Vorsprung rants a bit about his dislikes of the capitalistic world

Vorsprung · 03-04-2002, 11:35 AM

What is it that I don't like about this 'civilized' western capitalist world? The simple fact that it's capitalistic and therefor really only cares about making more and more profit, instead of taking care of this world. The world is NOT a corporate business and dealing with it the capitalistic way is NOT fair. What is not fair about it? The fact that the richest countries determine what's right and what's wrong and how we are going to live on this planet. They've got all the power in the world and they mainly use it to get richer, as if we aren't rich enough! They won't use it just to stay as rich, no they have to make profit (which still is, getting richer), and even that isn't enough. No they continuously have to make more profit (which is, getting richer than richer), because if you make just as much profit in a year it's considered to be a not so good year. Which imho of course is ridiculous, as if we (the western world) aren't already rich enough. Why can't we use our power to really make the world a better place instead of worrying if we'll get richer next year. For instance, the reason the USA (don't mean to bash the US particulary here) didn't agree with the Kyoto treaty was because saving the environment was probably gonna cost the US, so they couldn't get that much richer with the treaty as without the treaty. What the fuck are we talking about here!?!?!?!? Saving the planet or pleasing the shareholders?!?!?!?!
Also, meanwhile we go on exploiting the third world so can become richer. They make that decisions at nice places like the G8 summit. So, are you really surprised you've got angry activists at those meetings. Of course, to please the public a bit they sometimes decide to give those poor countries a few billion dollars, money they really can miss easily.
And don't tell me there aren't ways to solve poverty over there. There are. For instance, bout every western country have their own minimum wages. Why can't the western countries agree on some global minimum wage, let's say 1 dollar per hour or even 50 cents, and I don't even care whether those are dollar-cents or eurocents, and don't tell me that's a lot of money, you�d probably never accept a job for just 50 cents per hour..... BUT it would be a great improvement. Just make a law that every corporation that wants to sell their products in a western country, must pay their employees at least 50 cents per hour, and also their contractors and subcontractors will have to pay their employees at least 50 cents per hour. Sure, your Nike and Adidas shoes might become a bit more expensive then, but does that really matter?!?!?!?! And don't tell me you're not able to check that, because you don't have to!!!! If not paying enough money would mean exclusion of the market competitive companies will check that for you, that's one of the good things of capitalism. But we can't take the market take care of global problems, because their only goal is to please the shareholders..

Ok, my ranting stops here, perhaps I'm just simple-minded and childish naive, but shouldn't we (especially via governments, because they have power to make an impact) start to really try to make this world a better place and stop worrying about the fact if we can buy a Playstation 2 for someone's birthday?????

------------------
Vorsprung durch Technik

Lemonite · 03-04-2002, 11:51 AM

Vorsprung... It's good to see you're back in this forum.. I assume the break after making the 'Thank God America never wins that Many MEdals in the Winter Olympics' haywire comment treated you well... I think it was well deserved.

L.Unplugged

Salome · 03-04-2002, 12:40 PM

you make perfect sense to me Vorsprung
on the other hand have I not got a clue what Lemonite is trying to say, so I'm just going to assume he's attempting humor again

------------------
Salome
Shake it, shake it, shake it

Anthony · 03-04-2002, 12:53 PM

I agree, complete Capitalism doesn't work.

Ant.

TheU2 · 03-04-2002, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anthony:
I agree, complete Capitalism doesn't work.

Ant.

So, then who is going to clean the toilets?

CK

Anthony · 03-04-2002, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheU2:
So, then who is going to clean the toilets?
CK

What are you talking about?

Ant.

calcio5tud · 03-04-2002, 07:20 PM

just to let you know, capitalistic u.s. is not all it's cracked up to be. did you know the top 3 countries in quality of life are 1. norway 2. canada 3. sweden. i do believe norway and sweden are more socialistic. how about them apples?

------------------
"Right on to all them mmm English girls named Charice" - BT

Vorsprung · 03-04-2002, 07:59 PM

A few notes in case someone misinterprets something and to make a few things clear:
This is not meant as a US-bashing threat, actually this threat isn't particularly about the US at all, but addresses all western countries, which all are on many points, whether they want it or not, too capitalistic
I am not a communist, communism doesn't work and equally isn't fair, just as pure capitalism. I believe in goverment-regulated capitalism, since capitalism alone only cares about profit.
So all I'm trying to say is that it seems like our world (the western countries) doesn't really seem to care really about this world. Why can't our governments make a plan together to really make this world better place????

------------------
Vorsprung durch Technik

nintendan · 03-05-2002, 04:07 PM

Applauds Vorsprung. This need to have more profits than last year is rediculous. 'Growth'

I've always believed that for someone to get rich someone else will be getting poor.

sulawesigirl4 · 03-05-2002, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nintendan:
I've always believed that for someone to get rich someone else will be getting poor.

That's a statement that lacks logic. Economics is not a zero-sum game.

calcio5tud · 03-05-2002, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MissZooropa:
Interesting! Where comes this from and what is it based and calculated on?

this was based on quality of life in those countries. i got this from my local news last year. i know norway and canada was on there and i'm almost positive sweden was #3.

------------------
Waves of regret and waves of joy..i reached out to the one i tried to destroy

Rono · 03-06-2002, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheU2:
So, then who is going to clean the toilets?

CK

The people who make use of those toilets ?

------------------
I can`t change the world but i can
change the world in me.

Here in the land of opportunity.
Watch us revel in our liberty.
You can say what you like.
But it doesn`t change anything.
Cos the corridors of power are an ocean away.
We`re the 51st state of America.

