The spread of global capitalism is the best thing that ever happened. cspan1

[rodeodance]

now. WJournal.

Really bragging it up last 10 minutes. talks nothing of what it does to the working poor.
Likes the 'new capitalist" French Pres.

[brentspeak]

1. Who's the corporate shill parroting this on CSPAN?

[baldguy]

2. Larry Kudlow - consummate propagandist

Goebbels would be proud

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

3. "kud" is full of it

so proud that bush calls him kud. inflation is a monetary problem. fuck the little people who actually buy groceries. too much for me, had to switch over to "grosse pointe blank" on tnt.

[rodeodance]

8. HE really does come across as 'F*** the people

[rodeodance]

4. a caller says: "Where is the capital"? I do not have it-people around me do not

have it.


Guest dismissed him as an extreemist!

[Echo In Light]

5. The kid who just called in...

Is a soldier and has been in Iraq just called in and said the U.S. is a fascist state, and the pundit just accused him of being an "extremist."

[rodeodance]

6. but-gee KUD did thank him for his service-then dimissed him!

[rodeodance]

7. gawd---now he thinks callers who are left out of the economy are ignorant!

[antigop]

9. Did he say that increasing the h1-b visa cap and outsourcing of jobs are good for the economy? n/t

[robcon]

10. I agree. Capitalism is the best thing ever to happen.

As an organizing principle, it brings the greatest economic benefits to the greatest number, and it is consistent, and usually leads to, democracy.

[bread_and_roses]

11. Oh really? Then you must love the state of the US today, with its' crumbling infrastructure,

for-profit health care, under-funded schools, tattered safety net, gutted safety regulations, union-busting, race-to-the-bottom wages, and outsourcing. Not to mention that you must also approve the 5% or so of the global population residing in the US consuming about 20% or so of the world's resouces, the global oppression and misery such inequity requires, and the utter destruction of the environment it promotes. You must also approve the blatant buying of legislation and policy by Corporations so evident in the halls of our Congress. These are all natural consequences of capitalism as an "organizing principle."

[brentspeak]

12. Well said.

Every economic abuse under-the-sun has become justified as being "capitalism".

[Hope springs eternal]

13. That's funny

Becuase Russia doesn't look so swell after 80 years of Communisum...

[bread_and_roses]

14. Always the same old tired answer. The same old tired strawman.

Do a little reading, come back with something more substantive, and someone might be up to giving you a reasonable answer. I don't bother anymore with defenders of capitalism. I'm not young and energetic enough, and too sick at the killing and destruction our wonderful capitalism has unleashed on the world, too frightened for my grand-daughter's future. The human race will destroy itself mouthing the same old tired mantras. My only sympathy is for the innocent children and non-human life we'll destroy along with our greedy, platitudinous, violent, wind-bag and irrational selves.

[Hope springs eternal]

15. Another non answer I see

There's a difference between a globalist and a capitalist. Economic socialism is no better. Death and war went down after the fall of the USSR. How could that be?

[bread_and_roses]

16. If you'd care to learn something, read this summary of Klein's "Shock Doctrine"

It's long, but shorter than reading ten or twelve articles that will give you the same information in bits. Capitalism at its' finest, and its' inevitable results. I don't know why I bother; in my experience, defenders of capitalism persist in the face of any evidence - they are as fundamentally fundamentalist as religious fundies, enamoured of a myth. However, I try to be charitable, and remind myself that we've had thirty + years now of a population totally surrounded by a frame of reference that accepts without question the assertion that "there is no alternative."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092007H.shtml

And I'm not sure what planet you live on, but "death and war have gone down?" eh? You read the news lately?

[pampango]

18. Both capitalism and socialism can be attacked on the basis that each sounds good,

but doesn't work in practice.

"(D)efenders of capitalism persist in the face of any evidence - they are as fundamentally fundamentalist as religious fundies, enamoured of a myth." I suspect that if you substituted "socialism" for "capitalism" in that sentence, you would get just as many people agreeing with you.

Capitalism is better at producing a larger "pie" to distribute, but terrible at distributing it equitably. Socialism is better at distributing the "pie" equitably, but not good at producing much of a pie to distribute. Rather than arguing that one is "better" than the other, we should be trying to combine the best of both and not to achieve the "purest" of one or the other.

[Hope springs eternal]

19. Your American myopism is showing

Iraq is not everywhere. I'm talking about the proxy wars across Africa/Asia/Latin America.

Also, yes, capitalism leads to great evil when unchecked, but so does government power. The lynchpin of democracy is an informed and armed populace, and I don't see the Democrats doing anything about either.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

37. Now, look, sir/madam. Unleashed capitalism is fascism, a form of government.

The economic theory is practiced like a religion by the government. That makes "capitalism" our fascist state whether we are willing to confront that fact or not.

Moreover, U.S. multinational corporations have OFTEN (and I mean pretty damned regularly) been the catalyst in those "proxy wars" you speak of. Those same corporations are being that shit to their home nation, with no conscience as to the consequences because they JUST WANT TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THEIR POWER.

