Re: Capitalism bv Communism
What does "bv" mean? Was that supposed to be "vs"?
Communism has always been plagued by high levels of corruption because well, people are people*. Capitalism can be plagued by high levels of corruption because well, people are people. However historically the best functioning system based on example seems to be Capitalism because it rewards effort with reward. Communism does not, at least it does not reward individuals with $, the way Capitalism does. Humans are motivated more by self enrichment than they are by community enrichment.
However for any system to function properly corruption must be stamped out. And because a goodly portion of human beings tend to become selfish with position, power, and weatlh, any system needs to have regulations in place that prevent those holding the strings from taking advantage of little people/working class, however you want to label them. Yes it IS government interfering with free enterprise just because people in many cases are selfish, greedy people. The selfishness/inflated ego trend is clearly visible in corporate boardrooms. The government is the only entity that stands in the way of average people being trampled upon by creating regulations that dictate min wage, work hours, retirement programs, etc.
If you want a good example of what Capitalism without regulations can be for the working class, look at the 1800s. If you were a mogul it was outstanding. If you were working class I think it could have been miserable. There were no labor laws that I am aware of. The system was trickle down. The wealthy ate the cake and the crumbs fell off the plate for the rest of the citizens. However it can be argued it was that system in a good location (N.America) that created a very wealthy country. (Well it used to be wealthy...)
Philosophically the question is, how should that wealth be distributed? How much do you need to live a good life? If you are the best darn CEO there is, how much do you need 3 million a year or 30 million? That extra 27 million is coming right out of someone elses pockets- investor or worker. What is moral? Individuals have to have some common basis of morality to have that discussion. How much individual reward is good for a society and at what level does it become a negative? Anyone here think a baseball player should be making 100 million? Or a baseball owner 500 million (especially when he had his stadium built at tax payer expense)?
Is there anyone here who could not live a most wonderful life on just 1 million a year?
*I read in a book on Virginia that when the colony was first created, the model used was "communial" such as having a common storehouse for grain. However the leader, John Smith observed there were lazy bastards among the colonists so it's reported he declared "If Ye will not work, Ye will not eat!!".
