No, I don't really give a crap about what's going on in Nepal, but it got me thinking. Would I prefer to live under a communist society that is "democratic," i.e. the morons voted for communism, or live under a capitalist dictator? I choose the latter because I wouldn't have to worry about the majority (and the minority) "voting" themselves to steal from other people (i.e. me), and I can focus on making money.
Which type of society would you live under?
- Thread starter JS80
- Start date
IAteYourMother
Lifer
- Nov 3, 2004
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There isn't a hint of capitalism in my body, so I had to choose the other...even though I'm not down with communism either.
jimbob200521
Diamond Member
- Apr 15, 2005
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Well I guess if you're sigging George Carlin and I assume you think he's some kind of genius philosopher, I don't blame you.
pure capitalism would create a very harsh society.
actually China atm is more or less a "capitalist dictatorship". it doesn't seem that bad but there are a lot of problems... like the widening gap between rich and poor
actually China atm is more or less a "capitalist dictatorship". it doesn't seem that bad but there are a lot of problems... like the widening gap between rich and poor
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
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And the lack of basic human rights and the government murdering its own citizens and the forced removal of millions of citizens, etc.
China isn't even remotely a "capitalist dictatorship." It is a totalitarian mixed economy -- mostly still socialist but with a dose of crony capitalism for flavor in order to please the international investment capital and bring in the money.
The gap between rich and poor is not widening, it's always been there, an inherent aspect of any authoritarian socialism. The former Soviet Union had a huge gap between haves and have-nots.
The country of Hong Kong is close to a "Capitalist dictatorship," and they are one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
50 Years ago Hong Kong was in near shambles. One person even wrote in a magazine right after WWII that Hong Kong will never be of any economic importance to the world.
Look at it now. Capitalism built this skyline.
50 Years ago Hong Kong was in near shambles. One person even wrote in a magazine right after WWII that Hong Kong will never be of any economic importance to the world.
Look at it now. Capitalism built this skyline.
The government has went under a lot of change in the last several decades. I would not stick past crimes on them.
As for the gap between rich and poor, everything I've read points to this being an increasing problem. Of course this has always been a problem in the past due to corruption but the shift towards market economy is widening the gap between the "common people".
Widening? As oppossed to before, when everyone was exactly equal?
China is a very young capitalist economy, ofcourse there are many poor people.
But out of one billion people, I'd rather have 100,000,000 prosperous citizens and 900,000,000 poor citizens, than 1 billion poor citizens and zero prosperous citizens.
Yea, I was thinking more along the lines of HK.
I can't imagine giving voting power to 1.3 billion mainland Chinese. I would imagine they would vote full communism back in and ruin their economy.
Well I guess it's inevitable and not really a bad thing in the long run, but atm it still creates issues.
Democracies have a lot of advantages, but one famous political philosopher once wrote (on the downfalls of a democracy) that once a group of voters figures out how to take advantage of the system and vote away the rights of a minority, then it becomes more bullying than a "fair vote."
Average people always vote selfishly. The common man is too stupid to vote according to a steady and fair principal or an educated conclusion, which is why masses of uneducated or vindictive voters can be destructive.
Free economic system promotes free political system. They work hand in hand.
Socialism just never works.
Socialism just never works.
For that reason I am thankful we got Roberts and Alito on the SC. I just hope Ginsburg, Souter, Kennedy either croak or retire before the other guys do (AND we put in more Robertses and Alitos).
Wow...I hope stem cell or cloning research soon develops a cure for whatever the frack is wrong with you. *boggle*
I was born and grew up in HK. I don't remember there is a dictator or some sort. We pretty much enjoy the same civil liberty you can get in the US.
O RLY? You get to vote your own leaders without the prior approval of Beijing?
Just because you have a dictatorship, that does not mean you do not have "freedom." It only means you don't have the freedom to choose your own laws, the governing body, which is not choosen by the voters, chooses your laws. But if the "governing body" gives you everyday freedom (which is what China has done for HK), you can have just as much freedom as any other country.
HK is an extremely free country because it has no democracy, it is simply controled by a government that advocates freedom and property rights.
I think you're confused as to what a "dictatorship" is. It does not imply hardship or oppression, it depends on who is "dictating."
Dictatorships can free people from oppression, and democracies can vote themselves into oppression. It works both ways. It doesn't work out like that very often, but it has in HK's case as China has promised HK will remain free for the next 50 years.
A free society is hard to come by in a democracy because the dumb masses always vote themselves and/or their countrymen back into oppression by way of jealousy in trying to take from one class (either personal freedom or personal property) of people and give it to others by way of force.
Even America has fallen victim to it's own citizens who are trying to vote themselves into oppression. The right wing trying to steal personal rights and the left wing trying to steal personal property.
There are few true "advocates of freedom" even in America, which was supposed to be the "land of the free."
Left wingers call it "social justice," right wingers call it "morality." I call it "oppression" either way.
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