And you thought Capitalism was good food?

[Uber Commandante]

We (the Americans on the ybbs) have been forcefed the party line all of our lives that capitalism is Good, socialism is Bad. It has worked to such an extent that even the word 'Socialism' springs to mind images of forced homogeny and dictatorship. Capitalism = freedom and opportunity.

And it does...for some. Take a look at the stories below. I remember looking at the front page of a paper this summer and seeing two headlines: One spoke of record level profits for energy companies and the other spoke of the new energy bill that was signed into law that day providing tax subsidies to energy companies. Here they are:

1) Oil industry awash in record levels of cash

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8646744/

2) Bush Signs Energy Bill Into Law

President Bush on Monday signed a sweeping energy bill that will send billions of dollars in tax subsidies to energy companies, yet do little immediately to ease gas prices or lower reliance on foreign oil.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...w105543D86.DTL

and then I saw today's headline:

3) Senate Nixes Boost in Heating Assistance

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051020/...co/heating_aid

Is unmitagated Capitalism really the bastion of opportunity for the masses? It seems to me that unregulated Capitalism works only for the politico-corporate class that treats legislation and politicians as comodities to be bought and sold. It creates legislation that legitimizes the outright theft of resources from one class and gives to the already wealthy class.

Last point, cuz i was a bit pissed about this today. Money magazine has pointed out that approx. $1600 a year is taken from American taxpayers and given to already profitable corporations as tax subsidies. What this looks like to me is that hard cash is being taken from MY bank account, laundered through the government, and put into some other, already excessivily wealthy individual's bank account. And that makes me dangerously pissed off.

Have a nice day, suckers.

[Gold9472]

In order for the "wealthy" to be "wealthy", the "poor" must be "poor". The richer they get, the poorer we get.

[911=inside job]

i have 3 pages of the book nickel and dimed left to read(pretty good book)... i have to say the rich are fucking assholes... we should eat them for lunch....

[jetsetlemming]

Our poor are the richest in the world, BECAUSE of our capatalistic economy. If it weren't for those rich fuckng assholes, we'd all be poor. You can't get rid of the poor, only lower everyone to the lowest common denominator.

[Uber Commandante]

Our poor are the richest in the world, BECAUSE of our capatalistic economy. If it weren't for those rich fuckng assholes, we'd all be poor. You can't get rid of the poor, only lower everyone to the lowest common denominator.

I think you have drunk to much of the propoganda cool-aid that makes people think that even though they are poor and unrepresented, they are not as bad of ass those OTHER people over THERE...

I never said anything about getting rid of the rich OR getting rid of capatalism. Capatalism CAN work well when it is kept within strict paramaters, just like Socialism can work well when it is kept within strict parameters. The problem arises when either one is allowed to roam the streets with no checks in place. Its not a matter of getting rid of the rich, it s a matter of a more consciousl redistributin of resources. and HEY! maybe even the richest corporations could pay their taxes, since they don't have to now days. THat coudl be a start. How about that?

[jetsetlemming]

its not propoganda. Its thought. Its common sence. History has proved over and over again that capitalism is the best form of economy possible.

[Gold9472]

its not propoganda. Its thought. Its common sence. History has proved over and over again that capitalism is the best form of economy possible.

For the 1%. The "Controlling" Class...

[jetsetlemming]

I think you have drunk to much of the propoganda cool-aid that makes people think that even though they are poor and unrepresented, they are not as bad of ass those OTHER people over THERE...

I never said anything about getting rid of the rich OR getting rid of capatalism. Capatalism CAN work well when it is kept within strict paramaters, just like Socialism can work well when it is kept within strict parameters. The problem arises when either one is allowed to roam the streets with no checks in place. Its not a matter of getting rid of the rich, it s a matter of a more consciousl redistributin of resources. and HEY! maybe even the richest corporations could pay their taxes, since they don't have to now days. THat coudl be a start. How about that?

...so your problem isn't with capitalism, its with the government using capitalism's parameters set on it's economy.

[Gold9472]

...so your problem isn't with capitalism, its with the government using capitalism's parameters set on it's economy.

Watch this.

[PhilosophyGenius]

i have 3 pages of the book nickel and dimed left to read(pretty good book)... i have to say the rich are fucking assholes... we should eat them for lunch....

Ya, but I'm sure you'd be singing a differnt tune if you some how became a zillionare.