalism is based on there being a customer. All the capital in the world doesn't do any good if there's not a buyer on the other end. Another argument for

Capitalism is based on there being a customer. All the capital in the world doesn't do any good if there's not a buyer on the other end. Another argument for a strong middle class.

darrencauthon 14y ago
Capitalism is not based on the existence of a customer. It's based in freedom, in the right of every individual to do what he or she wants to do with his or her own life and property. Of course, if there is no customer, there can be no sale. However, the sale itself isn't always the point. Sometimes people do things just for the fun of it -- and that's capitalism, too.
smokeyj 14y ago
> Capitalism is based on there being a customer. All the capital in the world doesn't do any good if there's not a buyer on the other end. Another argument for a strong middle class. I fail to see how these sentences form an "argument".
michaelochurch 14y ago
The idea that the upper class depends on the middle class is false. Establishment and talent are natural enemies. I would like to see us destroy the upper class (maybe "dismantle" is a better word; I don't see violent revolution producing anything good) and build a society that is robust against social elites and upper-class parasitism-- ideally a society where there are no entrenched social classes-- but I'm probably dreaming on that one. Yes, they need a healthy middle class if they want to keep a capitalist economy going. Here's the depraved little secret: they don't actually care that much about having a capitalist economy. Social elites are almost always parasitic and actually quite non-ideological. If we were a communist or fascist state, it'd be the same people in charge, but instead of being corporate executives, they'd be government bureaucrats. They don't give a shit about "capitalism" or "socialism" so long as it's them on top. The ideology is something they tune to the peasants' shifting tastes. It's not about economic well-being for them. It's about status. In a robust capitalist and technological economy, they get private jets. If the U.S. becomes Third World, they get white maids. Both are essentially status symbols, and they don't have an intrinsic attachment to one over the other, but they'd rather reign in hell than serve in heaven.
adrianscott 14y ago
humans have time. that is a form of capital. humans have needs. there is no shortage of customers. before currencies, there is trade. who is the customer in a trade before currency? it's an exchange, not a purchase by a customer from a seller.

Capitalism is based on there being a customer. All the capital in the world doesn't do any good if there's not a buyer on the other end. Another argument for a strong middle class.

darrencauthon 14y ago

Capitalism is not based on the existence of a customer. It's based in freedom, in the right of every individual to do what he or she wants to do with his or her own life and property. Of course, if there is no customer, there can be no sale. However, the sale itself isn't always the point. Sometimes people do things just for the fun of it -- and that's capitalism, too.

smokeyj 14y ago

> Capitalism is based on there being a customer. All the capital in the world doesn't do any good if there's not a buyer on the other end. Another argument for a strong middle class. I fail to see how these sentences form an "argument".

michaelochurch 14y ago

The idea that the upper class depends on the middle class is false. Establishment and talent are natural enemies. I would like to see us destroy the upper class (maybe "dismantle" is a better word; I don't see violent revolution producing anything good) and build a society that is robust against social elites and upper-class parasitism-- ideally a society where there are no entrenched social classes-- but I'm probably dreaming on that one. Yes, they need a healthy middle class if they want to keep a capitalist economy going. Here's the depraved little secret: they don't actually care that much about having a capitalist economy. Social elites are almost always parasitic and actually quite non-ideological. If we were a communist or fascist state, it'd be the same people in charge, but instead of being corporate executives, they'd be government bureaucrats. They don't give a shit about "capitalism" or "socialism" so long as it's them on top. The ideology is something they tune to the peasants' shifting tastes. It's not about economic well-being for them. It's about status. In a robust capitalist and technological economy, they get private jets. If the U.S. becomes Third World, they get white maids. Both are essentially status symbols, and they don't have an intrinsic attachment to one over the other, but they'd rather reign in hell than serve in heaven.

adrianscott 14y ago

humans have time. that is a form of capital. humans have needs. there is no shortage of customers. before currencies, there is trade. who is the customer in a trade before currency? it's an exchange, not a purchase by a customer from a seller.