[QUOTE=only_human;394586]Fixed that for you.[/QUOTE]

Thank you.

[QUOTE=davar55;394591]This rosy picture can be approached only by establishing or re-establishing capitalism, in a region, or nation, or the world.[/QUOTE]

The Prince. Almost word for word....

[QUOTE=davar55;394591]Ha ha.

There's nothing wrong with the profit motive, in a capitalist economy. Freedom would be
ensured, rights would be protected, true criminals (those who deliberately cause harm to
others for their own personal benefit or out of venality) would be prosecuted. Those
who act in their own best interest would generally reap the rational rewards. This rosy
picture can be approached only by establishing or re-establishing capitalism, in a region,
or nation, or the world.[/QUOTE]
Well, then, my definition needs a correction:
[QUOTE=only_human;393211]
Capitalism: A beautiful rainbow that starts at a pot of gold, spreads across a sky with diamonds [b]that are not [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_diamond"]blood diamonds[/b][/URL] and ends with freedom and a pony.
[/QUOTE]

[quote]Originally Posted by [B]only_human[/B]
C[I]apitalism: A beautiful rainbow that starts at a pot of gold, spreads across a sky with diamonds [B]... [/B]and
ends with freedom and a pony.
[/I][/quote]N[I]o, it starts with freedom, builds pots of gold, buys you that pony, spreads because of success, and is
not deserving of undeserved contempt. It's something we should be getting behind.



[/I]

[QUOTE=davar55;394603]N[I]o, it starts with freedom, builds pots of gold, buys you that pony, spreads because of success, and is
not deserving of undeserved contempt. It's something we should be getting behind.
[/I][/QUOTE]
Ok, but [URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-weiner/occupy-wall-street-goal_b_1031864.html"]there's gotta be a pony in there somewhere.[/URL]

[QUOTE=only_human;394604]Ok, but there's gotta be a pony in there somewhere.[/QUOTE]

:smile:

[QUOTE=Brian-E;394488]I detect a double standard, davar55.
You were keen earlier to give Capitalism the sole credit for ensuring that people have their basic rights and equal opportunities (rather than, say, giving credit to the selfless humanity of teachers, social workers and care workers who, despite generally not being the most financially rewarded of us, are at the forefront of ensuring that all individuals can take part in society). But when something has gone badly wrong, it's not Capitalism that's at fault but immorality, incompetence and the darker side of (some) human behaviour.

Can you at least agree that only_human's examples regarding the new Capitalism of China show that economic freedom, while it may be necessary, is not in itself sufficient for a society which gives everyone their freedom and opportunity?[/QUOTE]

As I said earlier, economic freedom is based in political freedom. Political freedom, as in basic individual rights,
protected by a government, as in the US, is the prerequisite for economic freedom, the rights to produce, buy, sell,
trade and consume without forceful governmental interference.
Certainly China still violates its people's political rights, so they only experience pseudo-capitalism.

[QUOTE=chalsall;394593]The Prince. Almost word for word....[/QUOTE]

No, quite the opposite.

[QUOTE=davar55;394609]No, quite the opposite.[/QUOTE]

Whatever.

[QUOTE=davar55;394608]As I said earlier, economic freedom is based in political freedom. [B]Political freedom, as in basic individual rights,
protected by a government, as in the US, is the prerequisite for economic freedom[/B], the rights to produce, buy, sell,
trade and consume without forceful governmental interference.
Certainly China still violates its people's political rights, so they only experience pseudo-capitalism.[/QUOTE]

So, do you consider that wholesale surveillance of citizens without probable cause to be protection of individual rights? How about extra-judicial killing of citizens perceived to be a threat? Let's not even get into the slaughter of countless civilians of other countries, since that does not fit with your rosy picture of the US spreading the Joys of Capitalism and Democracy around the globe.

I suggest that you look into the writings of Chalmers Johnson and Howard Zinn if you really believe all the stuff you spout. Also, stop drinking the Kool-Aid®. It's bad for you, and causes all sorts of delusions. For that matter, just do a George Carlin marathon. You might learn something.

[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_the_Kool-Aid[/URL]

[YOUTUBE]6_zwB6GLpo4[/YOUTUBE]

[QUOTE=kladner;394625]So, do you consider that wholesale surveillance of citizens without probable cause to be protection of individual rights? How about extra-judicial killing of citizens perceived to be a threat? Let's not even get into the slaughter of countless civilians of other countries, since that does not fit with your rosy picture of the US spreading the Joys of Capitalism and Democracy around the globe.

I suggest that you look into the writings of Chalmers Johnson and Howard Zinn if you really believe all the stuff you spout. Also, stop drinking the Kool-Aid®. It's bad for you, and causes all sorts of delusions. For that matter, just do a George Carlin marathon. You might learn something.[/QUOTE]

No delusions here. Don't need no anti-capitalism clap-trap. Socialism sucks. Yay to the joys of freedom, which are
only possible when politics and economics mesh and support freedom, i.e. only under Capitalism.

The complaints mentioned are not against capitalism but against its antagonists, the terrorists and communists of the world.