The lynchpin of democracy is a people in charge, not their corporate-controlled, capitalist government.

Read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman". Link up with precisely how unleashed capitalism by U.S. corporacrats has operated abroad and now at home. They are a global mafia and do not give a rats ass about democratic principles,...to the contrary,...they have always been prepared to commit fraud in order to avoid those principles and laws.

I apologize if I sound preachy or demeaning. I do not intend to be that way towards anyone. However, I can no longer stand silent at the memes of "capitalism" and "supply/demand" bullshit when what has been and is happening to this day is NOT an idyllic economic theory PUSHED BY THE FUCKERS WHO PROFIT OFF IT while so many billions of people are unecessarily suffering.

Man's greed has to be restrained. Laws must prevent the most greedy from abusing humanity and this earth.

[northzax]

36. quick, name the last two

democratic capitalist states to go to war with each-other.

in fact, while you are at it, please be so kind as to name all the wars currently going on in the world. I have the US occupation of Afghanistan (capitalist democracy v. fundamentalist totalitarian, started by the latter), US v. Iraq (capitalist democracy v. authoritariam socialist, started by the former) Sudanese Civil (fundamentalist religious v. religious) and some low grade ongoing conflicts (India v. Pakistan, capitalist democracy v. totalitarian secular, with religious overtones) Colombia Civil (Military Junta v. narco-mafia v. pseudo-communist, a major clusterfuck all around) Israel v. Everyone in the Neighborhood (religious capitalist democracy v. religious dictatorships) who did I miss?

Europe has had one war in 60 years (the breakup of Yugoslavia, Serbs v. Croats v. Bosnian-Herzegovinian) and relatively minor terrorist insurgencies in Ireland, Macedonia and Spain (note, r the various Red Army factions v. Italy, Germany, et al since they were terrorist movements, not actual insurgencies) I suppose we could count Prague Spring, but that was, again, more of a peaceful revolution put down. Following the spread of capitalist-funded wealth and democratization that followed WWII, this has been the most peaceful 60 years in European history. keep that in mind.

[Mr Rabble]

17. Sorry- Russia for 20 years has been a "free-market capitalist"

economy. There is greater wealth inequality in Russia today, than there was under totalitarian communism.

Or how about capitalist Nigeria? Capitalist Sudan? Capitalist Indonesia?

I could go on and on. The majority of the world is capitalist, and the majority of the world is poor.

How is it working out for all of the third world?

BTW, I am not advocating communism. Just making the point that capitalism is not good for the vast majority of people.

[Hope springs eternal]

20. Wealth inequality means zero

If everyone is fed, middle class and happy, then who cares if there are billionaires in the world?

Capitalist third world is a tough stretch. For starters, they don't have much of an economic infastrucutre to begin with and 2) the level of government interference in private matters could get them labeled socialist. Also, this totally disregards local factors such as war, faminie and disease.

[Mr Rabble]

22. I think you forgot the sarcasm smiley.

Everyone in the US isn't fed, middle class, nor happy.

It is well known, at least among serious analysts, that billionaires accrued their wealth largely by taking it from the rest of us.
Where do you think the "wealth" comes from?

Further, the third world is actually a perfect example of REAL capitalism. Free market capitalism in fact.


The level of government "interference" in the US economy should get the US labeled as socialist. As an example, in 1997 GM paid less federal taxes than I did. In fact, the entire US economy is dependent on government "subsidy" to the extent that without government protection more than half of the Fortune 100 would not survive without it.
In short, our version of "capitalism" can be summed up thusly; The public will assume any and all risk, and then profits will be privatized. Need a few examples?

The internet.
Our highway system.
Telecommunications.
The nuclear industry.
The "Defense" industry.

Lastly, I am doing the exact opposite of "disregarding" "local factors such as war, famine, and disease".

Why do you think there is war in the third world? Or famine?

[Hope springs eternal]

26. Did I say everyone is?

And your assertion of wealthy people "stole" their money is bullshit. Did Henry Ford "Steal" his fortune? How about Carnegie, Rockeffeler, or Gates? Warrent Buffet?

Yes, there should be more social programs to help the poor overcome their plight. If I didn't believe that, then why would I be a democrat? I support UHC and Free Uni. Progressive income taxes and personal taxation is definetly in order. At the same time, corporate taxes should be eliminated.

As for your examples, both the Interstate and the Highway were built for defense purposes. Why not let the American people ultilize them domestically? Telecommunications were built by Western Union and AT&T. How is nuclear built by government? And as for defense, well, I agree that war profits should be Illegal.


Look at Sweden/Norway, they have shitloads of rich people, and yet I don't see them dying in the streets.

How is war about capitalism? Did socialist countires also not go to war? China is one of the world's biggest arms clients. As for famine, I suggest you read up on the Ukirane massacre and the "Great Leap Forward" to see starvation in it's starkest form. As for disease, do capitalist societies create disease? I would like to hear your reasoning.

