Meditation on Capitalism - *

@Qaeyious (2357)
United States
September 5, 2010 2:38am CST
So today I let my mind roam free, taking in all the chaos today has to offer. Then I let my imagination run free. What kind of society is a pure capitalist society? Business is the ruler, the one with the big bucks. You either somehow get a hold of one, or you start a small business, providing local services and/or goods, or most likely you work for either one. Everyone contributes to the Gross National Product, else they are of no use to society. Too old or too sick to work? Pity, but none of our concern. You are of no use to us anymore, please go away and die. There are many more waiting to take your place. A small business didn't make a profit? Pity, but none of our concern. Join the lower ranking grunts to work for a more successful organization, or just go away and die. Your worth is zero unless you are contributing as much as the bigger ones are. Unless you own a successful business, it's not a pretty picture, is it? And only to the ones you haven't fired yet to keep your profits positive. Pity they are none of your concern. I am confused as to the illegal immigration "problem" - for decades being the lowest paid workers keeping local fruit and vegetable prices low, but if you really think they are taking more in the "socialist" aspect of our existence. Anyone keeping tabs on produce prices? I think I will look into that next.
3 responses
urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
•
5 Sep 10
Victorian England, the England of Dickens is a good example of a near Capitalist society. Miners, paid a pittance, had to buy their tools; to break a tool meant loosing your job. Those out of work, could pay a penny to sleep in a room so full they could only stand and some paid twopence to sleep on a rope suspended across the room. The old, the weak, the sick more often than not ended up in the work-house where they turned a giant wheel by walking to provide power, like a giant hamster wheel. The word of a rich man could put any poor person in jail, innocent or guilty. Justice, medical treatment, clean water, good food, decent housing where the preserve only of the rich. From this hell on earth sprang up those brave heroes, that suffered, where killed or imprisoned, of the British Labour movement. Often, commented Christians they nobly suffered to win those rights enjoyed by workers world wide. This is the start of Socialism which should not be confused with Communism. Thank God, those brave Christian men and women of the Labour movement freed us from the evils of Capitalism all the best urban
1 person likes this
Qaeyious
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
5 Sep 10
Ah, yes, thank you for the reminder of the good ole days. I wonder if that is the goal of some powers over here in the "new" world, to bring back that kind of environment. May I ask a related question? An acquaintance in a discussion group says that in the United Kingdom, it is rude to ask what one does for a living, or who they work for, in casual conversation. I was wondering if that is true, or was in the past. I suppose it is more related than I originally suspected, since over here you are basically a slime ball if you are not employed, or an owner of a business. It may be a little better with the current situation. Thank you very much.
urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
•
8 Sep 10
No, I think that is a myth about UK, what one does for a living is often asked here, thinks I all the best urban
spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
6 Sep 10
You need to take a more realistic look at the jobs illegal immigrants do because they are not just simple fruit and vegetable pickers. Illegal day laborers have been working in the construction/home improvement industry for at least the past 10 years, hired as day laborers by contractors and subcontractors. They also work in the landscaping, hotel/motel housekeeping, livestock processing and commercial cleaning industries. These undocumented workers have not kept the price of fruit and vegetables, or anything else, low in the past and will have no impact on prices in the future.
Qaeyious
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
6 Sep 10
Ah, of course. My bad. My only experience was picking and processing fruit back in the 80s. I never worked in those other fields so I had a thinking failure. Well, landscaping for a couple of years, but it was just me and another guy (both legal.) I would have thought having higher paid workers would mean higher prices. If not then it would be lower income for the businesses. Lower payroll, higher income. So if they don't adjust the prices, it's all in their favor, with no benefit to the community. Unless my thinking is a bit too simplistic. That will be interesting to see if that was looked into.
spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
6 Sep 10
No, you're on the right track. When the construction industry first started taking advantage of cheap labor, costs did not go down but the contractors and subcontractors were able to make a higher profit. The same holds for other employers. They can lower their expenses by paying illeglas a lower wage but they're not going to pass on that savings to the consumer.
zionsphere
@zionsphere (673)
• United States
5 Sep 10
Unfortunately, the whole world is in danger of becoming like this. Major corporations are trying to control everything from food to water. Yes, even our water supply is in danger. In some countries it is already illegal to catch rain water because it cannot be taxed by the government, and it's considered stealing??? Look up the movie Food Inc. Our wheat farmers are not allowed to save and sow their own seed...they HAVE to plant the genetically modified seed, or face SEVERE criminal charges. Things could get very scary if we don't start buying organic and planting our own gardens.
Qaeyious
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
6 Sep 10
I believe I saw either that or another program that had the same information. Amazing I found that it wa true in Washington state between 1917 and 2009 http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/lifestyle/80292867.html without s eater rights permit. http://www.homegardenguides.com/garden-forum/edible-gardens-forums/236540-making-rainwater-harvesting-illegal.html explains the issue was taking water before it had a chance to get to a river or stream I thought the practice was stopped in regards to corporate ownership, but I was unable to verify that.