Capitalism is so broken it can’t be fixed

[tpntch]

Capitalism is so broken it can’t be fixed.

Is Capitalism broken beyond repair?
Or is it the corrupt political system that impairs Capitalism?
Or is it that there exist an inherent flaw within Capitalism?


Is pure, uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism even possible?


Capitalism is so broken it can

I have no problem with capitalism itself. It works. We need to examine some of the other forces at play that allow for the corruption & greed that people equate with capitalism to exist. Capitalism can work without corruption. Only money will start to flow past the top few percentage where most wealth is held into the hands of the thinkers. The people that solve problems because they have to. Hence the saying, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". The current system will not be repaired because of greed.

 

[Cpt Caveman]

Nobody is making people pay inflated prices for firearms. Folks are doing it of their own free will. I don't like the new prices but if folks will pay 'em then that's what the market will hold. I say let it be. I'm just not buying much right now.

And I disagree with the idea that capitalism can't work without gov't oversight. It would work better without it.

 

[Hohn]

When in reality there would be no "free market" with out the constructs and regulations of the government.

Not strictly true.

The only necessary condition for capitalism is the rule of law. Usually that's in the form of government, but not necessarily.

 

[Stschil]

Pure capitalism is not possible with[STRIKE]out[/STRIKE] the regulation of government.

FIFY

If acted on by a regulating force other than the will of the market, it cannot be pure.

 

[hornadylnl]

Usually that would be true, but there were circumstances that lead people to believe that they must pay these prices. A couple of months ago many people may have believed that AR's, AK's and other assault rifles along with handguns with magazines that had capacities higher 10 rounds may be banned and that if they wanted them they had to buy them now. Even at the inflated prices everyone knows that if these items were banned that the prices could have gone even higher. So I could understand how some buyers may have thought get screwed a little now so that they don't have to get really screwed later on. Unfortunately, for those who did pay these prices based on fear are feeling foolish now.

And those who were selling were factoring in the chance they may never be able to replace their stuff into their prices. You can't have it both ways. You give the panicked buyer a pass because he fears they will be banned so he pays the high prices. Yet you fault the seller for charging more in taking the risk that he may never be able to replace it.

Unless the buyer has been living in a coma for the last 20 years, they've been more than warned to prepare. I have family members who've made fun of me over the years for being a gun nut all the while I warned them. With this last panic they decided they needed to get what they can before they're banned. If they think that I owe it to them to sell my stuff at normal prices, they can go **** themselves but I don't owe them a damn thing.

The republicans have been beating the "they're coming after our guns!" Drum since Obama won his first nomination. They've created such a hysteria tha Obama only needs to say boo and the panic starts. Now these same republicans want to say the panic has no chance of happening. Hypocrites, the whole ****ing lot of them. I won't give these hypocrites the luxury at the chance of my stuff for triple the normal price.

 

[hornadylnl]

So if someone you cared about was in danger and someone said they could save them but it would cost you everything, you'd have nothing but your loved one would be safe. That is taking advantage of you in a unique situation where you feel you don't really have a choice.

Sure we all know that firearms are not a necessity of life (at this point in time) but when in acting in fear people make poor decisions. This fear and poor judgement is exactly what these kinds of people are taking advantage of.

Good thing we have have conservatives like you to save us from ourselves. I think Obama has a cabinet position for you. Buyer Protection Czar.

 

[Hohn]

What hornadylnl is so brilliant stating is this:

In a free market, and exchange does happen unless both parties think they will benefit from it. Now, there are factors that going into that determination by each party-- but they have the option not to transact.

h

 

[indiucky]

If you want to know why capitalism is broken, just read the gouging threads here.

This right here^^^^^^^^

 

[roisigns]

Capitalists are to Marxists what a maiden's neck is to a vampire.

 

[hornadylnl]

For those of you who are heading up this anti gouging crusade, I suggest you put your money where your fingertips are. Most of us can all agree that there will be an economic crisis in the near future and there will be a food shortage. Invest thousands of your dollars into starting a food pantry. Then when the grocery store shelves are empty, sell your goods only for what you paid for them. Even to those who made fun of you. And if you hold anything back for yourself, you're a greedy hoarder. If you don't sell your last can of beans to the entitled, ungrateful **** at your doorstep, shame on you.

 

[fallenangel1]

Nobody is making people pay inflated prices for firearms. Folks are doing it of their own free will. I don't like the new prices but if folks will pay 'em then that's what the market will hold. I say let it be. I'm just not buying much right now.

