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Capitalism Saves Lives

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Comments

  • TruckerT
    TruckerT Posts: 1,714 Forumite
    edited 14 May 2013 at 4:57PM
    pqrdef wrote: »
    The problem with Bangladeshi factories is that they're all in competition with each other. Even now, there's no point in any factory owner pricing his factory out of the market. It's not like the costs of improvements are going to come out of his own pocket.

    It was the same in this country. Improvements in factory and mine safety came with legislation and the setting up of inspectorates, to keep the playing field level.

    What didn't usually work was competition for workers. On the contrary, workers on piecework always tended to resent and resist anything that might reduce their production rate.

    Health and Safety legislation rules ok! Don't knock it...

    TruckerT
    According to Clapton, I am a totally ignorant idiot.
  • Ionkontrol
    Ionkontrol Posts: 802 Forumite
    GlaxoSmithKline accused of market 'abuse'



    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22212558

    Total scum company. I could tell some stories about them.
  • grizzly1911
    grizzly1911 Posts: 9,965 Forumite
    antrobus wrote: »
    I think you're missing the point. In the capitalist system you have a mechanism for determining what exactly constitutes the 'ultimate benefit'. It's called the market. In the collective system you don't. So the ultimate benefit gets determined by some apparatchiks.

    The market doesn't produce the ultimate benefit at the individual level either.

    Markets aren't free.

    I did say in the ideal world.
    "If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....

    "big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham
  • padington
    padington Posts: 3,121 Forumite
    purch wrote: »
    It should be obvious that currently alongside appropriate regulation and proper checks and balances, Capitalism is the only viable system that can achieve this

    In an ideal World we would hope an Economic and Social system could be devised that is fairer and more inclusive, but in recent history most alternative systems have been anything but, and have left the ordinary citizens in a far worse position, and a ruling elite with far too much malevolent power

    I always find in life it's best not to judge yourself by the lowest common denominator. There was some wisdom in Marxism which if sewn into capitalism the right way using new technology perhaps could create a healthier system

    Nationalism often concentrated the power into the hands of one person. Capitalism in the hands of the few. It's possible the next ism could see the card pushed even further in the right direction. Lets be open to it.
    Proudly voted remain. A global union of countries is the only way to commit global capital to the rule of law.
  • gazter
    gazter Posts: 931 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    TruckerT wrote: »
    Some will say that the people of Bangladesh are better off with the exploitation of capitalism than they would be without it.

    But the people of Bangladesh should look very closely at the current collapse in the Western world of much of the capitalist theory about equal chances for all.

    TruckerT

    By 'collapse' you mean the highest standard of living in the history of mankind? Where even the poorest have a standard of living that a King centuries ago would give his entire kingdom for?
  • gazter
    gazter Posts: 931 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    ILW wrote: »
    Go back 30 or 40 years and clothes were much more expensive (compared to incomes) but people did not walk around naked. It is a matter of choices.

    Yes, as capitalism has made us all unimaginably richer, it has meant less and less of our income is necessary to provide our basic needs.
  • TruckerT
    TruckerT Posts: 1,714 Forumite
    gazter wrote: »
    By 'collapse' you mean the highest standard of living in the history of mankind? Where even the poorest have a standard of living that a King centuries ago would give his entire kingdom for?

    In times gone by, kings would send their lackeys round on horseback to take money from hard-working people in order to ensure the kings' extravagant lifestyle, and subdue the poor.

    These days, the banks are king, and they take the money at the click of a mouse.

    TruckerT
    According to Clapton, I am a totally ignorant idiot.
  • Generali
    Generali Posts: 36,411 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    TruckerT wrote: »
    In times gone by, kings would send their lackeys round on horseback to take money from hard-working people in order to ensure the kings' extravagant lifestyle, and subdue the poor.

    These days, the banks are king, and they take the money at the click of a mouse.

    TruckerT

    The poorest 10% in the UK today are richer than all but the richest 1% in England 300 years ago.

    The difference has been delivered by Capitalism.

    Nobody cares about your conspiracy theories. Look at life expectancy and standards of living. That has all been delivered by Capitalism.

    Without Capitalism you couldn't have your 4 weeks paid holiday or your welfare cheques. The NHS couldn't be paid for nor mass university education.

    Don't bite the hand that feeds.
  • TruckerT
    TruckerT Posts: 1,714 Forumite
    Generali wrote: »
    Without Capitalism you couldn't have your 4 weeks paid holiday or your welfare cheques. The NHS couldn't be paid for nor mass university education

    All those things becoming less and less commonplace.

    TruckerT
    According to Clapton, I am a totally ignorant idiot.
  • antrobus
    antrobus Posts: 17,386 Forumite
    The market doesn't produce the ultimate benefit at the individual level either.

    Markets aren't free.

    I did say in the ideal world.

    In the ideal world, markets are free.:)
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