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Forum Post: Why Capitalism Failed Us

Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 31, 2011, 5:17 p.m. EST by cpmorrison26 (2)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

it. Why is setting personal gain as the highest value a good social ideology? What about a society in which community gain is of higher value? One of my favorite song's by Eddy Vedder, called Society, addresses this point: if you think you have to want more than you need, until you have it all you won't be free. (this is plain and simple wisdom and truth. You should never seek more than you need, infact it should be a societal norm. Such a quest in life is as a prison of the mind. I am afraid however that those in power want to see such a revolution in which they gain more. Total power infact, over when and what we eat, where we live..etc. Wait capitalism already gave them that power, that's right. Look we need to take the power back for the people, and achieve a higher social consciousness based on total equality and community. The principles of our founder's failed because it was out of greed and selfish desire that they founded this nation. They wanted to achieve gentry status, to be aristocracy. They could not do so in England, in part do to the abolition movement already in full swing there. So they came to the new world, killed the indians, and built power for themselves on the backs of slaves and indentured servants. Facts are stubborn things, and these are the facts. Our system breaks down to two principle's: selfishness and greed. The only problem is that it failed. Why? Because we founded our nation on the worst aspects of human nature, people are more. They are also good, and selfless. We see it everyday. A soldier lay's his life down for his brothers, a person pulls a child from a burning building, someone give's an organ to a family member. These are not acts of divinity, they are uniquely Human. They are who we could be. You have to ask yourself what should be the founding principle of you society: greed or unselfishness. The better angels of our nature, or the worst.

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21 Comments


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[-] 1 points by tympan55 (124) 12 years ago

Trying to get humans to act in a selfless manner is like trying to put the genie back in the bottle. The intimate connection that humans felt for their community was severed during the Graeco-Roman epoch when ego-consciousness and personality became the driving forces of civilization. I would go as far as to say that there is no such thing as a selfless act. When someone attaches themselves to an altruistic cause, it is because somehow they see their own fortunes increased by doing so. Jesus, of whom it is said, "die for our sins," received the greatest reward of all- deification. Ironically, Jesus is the human being through whom this profound transformation in the human psyche is expressed.

[-] 1 points by GeorgeMichaelBluth (402) from Arlington, VA 12 years ago

Great post, humans should just change the innate self interest that is inherent to their nature. Thats a working model. Seriously? It would be great if we were all mother Teresa but the world doesn't work that way.

[-] 1 points by madeinusa (393) 12 years ago

Libous: I’m ‘unequivocally’ against the millionaires’ tax

Posted by: Jon Campbell - Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 31, 2011

Saying his comments earlier this month were read too deeply, Sen. Tom Libous said today he’s absolutely, no-doubt-about-it, 100 percent opposed to extending an income tax surcharge on New York’s top earners.

Libous, a Republican from Binghamton who serves as deputy majority leader, raised some eyebrows on Oct. 18 when he appeared to be the first GOP senator to leave the door ever-so-slightly open for supporting the “millionaires’ tax.” Libous had hinted that if hydrofracking continued to stall in New York and his flood-ravaged district needed help, he may have to “think outside of the box.”

But in a return appearance on Fred Dicker’s radio show on Talk 1300 AM in Albany today, Libous said he’s definitely against the tax.

“I know I got a few people excited,” Libous said. “I’ve been against it in the past and I’m still against it. I don’t think we should do it.”

“I don’t see the extension of a surcharge or the millionaires tax moving forward at all, and I will unequivocally tell you that I’m against it,” he told Dicker.

Libous again made a push for allowing high-volume hydrofracking in New York in 2012, saying the revenue it would generate would wipe out the need for any new taxes or fees.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

money has no conscious

[-] 1 points by owstag (508) 12 years ago

Vedder's advice not to seek more than you need would be more credible if hevwere not a gaillionaire (I guess he just needs more money than most).

[-] 1 points by buik (380) from Towson, MD 12 years ago

nice post

[-] 1 points by Maxx (8) 12 years ago

Capitalism did not fail us my friend... "unchecked" capitalism did. Here is why: http://occupywallst.org/forum/objectives-for-ows-and-oks-occupy-k-street/

[-] 0 points by hillary (252) 12 years ago

Sorry but the only one's who want total equality are those that want a handout because they were irresponsible. Freedom DEMANDS responsibility. Don't want responsibility and want the system to give you everything? Well maybe you won't be happy with the TV the "system" gives you because you want a big LCD. Tough Luck.

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