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Xeno-X, I think economists far smarter than us have figured how to give
the proletariat just enough pentance to keep the economic fabric patched (and I mean patched) together
posted by
FreeManWalking
on March 31, 2007 at 7:24 AM
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Your last statement is absolutely accurate!
I would also reply to Corbin Dallas's comment that the working poor could get another job and be "six checks away". That misses the point. A lot of people already are working two or more jobs, but barely making it.
There are only so many hours in the day. When you're spending 10, 12 or more on wage labor, you don't have much time for anything else that makes life meaningful.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on March 28, 2007 at 5:55 PM
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actually dylan23 -- the basic capitalist system is akin to socialism
where the ordinary person should be able to have stock in a corporation
but it is not the ordinary person who drives the stock market (Ben Stein said so)
just a bunch of rich people who like to dabble and don't know what they're doing
and corporations look to the bottom line to give their rich investors as much return as possible, so they look to cut corners, restrict worker benefits, etc -- like the notorious equipment failures here in St. Louis area due to a summer windstorm and a winter icestorm -- left almost a half mil homes without power.
Ameren UE, the power company here, (also famous for the Taum Sauk Reservoir collapse that virtually ruined a fine state park [where Ameren has been accused of failure to properly maintain]), racked up 600 m in profit for its stockholders while not maintaining and updating its equipment, which led to the power failures.
other corporate citizens outsource jobs to cheaper labor markets overseas, leaving U.S. workers either without jobs or having to compete for lower paying jobs.
as long as corporate profits trumps (sic) worker benefit, then the system is lopsided.
posted by
Xeno-x
on March 28, 2007 at 8:28 AM
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ah sarooster
aint my check or your check i'm talking about
unless you receive 50 m /yr for laying off working people like the rest of us.
posted by
Xeno-x
on March 28, 2007 at 8:19 AM
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Maybe not a new system per se...
but a change in the existing system. Could there be a different kind of U.S. capitalism?
I think it's important to uphold some basic principles: private property, yes. But those with the most property have the most responsibility for the well-being of the country. With power comes responsibility. The progressive tax follows from this.
The economic right-wing promotes the opposite. They want unbridled private wealth AND lower taxes on the wealthy: more power, less responsibility. I think we need higher taxes on wealth, lower taxes on labor.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on March 28, 2007 at 3:53 AM
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Xeno-X,
Give the poor some of your check, not mine!
posted by
sarooster
on March 27, 2007 at 6:31 PM
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Hmmmm?
Perhaps the working poor could get another job....then they would be six checks away from the street.......
Xeno.......always the positive approach???
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on March 27, 2007 at 12:08 PM
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yep -- but we don't mention such words in this free country
as socialism.
too much money against it.
we just have to wait until the system collapses and riots hit the streets --
to change now would be a "stitch in time saving nine"
remind me -- there's more to add.
posted by
Xeno-x
on March 27, 2007 at 11:40 AM
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Yup - the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
Isn't it said that the "working poor" are 3 pay checks away from being on the streets. That's a scary thought. Something to be said for some of the nuances of Socialism.
posted by
Troosha
on March 27, 2007 at 10:43 AM
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