Capitalism and success defined

Let's oversimplify things a bit.

Taking risks is the reward of capitalism, so we were often told by the right. Risk...gamble..Our society has tought us how gambling, with whatever, is much better than actually working, whether through the biggest gambling casino which is Wall street, or some business venture that always starts wit a roll of the American dice. Is it any wonder we are on the verge of collapse now? Let's see...the keys to capitalistic success here.
Outsource expensive American labor in favor of slave labor...check.
Acquire multiple small successful business ventures into one big corporate venture...check.
Exponentially increase profit (not in line with what the product or service is actually worth, just what way to get MORE, the most).....check.
Further increase profit by cutting costs, namely labor...check.
Form a corporation....with all the rights associated with an individual (but negate all of the responsibilities)..check.
Fail, or otherwise go bankrupt, and ask for bailouts..get them..and then tell the government to "butt out" of business...check.
Form a car company, take it for all it's worth for as long as possible, then let the government buy it (after you've extracted enough wealth to sustain your corporate lifestyle)...check.
Get into politics, so you can get limitless cash, perks and retirement (oh yeah...the best healthcare deal in the world), and pass laws that protect you and yours...check.

Let's not actually PRODUCE any product...rather...let's sell a uh hmmm, "service", hype it 50 times a minute with paid advertising, and get other suckers to invest in your scam...check..
Let's sell whatever service we can for the highest amount that we can (whether or not it is actually worth anything). check...
Get book keepers, investment brokers, or other "advisors" to play with the numbers for stock purposes....check..
Get a prescription drug (call your doctor now). They'll have something for everything.. from curing depression to shaky foot syndrome....check...
Start a big boob tube frenzy...develop shows like "American Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars" to keep the medicated masses distracted with a meaningless past time....check...
Import any actual products from China, or any third world country for 7 cents, and sell it for 700 dollars....check..
Import all our oil....tell everyone we need to "drill baby drill" so that that same driilled oil can go onto the world market (not for any exclusive use for the US) and be sold for the benefit of corporate profiteers....check..
Flip real estate...check..
Be against minimum wage..hire illegal aliens..hide your cash off shore....check.
Destroy buildings in NY, claim some other country has "weapons of mass destruction" and then bomb and invade their country (even if you have to make it up), then declare a "war on terrorism" (as to not any specific goal or end date and be able to "extract" limitless dollars in a hidden budget)....check.
Sell some other country weapons and then claim they are "bad people"...check.
Be FOR healthcare for yourself...just against healthcare for everyone...check.
Spend trillions on a manufactured war, and then complain about the "socialists" spending all of our money...check.
Move the homeless to some "less corporate" parts of our cities, where they aren't easily seen by the media...check..
Make it a rule to keep media away from our dead soldiers bodies coming back from war...check.
Pass a broad new set of laws...make things like illegal spying, wire tapping legal, and make the Constitutionally protected rights a thing of the past, and name it something patriotic like...hmm.."The Patriot Act"...check.

Finally....
Make a society where large bodies wealthy "investors" hold a few privately owned Mega conglomerates that control the majority of the lesser "second tier" citizens, extract as much as you can and call it a "corporation". Then merge with other corporations, buy lawmakers, and hire your own political party to represent you (call them republicans), then call it all "business"...."capitalism". Lastly, call anybody who questions the whole thing by naming them a "socialist"..UnAmerican"...

That's what I have learned constitutes the true measure of a "successful" life in America. The folks that can't hack this formula are called losers. We'll just send them to jail or the military when their desperation leads them to some inappropriate act. (or make them work for Fox news).
What have you learned??

 

Um ... where to start?

Taking risks is NOT the reward of capitalism. The reward of capitalism is success. The PRICE of capitalism is risk. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "nothing ventured, nothing gained." Even if you don't believe it, it applies to capitalism.