Read you, Rono.

MissZooropa · 03-06-2002, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by calcio5tud:
did you know the top 3 countries in quality of life are 1. norway 2. canada 3. sweden. i do believe norway and sweden are more socialistic. how about them apples?

Interesting! Where comes this from and what is it based and calculated on?

Sweden are indeed a socialistic country, at least "on the paper" but we become more and more capitalistic every day I'm afraid and some things in our society really surprices foreign politicians when they get to hear how it works here, with just the question that they thought we were a socialistc country.

03-04-2002, 11:35 AM	#1
Vorsprung War Child Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Netherlands Posts: 976 Local Time: 04:21 AM	Vorsprung rants a bit about his dislikes of the capitalistic world What is it that I don't like about this 'civilized' western capitalist world? The simple fact that it's capitalistic and therefor really only cares about making more and more profit, instead of taking care of this world. The world is NOT a corporate business and dealing with it the capitalistic way is NOT fair. What is not fair about it? The fact that the richest countries determine what's right and what's wrong and how we are going to live on this planet. They've got all the power in the world and they mainly use it to get richer, as if we aren't rich enough! They won't use it just to stay as rich, no they have to make profit (which still is, getting richer), and even that isn't enough. No they continuously have to make more profit (which is, getting richer than richer), because if you make just as much profit in a year it's considered to be a not so good year. Which imho of course is ridiculous, as if we (the western world) aren't already rich enough. Why can't we use our power to really make the world a better place instead of worrying if we'll get richer next year. For instance, the reason the USA (don't mean to bash the US particulary here) didn't agree with the Kyoto treaty was because saving the environment was probably gonna cost the US, so they couldn't get that much richer with the treaty as without the treaty. What the fuck are we talking about here!?!?!?!? Saving the planet or pleasing the shareholders?!?!?!?! Also, meanwhile we go on exploiting the third world so can become richer. They make that decisions at nice places like the G8 summit. So, are you really surprised you've got angry activists at those meetings. Of course, to please the public a bit they sometimes decide to give those poor countries a few billion dollars, money they really can miss easily. And don't tell me there aren't ways to solve poverty over there. There are. For instance, bout every western country have their own minimum wages. Why can't the western countries agree on some global minimum wage, let's say 1 dollar per hour or even 50 cents, and I don't even care whether those are dollar-cents or eurocents, and don't tell me that's a lot of money, you�d probably never accept a job for just 50 cents per hour..... BUT it would be a great improvement. Just make a law that every corporation that wants to sell their products in a western country, must pay their employees at least 50 cents per hour, and also their contractors and subcontractors will have to pay their employees at least 50 cents per hour. Sure, your Nike and Adidas shoes might become a bit more expensive then, but does that really matter?!?!?!?! And don't tell me you're not able to check that, because you don't have to!!!! If not paying enough money would mean exclusion of the market competitive companies will check that for you, that's one of the good things of capitalism. But we can't take the market take care of global problems, because their only goal is to please the shareholders.. Ok, my ranting stops here, perhaps I'm just simple-minded and childish naive, but shouldn't we (especially via governments, because they have power to make an impact) start to really try to make this world a better place and stop worrying about the fact if we can buy a Playstation 2 for someone's birthday????? ------------------ Vorsprung durch Technik __________________

03-04-2002, 11:51 AM	#2
Lemonite I'm a chauvinist leprechaun Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Notre Dame, IN, 46556 Posts: 1,072 Local Time: 03:21 AM	Vorsprung... It's good to see you're back in this forum.. I assume the break after making the 'Thank God America never wins that Many MEdals in the Winter Olympics' haywire comment treated you well... I think it was well deserved. L.Unplugged __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-04-2002, 12:40 PM	#3
Salome you are what you is Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Netherlands Posts: 22,068 Local Time: 05:21 AM	you make perfect sense to me Vorsprung on the other hand have I not got a clue what Lemonite is trying to say, so I'm just going to assume he's attempting humor again ------------------ Salome Shake it, shake it, shake it

03-04-2002, 12:53 PM	#4
Anthony Refugee Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,538 Local Time: 03:21 AM	I agree, complete Capitalism doesn't work. Ant.

03-04-2002, 07:20 PM	#7
calcio5tud Babyface Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Paris...un jour Posts: 21 Local Time: 03:21 AM	just to let you know, capitalistic u.s. is not all it's cracked up to be. did you know the top 3 countries in quality of life are 1. norway 2. canada 3. sweden. i do believe norway and sweden are more socialistic. how about them apples? ------------------ "Right on to all them mmm English girls named Charice" - BT

03-04-2002, 07:59 PM	#8
Vorsprung War Child Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Netherlands Posts: 976 Local Time: 04:21 AM	A few notes in case someone misinterprets something and to make a few things clear: This is not meant as a US-bashing threat, actually this threat isn't particularly about the US at all, but addresses all western countries, which all are on many points, whether they want it or not, too capitalistic I am not a communist, communism doesn't work and equally isn't fair, just as pure capitalism. I believe in goverment-regulated capitalism, since capitalism alone only cares about profit. So all I'm trying to say is that it seems like our world (the western countries) doesn't really seem to care really about this world. Why can't our governments make a plan together to really make this world better place???? ------------------ Vorsprung durch Technik

03-05-2002, 04:07 PM	#9
nintendan The Fly Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Montserrat W.I Posts: 41 Local Time: 03:21 AM	Applauds Vorsprung. This need to have more profits than last year is rediculous. 'Growth' I've always believed that for someone to get rich someone else will be getting poor.