I apologize in advance if Kate had already posted this before, but I do not believe she has (nor could I find it anywhere in previous postings). This is a rather lengthy seminar, so I am authorizing you to pour 2 martinis, grab 2 cigars and getting yourself into a very comfy recliner. Below is the You Tube version (which is broken up into 14 separate 10 minute segments, which makes it more digestable, to see the other 13 segments it’s probably best just to go to You Tube and view it from there)
There is also the full version available for download here if you wish to view it all in one shot or e-mail it to friends or have a long flight.
In short it is the most comprehensive seminar on the merits of capitalism, designed to arm viewers with the emprical economic proof needed to effectively argue for free markets and a capitalist economic system. It IS lengthy, but (at the risk of sounding arrogant) it is almost mandatory you watch it – when you have the time of course – because the data, research, etc., really is that vital and necessary for those who believe in freedom and free markets.
I hope you enjoy it.
Go team !!
But I’ll bet that not one lefty bothers.
I have heard much disturbing talk that the current credit crisis will ‘the end of capitalism.’
Yesterday, while thumbing through some waiting-room magazines, I ran across and intersting article with some interesting stats.
Apparently, the US went through many, many credit and banking crises throughout its history.
When Rahm Emmanuel and his ilk are using the current crisis to promote a marxist agenda, they are counting on those indoctrinated in the education system to not have a long-term view of history.
Since the free-market system depends on human psychology, of course the decisions they make will take the overall market in a cyclical pattern.
The only thing socialism ultimately offers is equality of misery.
. . . pour 2 martinis, grab 2 cigars . . .
What, no smoking jacket?
Thanks Captain. I will make a point of watching this in the coming days.
I always thought capitalism, unlike so many other “-isms”, was decidedly not an ideology but rather an activity.
Belief in capitalism doesn’t make you a capitalist. Creating and accumulating capital does.
In short it is the most comprehensive seminar on the merits of capitalism, designed to arm viewers with the empirical economic proof needed to effectively argue for free markets and a capitalist economic system.
~Captain Capitalism
People who support socialism are malcontents.
They have abnormal pyschological impulses and can’t be swayed by facts.
The only fact that they need to know is that socialism leads to communism:
“The goal of socialism is communism.”
~Vladimir Lenin
and then quote President Gerald Ford:
-“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”
I remember sitting down with my kids one night and they asked me about capitalism and socialism and what was better. I told them that capitalism was better because it was based on satisfying basic human drives and results in the production of wealth for all. The captain calls this being “based in reality”. I think it is a fundamental point that is often overlooked. I told them you start from Hobbe’s view of the natural state of man and everyone wants to live better than that. Some people are lazy or have lower comfort threshholds and as soon as they are comfortable they stop striving – and want to share the fruits of other peoaples labors – that is when the idological isms come into being.
What I find interesting and am trying to resolve is how culture affects basic human drives. In tribalism, (one of the isms?) small groups of people live together in a certain manner. If you look at those areas of the world where things seem to be off the rails it is my view tha yousee an overrepresentation of triabal societies. Is that way of living as a small group ingrained in mankind like the desire to better oneself is? If so, I wonder how do you overcome it in a place like Afghanistand or the Middle East or Africa so that capitalism can work its wonders?
I doubt capitalism can “work it’s wonders” in Afghanistan when Afghanistan appears to be bereft of any natural resources or production of anything other than opium poppies.
Look at a map.
The surrounding nations meet Afghanistan like spokes, with Afghanistan being a kind of hub.
The reason why the neighbouring nations have historically declined to extend their rule into the area, Afghanistan isn’t a real country, is because Afghanistan is a wasteland that isn’t worth their effort.
today’s ctv poll asks: What’s your take on capitalism today?
Again it’s painful to watch people using terms they have little understanding of.
“Capitalism” in its purest form is crime – same for socialism – both engage in property crime (theft) one through coercive force the other through monopoly expropriation.
I assume you want to defend laissez-faire competitive capitalism and the free non exclusionist market place.
I can agree with that, however it is hard to defend something we have never really had in Canada. Canada’s economy was founded on imperialist monopoly (HBC) and corporate cronyism (family compacts) with feudal land use systems exploited with indentured servitude labor. Then from John A onward we have had massive government intervention in private enterprise and markets – not to mention the fact we have a self declared ‘mixed economy’ centrally planned and controlled by a govrnment bank and economy ministry – and of course no mention of personal property rights in our constitution.
Seems to me socialists have pretty much what they want – unless they are not socialists and want full blown communism.
Simply put:
Socialism means having to go to the government to get what they chose to give you.
Capitalism means having companies come to you so you can get what you choose.
I can agree with that, however it is hard to defend something we have never really had in Canada.
~Jim
I can’t defend what you have never had, Jim.
Having experienced capitalism myself, I can defend it when it seems necessary to me.
Who is this “we” you speak of?
Are you an unknown Monarch perhaps, a pregnant woman, or a person with a tapeworm./off picking nits
The ugsome Michael Moore was on Larry King last night, capitalism is dead, etc etc. (Both are insufferable). Moore’s schtick is tiresome and worn out.
The problem with Moore is that he is full of half truths – there is some glimmer of veracity in some of what he says – but then uncritical people accept all of what he says, Larry King included. (King just coasts through interviews, he doesn’t bother trying to make anything interesting).
Moore was complaining about how “big companies” save money by laying people off. Well, maybe he can hire them on then??
“Moore’s schtick is tiresome and worn out.”
Indeed. He is now well beyond his “best before” date (and his best wasn’t much even then).
A friend of mine often says, “Don’t wish too hard, you might get what you wished for.”