And I disagree with the idea that capitalism can't work without gov't oversight. It would work better without it.

Were not talking about buying dog treats at your local Wal-Mart that has 3 other stores within 2 miles. At that point in time there was no competition and people were afraid and making poor decision.

Now imagine after Sandy Hook you are a father that at that time did not own any weapons at all and due to the AWB scare and the tragedy of Sandy Hook you felt that you needed to purchase a weapon to protect you and your family. But every LGS was sold out, you ask some friends and they all say good things about Glocks, easy to use and no multiple safeties to deal with. Its good for personal and home protection. So left with out any options you resort to buying off of armslist and see that prices are much higher than you expected. But everyone is saying that these weapons will be banned soon and this is what your knowledgeable friends said you should buy. So for the sake of buying a quality weapon to protect your family you pay the high price.

We wouldnt allow adults to mislead children to take advantage of them. Whats the difference? Adults can be as naive as some children if they do not posses the proper knowledge about an item or the market surrounding it. Buyers may just be ignorant or honestly believe that they do not have a choice in the matter. Why else would someone willing pay nearly 2x what something is actually worth?

As for capitalism being able to work better without government regulation that is just naive and ignorant in itself. With out regulation we would have to deal with a whole mess of problems that people do not care about when all they are after is to make a profit.

Some of which would be pollution, unsafe products, taking advantage of the work force, all kinds of fraud and theft, there'd be no more warning labels or ingredient lists or FDA regulations or protections, not to mention public projects, without the government there are little to no profits in building streets or bridges or advancing healthcare and without a government there would be no local or federal law enforcement or national defense what about things that should not be bought or sold without regulations or law enforcement people would sell anything that someones will to pay for, we could re-introduce slavery there would be an unopposed market for child porn as well as any other criminal actives that as a society we deem as unfit. We then might as well accept monopolies where they force out all other manufactures and then charge insane costs for inferior products, just because they can. I could go on .. but I get the feeling I'd be wasting my time with some of you.

Keep on believing that our world would be better without a government, the fact that we have a government allows you to the right to think however you'd like is what is truly most important and if you choose to live in denial of what said government actually does accomplish for us that's your choice as well.

 

[roisigns]

Proverbs 11:26
"People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell."

Hoarder or seller...Which are you?

 

[fallenangel1]

Proverbs 11:26
"People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell."

Which are you?

Either without regulation is not good.

Without regulation the one who sells can ask for what? a night with your wife? Your daughter? Or anything that you have that is of value.

And the one who hoards will let you and your family die of starvation to save his and his own.

 

[rambone]

I want to buy silver for $5.00 per ounce the way I could a few years ago. Greedy price gougers.

 

[Hohn]

So fallenangel, I ask you this hypothetical:

Hurricane Katrina wipes out large portions of the South. They have no gasoline. Some enterprising folks start trucking gasoline down there and charge like $7/gallon.


Right or wrong for them to deliver gasoline at that price?

 

[fallenangel1]

You cant directly compare limited quantity items or minerals to something that is being mass produced. The limited nature of silver is exactly what makes it valuable and correlates to it's market value.

 

[roisigns]

You cant directly compare limited quantity items or minerals to something that is being mass produced. The limited nature of silver is exactly what makes it valuable and correlates to it's market value.

In the short term, the quantity of everything is limited, including AR-15s etc. If you don't believe me, check your LGS.

P.S. Gasoline is mass produced in a factory called a refinery.

 

[fallenangel1]

So fallenangel, I ask you this hypothetical:

Hurricane Katrina wipes out large portions of the South. They have no gasoline. Some enterprising folks start trucking gasoline down there and charge like $7/gallon.


Right or wrong for them to deliver gasoline at that price?

It wouldn't happen because even at that price there is no profit to be had, If a private citizen did what you proposed they would have to pay retail + transportation + distribution.

If a corporation did this they may be able to turn a hefty profit and it could be considered gouging. But you're still stuck in the situation that these people do not have access to money, that coupled with government regulations and public outcry at the companies taking advantage of the situation would be a PR nightmare. Which in the long run would hurt their profits.

 

[chizzle]

Pure capitalism doesn't exist. Nor does *any* pure -ism.

But it matters a lot WHERE you are on the spectrum..


Several great posters in this thread of beat me to it, so I'll just tip my hat to them.

h

Magnetism?

 

[roisigns]

Orgism...oh wait, they may not be pure.