And as for your screed about investors, the largest holder of stock in America is ... wait for it ... Labor. In the form of union pension funds. And investors aren't some sort of minority. Aproximately 175 million Americans - well over half the population - are in the stock market through IRAs and mutual funds. That's the highest number, in terms of pure numbers and percentage, it has ever been. You might not be, but you're the exception, rather than the rule (in so many ways).

Your comment about Republicans being the party of business, that is not the etched in stone view you seem to think. Do conservatives tend to be pro-business? Sure. HOWEVER, Wall Street tends to prefer split control of the various branches. Then ideologues on either side can't them impose views unilaterally.

And as for the unsuccessful going into the military, well, I put myself through seminary without borrowing a dime - nor having a silver spoon. I have two Master's Degrees. I CHOSE to join the military, and, if you talked to anybody looking to make the military a career, you'll know that desperation is rarely involved in their decision. Usually the motives are far more altruistic.

I've learned quite a bit. How about you?

 

Well said.
It's nice to see that after 2 weeks away, I come back to more of the same stupidity being thrown around by our members of the elitist left. I would love to know where tomc believes innovation, job creation, etc comes from if not from our capitalist system.

 

Um I would have said that they are at there most potent when a country is at war David

 

So, when times are the toughest (what's tougher than war, huh?) capitalism is the answer? I couldn't agree more!

 

How many of the largest stock holders in the form of 401k's really know anything about the stock market other than the two or three "options" "given" by their slave...excuse me....employers to participate in those two or three "gaming" tables available via the checked off boxes their successful gambler...I mean employer...gives them? Yeah...the unions are just running wild...aren't they?
Damn Walmart unions.

 

Spoken like a true extractor. Capitalism. The answer to war. War...then answer tough times. WTG Bush.

 

Okay, serious question...I'm not asking you to look something up on the 'net from a year ago or to even back-up your ideas, I would just like to know that you believe this country should look like. If you we in charge. Who should make the decisions? Please simply answer the question without the rants, hyperbole or going off on a tangent. What corporations should be taken over by the govn't? What specific regulations would you call for? What limits should be set on wealth? Finally, who would set these standards & how would they be enforced?

 

Well David I would be happy to answer your question after you show me were President Obama swore that unemployment woudnt rise above 8.5%, Please simply answer the question without the rants, hyperbole or going off on a tangent just a simple link to the speach

 

Hey tomc!! 2nd request!! C'mon d'orc...tomcoronalight....lehigh...let's be consistent, help me call for tomc to answer the questions.

 

Answering that question properly would require at minimum a five page essay. If you posed that question to me, I would not answer it either. I understand what you are trying to do, but making it that complex gives him an easy out IMO. Maybe if you just asked a philosophical question like, what would your solution be to corporate greed and corruption? When he gives you answer, then ask for specifics. Just my thoughts on the subject.

 

I must say it is refreshing to see you embracing your true political ideologies, tomc.

 

Hey corona...3rd request here!! d'orc, moen? Where's the outrage that a legitimate question is being ignored?

 

I'll answer you Davey if you take on the 911 issue..that is prove me wrong. Otherwise...I will just selectively ignore as you have so patiently taught me to do. Thanks!

 

Heck, I'm not asking you to debate, research or anything else...I'm simply trying to get you to explain your vision of this country. You go on & on about what's what's wrong, I'm just curious to know the specifics on what you would do to make it better. Should be simple enought even for you.

Hey, I'll even help you get started.
tomc:
I know people have enough when......

 

I know people have enough when......there's nothing left to extract. (Fox/Rnc viewpoint)

A country without corporations would be a good start Davey. That would probably lead to less greed.
Happy and continued capitalization/raping of the world, and may its' effects infiltrate you and yours exponentially.

 

What is wrong with greed?

 

This where I'm supposed to insert some lengthy response defining my version of greed that you and Davey pick apart? Have another drink brother.

 

Not at all. It is just that I was told by Gordon Gecko that greed is good.

 

Damn these multli-millionaires and their capitalist ways of extracting money from the common folk! Don't they know when they have enough?
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9F3K5GG0&show_article=1