With the election of President Obama, all the rage-against-the-machine types have become part of the machine themselves.
Hard to keep playing the anti-status quo crusading outsider once you’re the status quo.
Capitalism runs supreme on the planet,spreading by the day. A little negative “talk” by some limosine liberal lefties wont make a dent,they are not even a pimple on the ass of capitalism.
Anyway if it ever comes down to a real showdown the lefties will be sacrificed.
Theres good money in markism these days.
Capitalism is psychologically, which means, materially, valid. It rests within the reality of matter.
Socialism is merely an idea-ology. It has no ‘matter’ attached to it; it’s just a mental image.
Capitalism, since it exists within matter, is located in the work and intentions of the particular individual. He works, he reaps a material return sufficient both for his current needs and importantly, he MUST reap a surplus. This surplus, whether it be seeds for next year’s harvest, animals to continue the herd, or the symbol of these material goods, money, is vital. It enables the individual to both continue on in the future and interact with other people.
Since capitalism, as an economic system, is invested in particular matter, this means that some particular ‘matter’ (a person) may work harder and be smarter and get more capital than someone else. Another person may even choose not to work and so, receives nothing!
Notice what this also includes. It includes the Mind and Emotions of the individual; it requires that these material individuals make choices, make decisions. They have to figure out how to get economic returns. There’s a great deal of intellectual and emotional investment in this work. That’s why capitalism is an emotionally healthy economic mode; it involves the individual physically, emotionally, intellectually.
Socialism is purely an idea. It has no ‘matter’ attached to it. The idea totally rejects the individual as a separate emotional, intellectual or material being. The idea is that individuals are like machines or slaves. They ‘do work’. They have no emotional or intellectual investment in this work. They don’t plan ‘how to’; they don’t figure out solutions to problems. They are slaves. They work.
The result of this slave-work is taken by their Masters, the government, and distributed to everyone. The IDEA is to distribute this equally to all. No-one gets more or less than anyone else.
The problem is, that socialism, which is purely an intellectual idea, without any embeddedness within material reality, is dysfunctional. It can’t function, obviously, purely as an idea. It has to become actualized in real material people and real material work and goods and services. And it then meets up with these material and psychological realities. People, alas, are not slaves. Slavery is not a basic psychological or emotional state of ‘being human’.
People want to be emotionally and intellectually invested and attached to themselves as matter, and to the material work they do. They grow attached to their farms, their orchards, they want them to do well. They grow attached to the businesses they start up; they feel they earn the results of their work. They don’t want to be emotionless robots, slaves…and simply work and hand over the goods to their Masters.
Capitalism, which supports individuals as reasoning, feeling, material beings, knows that, since capitalism supports their emotions, that these individuals will feel morally and emotionally bound to help those who are unable to work. Not those who are UNWILLING to work, but those who are unable. Capitalists are the greatest charity givers on this earth.
Socialist-slaves, of course, have nothing to give. (Oh, by the way, check out the donation ratios of Liberals, NDPs, Bloc members..heh).
So, capitalism is the NATURAL economy of human beings, because it supports the factual reality of them as individuals, as free-thinking agents, as emotional beings, as interactive beings.
You also gotta love Milton Friedman. His story of the pencil in “Free to Choose” really puts a lot of issues to rest. (It’s a great series, well worth watching).
How much would a government produced pencil cost?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12cTb4_9aLQ
It’s a great series, and you can hear an articulate Thomas Sowell speak powerfully.
Capitalism is always at work. If governments allow entrepreneurs to do their stuff, they create huge amounts of wealth. However, if governments prevent entrepreneurs from making a living, there is no wealth creation. Who would undertake an endeavor only to lose money? Only governments, and they must rob the public to cover the loss.
I’m sold. So when are those western, rural
conservative welfare bums going to get off of the dole, small dead-minded ones??
Capitalism control by small and large business
Socialism control by government
Clash is competition between Capitalism and socialism
By force of socialism to mad more law and reform and more regulation on top of capitalism
The good in Canada and USA
The free country as business and mid class is free to do what they like government also free to what they like
Constitution and freedom of speech and freedom of individual made draw between these two
This is up to people as long as freedom and human right get respected and human right has not conflict with group of capitalism and group of socialism both can work and both can talk and this is customer and consumers to make choose out of it.
capitlasim and socialism can both good or both bad or mix and match this is up to people in free country
country or companies who are not give freedom of speech are both are not accoutable to thier ideas
constitution is first come to this rank
Erik Larsen asked: “How much would a government produced pencil cost?”
Thanks for reminding me of this:
http://www.pipingdesign.com/pencils/the_ultimate_tool.jpg
Well, OK, that one’s a bit more sophisticated and expensive than what’s mentioned in the video.
The jackass emerges again,
bob:
I must confess.
I get zero dollars in farm subsidies.
OK, now I’ll have to go watch the videos …
A quick way to discover what’s behind capitalism is to read Ayn Rand, particularly Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, which starts off with the essay What Is Capitalism? There’s also The Virtue of Selfishness, which deals with the moral code behind it all. Highly recommended, and they have the benefit of being true!
Ayn Rand’s philosophy describes reality, while socialism derives from the fantasyland nonsense of Plato, Kant and Hegel.
PiperPaul – all along, cozza your name I thought you played the bagpipes, didn’t know you were a real piping expert!
Erik: Expert, no. But wait for the book.
I’d give it all up to be able to be a REAL piper! They’re MUCH cooler than plumbers and pipe-smokers.
Sorry to reply to myself, but didja watch the whole video regarding dust explosions?
PiperPaul – where is the video??