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When I say "Capitalism," what do you think of?
Do you think of negative things? Do you think of greedy CEOs? Low-wage workers with no rights or benefits? Wal-Mart? Big Oil? Other?
Or do you think of positive things? Do you think of free markets, opportunity, the American Dream, the ability to move up the socio-economic ladder? Other?
What about when I say "Socialism?" What do you think of?
Do you think of negative things? Do you think of Communism, Hitler, Stalin, re-distribution of wealth, economic slow-downs? Other?
Or do you think of positive things? Do you think of caring for the little guy, fairness, equality? Other?
I'm wondering if a lot of our disagreements comes from a focus on the negative aspects of one and the positive aspects of another or vice-versa?
I'm one who tends to see the positive aspects of Capitalism, to see it's potential and one who tends to see the negative aspects of Socialism, to see other examples where it was really destructive.
I don't doubt that both Capitalism and Socialism are imperfect. They are both human institutions run by fallen human beings, so will by definition be imperfect. The question, then, is which one is better? I tend to think that Capitalism is 90% good while Socialism is 10% good (if that). To me, it's not even close.
Is there an objective way to measure these two systems on their rightness or goodness? How does one determine that?
If anyone has any information on that type of thing, I would love to see it!
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Why Is There a Left?
1 day ago
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1 comment:
Have you ever heard the story about the Samurai who visited the Zen master? He told the Zen master that he knew everything there was to know, so the Zen master invited the Samurai for a cup of tea. They sat down, and as the Zen master poured the tea, the cup filled, and started to overflow, at this point the Samurai said "the cup is full." The Zen master continued to pour tea. The Samurai then said "old man, can you not see the cup is full." The Zen master stopped, and said "and thus so are you." The moral of the story is that you must empty your mind before you can proceed to learn. In order to obtain an objective point of view concerning capitalism and socialism, you must set aside your opinion. You hinder yourself for following a narrow social status quo via your political conservatism and your religious indoctrination as a Christian. Through that, you will only subject yourself through a narrow tunnel of observation, and only through lenses of obsolete opinion. You ask wonderful questions, but as your conclusion has pointed out, along with your mission statement, those answers will never truly be answered as your glass is full. You can either be the cup (mind), with tea overflowing (because your mind is closed), or you can empty your cup (mind), and diversify so as to allow more tea (knowledge) to be consumed.
For your benefit, if you wish to know more, I have many historical references to Communism, Socialism, and Capitalism, and a comparison of the tripod. If you are still interested, please reply to this comment.
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