[Mr Rabble]

27. I am going to say this with all due respect-

You are either woefully misinformed, or totally delusional.

If you think that what Henry Ford built was because of his cars, you need to do a bit of reading. And Carnegie? Rockefeller? You cant be serious.
Funny you mention Buffet, who said, "if there is class war in the US, my side is clearly winning". Maybe he just "mis-spoke"?

Telecommunications developed by AT&T? Not exactly. In fact every single telecommunications technology and its development was heavily, if not totally, subsidized by the federal government (DOD). Please use "the Google".
The interstate system was built at the behest of both GM and Standard oil.
All nuclear technology was developed again, by the federal government (DOD) and then turned over to private corporations.

I dont have time to go through all the things about which you are obviously wrong, but your assertion that corporate taxes should be eliminated says it all.

[Hope springs eternal]

29. You say I'm uninformed

Yet you provide no information.

Henry Ford built a factory that produced cars and paid his workers well. End of story. The 1950s and 1960s were considered the pinnacle of American capitalism and also happened to be when many of the social advancements of freedom and equality were launched. Conicdence? I think not.

Buffet was right on target about the rich not paying enough taxes. That I side with you on, yet if you really think he'd agree with your assesment of the capitalist system, I think you would be mistaken. As far as corporate taxes go, why should a successful buisness be taxed to the hilt? Why not let that money go to workers in the form of wages instead. This is how the system works in Scandinvavia and they seem to balance capitalist innovation with socialist equality quite well. The money for social programs is still flowing, so what's the problem?

The Interstate system did have GMs name on it, but the underpinnings were based off of Eisenhower's observations of the Autoban during the Europeans campaign of WWII. The Germans had created a very effective way of transporting materials through it's highway system, allowing for Blitzkreg to be so successful. Eisenhower desiered the same advantage for the US, seeing as thought this was the height of the cold war.

And Alexander Graham Bell created the telephone. That you should have learned in 5th grade.

Lastly, save the arrogance and condescention for the Freepers. I don't like Holier-than-thou social conservatives and I don't want that snotty garbage from DU either.

[Mr Rabble]

32. Uh huh. Profits going to workers?

What academic planet are you living on?

About Buffet I am sure you are correct. He would likely agree that capitalism is great. After all, he is a billionaire.

Sounds to me like youve got it all figured out. Best of luck to you.

[Hope springs eternal]

34. Sorry such hate consumes you

Sweden taxes personal income to the hilt. Yet it manages to have one of the most dynamic economies in the world. That money is going to go somewhere, so it midas well go to the workers. It worked before, so why not now? If your argument is they'll take their money elsewhere, then threaten to revoke their citizenship. Offshoring is happening in spades now, what makes you think taxing the shizz out of profits is going to stop that? All the jobs we have now will go to China and they'll just sell to the Europeans. No problem.

What's your problem with him being a Billionarie?

[wuushew]

28. Who is to blame for the 1892 Homestead strike?

It wasn't all Frick. Just because Carnegie was vacationing in Scotland lets him off the hook?

[treestar]

21. The issue is government, though

What we have is not capitalism but corporate welfare.

I think we are stuck with capitalism - nothing else works at all. Capitalism can be regulated to a reasonable degree.

It is anyone trying to get laws to favor them within capitalism that becomes the problem.

[Mr Rabble]

23. You are almost totally correct here.

Our version of capitalism is not corporate welfare. Corporate welfare is a totally different category.
Our system is corporate capitalism, with MASSIVE state intervention.

The real problem is how the government intervenes. Hint: it isn't our behalf of what is good for the population.

Your statement that nothing else works at all is simply false. More, it is that no other system has been implemented correctly.

Big difference.

[Hope springs eternal]

35. Oh?

Marx himself stated that dictatorship was necessary before the final product would be achieved. Hence the term "Dictatorship of the Polerant". I got news for you, those socialist paradises in Sweden/Norway/Iceland/Denmark are as capitalist as they come. They simply tax income more. State intervention in the means of production almost always fails. The UK almost collasped prior to privatization. Now, it has almost full employment. France is selling state assets as well. Sorry, the state should regulate money, not economics.

[ronnie624]

25. It's the ultimate expression of avarice,

and it will end up destroying us all. It has nothing to do with democracy. US style capitalism leads to the total corruption of government.

[Geek_Girl]

24. Unchecked Capitalism creates an Aristocracy

Regulation of the free markets is key in creating and maintaining a middle class.

[mudesi]

33. And Geek_Girl gets it in one sentence (nm)

[earth mom]

30. You want to know what the REAL plan of * & Co is? Check this out:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5420753830426590918&q=RUSSO&total=5530&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=4

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

31. It's a swell system...if you happen to be a capitalist.

As for the rest of the worker drones and unemployed, it's not so hot.