Do you believe capitalism should be restructured, replaced by another economic system or left exactly as is? That’s the question we put to our Underground Knowledge group members in our latest poll on Goodreads.com; we also address that question in our upcoming INTERNATIONAL BANKSTER$: The Global Banking Elite Exposed and the Case for Restructuring Capitalism (book five in our Underground Knowledge Series).
Interim poll results show that 53% of respondents believe capitalism should be restructured or reformed; 27% say it should be replaced by another system; 10% insist it should be left exactly as is; and the balance are unsure.
Poll respondents’ comments make for interesting reading. Sample abridged comments (names withheld) follow:
I’m essentially a Capitalist as I believe (however flawed) Capitalism is the only economic system ever devised that rewards entrepreneurial and/or hard-working individuals. So I’d never vote for Socialism or communism. However, I also think unregulated Capitalism has become one of the biggest problems facing society right now. It is allowing big business (including multinational monopoly-style companies) too much power and the average 9-5 worker is getting screwed.
Communism need not be the only alternative to Capitalism. A system should be devised which incorporates the good from both.
There is such abuse of capitalism… When money is the only objective at any cost you have a problem. The proposed TPP trade agreement is inherently wrong, again giving more power to the corporations. If you look at the 1888 introduction to Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward you will see the workers still in the same position today. There must be social, economic, governmental and political change. Accountability must be instituted for corporations, none of which, including banks are too big to fail. War profiteering must end. Endless war must end. No one needs excessive billions of dollars at the expense of everyone else. Economic morality must be sadly legislated.
Capitalism should be reformed, so freedom can be secure for all, and finally the ones who were once left behind can be reached.
I think what critics are currently calling Capitalism and the free market are really corporatocracy and cronyism or “unregulated Capitalism” which is a different thing from what was originally in place in the US and much of the Western world. But whatever the case, I do think the wide scale economic or financial corruption by the elites is leading to increasing numbers becoming homeless, losing their homes, going bankrupt, not being able to pay their medical bills, etc, etc.
The greatest flaw of capitalism is the ability of corporate leaders to manipulate the political system to their benefit and to the detriment of everyone else. Making behavior like this a criminal offence, and enforcing the law, would go a long way toward reforming capitalism. To paraphrase Churchill, capitalism is the worst economic system there is, except for all the others.
Capitalism’s turned us into competitive human beings (which I don’t believe is good)and means we live in a system that benefits the rich and f…. the poor. Whether it’s modified or replaced, I don’t much care, as long as we can find a system that helps provide the necessities of life for everyone first. Then you can buy your Gucci dresses and blood diamonds.
Society must find a wise way to give food, shelter, education and health care to everyone. The change from capitalism to another system, needs first a big change in the way the majority thinks.
Poverty could be solved instantly if we wanted it to be- which would reduce crime, benefit the economy and be better for all concerned (oh, other than that current 1% at the top, but they’ve had their turn). I think it’s important we look beyond such things in the way that if someone says they’re anti-capitalist it must mean they’re a socialist, for instance. We base our understanding on the past and not with common sense in the present. . Feed, house, give water and energy to everyone and the world would soon change for the better. THEN you can start trying to attain whatever else your heart desires. Capitalism, in its current form, certainly doesn’t aid any of that.
Surely the genius and greatest evil of capitalism is that we all become both product and customer, consumer and consumed?
The problem cannot be blamed on shareholders, nor marketers. We must take self-responsibility.
To view all the comments, or better still to have YOUR say, go to: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/142309-underground-knowledge—a-discussion-group?type=group
Poll ends June 18 PST.
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Our Underground Knowledge discussion group is aimed at those with an interest in the world we live in and a desire to learn or to uncover “underground knowledge” on important issues of our times.
Everyone’s welcome to join! All you need is an enquiring mind. Our members include scientists, social activists, teachers, historians, authors, military and intelligence agency personnel, bankers, housewives, whistleblowers, students, former police officers, journalists, readers and many more.
Visit the group at: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/142309-underground-knowledge—a-discussion-group
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