Now maybe people will see "capitalism" for the scam that it is.

[cantstandbush]

the suppy of natural gas is "adequate" (really meaning plentiful) but the cost are none the less high and going to go higher. It's not supply and demand at all...it's gougue whatever the market will bear. There is no question in my mind that pubic utiliities and energy should be state owned and operated.

[jody]

1. Capitalism is the most effective economic model for making decisions

regarding scarce resources, at least among the known economic models.

Unfortunately capitalism is also the worst system for allocating profits, socialism is far superior to capitalism in that regard.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. I think capitalism is great.

I just want it to be regulated extensively by the government. Corporations should not be allowed to regulate themselves. That's like allowing football players to play without referees: make up your own rules! Tackle a coach! Which is the way things are going under rightist rule.

I also think energy and utlities ought to be owned and operated by the state.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Capitalism is NOT a scam. Republican Robber Baron capitalism is a scam.

[porphyrian]

7. Right, there's nothing wrong or false about capitalism.

Sociopathic corporatism, the fascist shit we're living through today, is its evil cultist step-child and is hardly representative. Don't confuse the two. Capitalism doesn't have to put profit before people.

[Silverhair]

4. In most places, it is not capitalist gas.

Capitalism involves companies competing against each other. But most places, like mine, if you want gas there is only one company and it is granted a genuine monopoly by the state. You don't have a choice who you will buy from. A state owned company would be exactly the same.

The answer is NOT state ownership because that is what you already have. The answer is genuine capitalism - competition.

When electricity was deregulated here, and companies began to compete, prices came down.

When you began to have a choice of who to have for phone service - prices came down.

Cell phones are getting cheaper because the companies have to compete.

Real capitalism works. Phony capitalism, such as you are complaining about with the gas companies doesn't work - because it isn't capitalism.

[NorCalDem]

5. But a state-owned company

that doesn't have any reason to reap huge profits would do a lot better than the Robber Barons we have now.

Your oil-company may be state-owned now, but is your state keeping the profits too?

[Silverhair]

6. The state regulates the prices.

A state granted monopoly to a heavily state regulated company is no different that a state owned one. Except for some paperwork and names, they are identical. Further, since they have no competition, they have no incentive to be efficient.

Capitalist competition drives down prices.

[Kablooie]

8. Captulatism is pretty weenieish though.

[izzie]

9. Check out Max Weber, Durkins, and Simmel

Capitalism has some draw backs even if I fit right into that system. I maybe off on the spelling as it has been years since I took the Masters in Sociology