Forum Post: Capitalism or no capitalism
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 3, 2011, 4:16 p.m. EST by zfrogz
(2)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
we need to find a way to ensure our natural resources are used wisely. I know it's not profitable to produce goods that don't fail but right now we waste so much of our limited resources and fill our land fills because of planned obsolescence. If we stick with capitalism, we need to find a way to reward companies for operating in a sustainable manner and producing the best, longest lasting good possible.
Everyone has to understand that if mankind destroys this planet , there will be no capitalism,no socialism,nothing but a barren planet devoid of life. The oceans, the rivers , the lakes the undeveloped and public lands belong to all of us and to all future generations,indeed to the lowliest of creatures that inhabit them. It is our duty to one another and to posterity to protect this land and its resources from rape and destruction by unscrupulous persons, just as much as it is our duty to ensure that our precious liberties are not taken from us.We can all work together to find new and profitable ways to protect and sustain the environment. We are a great people and we can and shall have both prosperity and life in harmony with our planet.
True. It used to be (a long time ago, I'm afraid) that a company made the best quality products to ensure a loyal customer base. I miss those days. And I don't think enough people know that oil is needed in plastics manufacturing. Think about how many products are primarily plastic. The quicker we throw away our plastic "toys" because of planned obsolescence and buy new ones, the quicker we use up our oil reserves. Not a very well-known aspect to the "peak oil" controversy.
We can use taxes to both stimulate the economy and end planned obsolescence. Raise taxes for companies that don't agree, and lower them for companies that can show they are creating jobs or making steps toward sustainability. We can make futurism profitable, but we may need to throw out our current congress to do it.
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It's already in place, it's called the profit motive. Apple is rewarded for making better and better iPhones/iPads with billions in profit. Restaurants are rewarded for making the most delicious food by increased business and therefore increased profit. Profit and the potential for monetary gain sustains American quality production. Look at the moon race, of all things. Because NASA employed several aircraft firms like Grumman, Northrop, & North American, each firm competed to produce the best lunar spacecraft out of motivation to receive a design contract along with a massive government stipend for earning it. In contrast to the government-created Russian moon rocket, our moon program, along with the lunar spacecraft were amazingly reliable. The motivation for profit by way of a competitive market alone is the definitive and dynamic reward for companies that produce the best goods.
This is not the case. Let take Apple for example. They produce stylish hardware but it's still only designed to last a certain period of time. For example, on both phones and computers, once a couple years have passed, they stop allowing old devices to update to the latest software despite the fact the the older hardware usually would run the new software fine. They could improve the quality and make these devices upgradable. It's a problem with the whole industry.
The best tasting/cheapest food does not mean that food was grown responsible. In fact, it's usually the opposite. Most restaurant food is packed full of sugar, salt, MSG, fat, and GMOs. Sure it sells well but it's not good for you or the environment.
If you make a light bulb that doesn't burn out, you will have no business. To continue to profit, you must keep selling more and more.
The reason Apple has been the leader in technology is because they HAVE abandoned old systems. If you recall when Steve Jobs announced that the iMac would not feature floppy disk support, everyone panicked. However, it turned out to be a revolutionary move in computers. The removal of the floppy drive increased computer performance in multiple sectors by exponential amounts.
And my iPod nano that I got as a grade-school graduation present is still working. I'm in my sophmore year of college now. And our Mac II died only a few years ago. They're EXTREMELY long-lasting, well built machines, given you love em the right way =P
As for the food industry, nobody said you had to eat at restaurants. If it's unhealthy for you, just don't eat it. There's always a healthy option. That's not a problem with the system, that's a problem with people's willingness to be sucked into terribly unhealthy jumbo fast food burgers instead of a quality steak or fish dinner at a good health-oriented restaurant.
Finally, lightbulb quality has increased many times over since Edison. Industries, through the profit motive and, moreso, competition are almost FORCED to make better and better products to outsell their competitors and keep up with the demand for better and better products.
Intentionally retarding the advancement and evolution of an industry in a capitalist economy is suicide by design, trust me.