The end of capitalism

It’s inevitable and it’s on its way.

Unrestricted capitalism does not exist without exploitation. Companies too big to fail are a proof point that this does not work. A total focus on corporate wealth and shareholders is destroying our society and our environment.

The workforce today is more educated and more productive then ever before and yet the % people living below the poverty line continues to grow. We raised the limit of possibility for the top with no increase to the raising the bottom (Jeff Bezoz wealth vs poverty line). This does not help society.

The youth and majority of our country know this. When people participate in elections, democrats win every time.

So all data and facts support this, I can give you links or you can google (no snark, this site is annoying to link).

Do you think this will happen in our lifetime? How close can we get?

How far can Biden push the agenda? How much do you think he will be forced to compromise?

VB: before responding, please ensure you know what socialism is and how it differs from communism. Thank you.

The end of capitalism

I hate to say this but I think there is going to be a huge collapse of capitalism and US government and no one is going to feel bad for us or help us out. Politicians are only interested to benefit those companies that contributed to their campaign. It's a huge popularity contest at the expense of the citizens. There needs to be a huge overhaul and I am leaning further left than I ever have...

Re: The end of capitalism

Re: The end of capitalism

What I would love to see is a social democracy type system similar to the Nordic countries, which keeps the positive aspects of capitalism (i.e the ease of opening a business) and combines it with a solid social safety net that actually helps people.

Yes, they pay higher taxes - but they GET something for it. (Also, when the right wing calculates their tax rates they make the gap between them and ours bigger than it really is. We are overtaxed in many ways already - real estate, sales, etc - many of which are regressive taxes.)

To address your questions - I'm not sure how much of a change we'll see. Our politics have skewed so far to the right it's disturbing. Outside of social issues, Biden is an Eisenhower Republican. The past few years have been so bleak that whatever he does will feel wonderful but the truth is that he is no progressive icon. And I don't say that to denigrate him. I say that to make clear the reality of the situation.

What would help enormously is if we could get the Fairness Act back because then there can be consequences for the constant lies told by right wing news organizations that talk about things like the ACA being socialism (a laughable, patently false assertion.)

Separate but related, literally no one with any type of power in the US advocates actual socialism (the abolishment of private companies and property) or communism (socialism by violence). It's simply not true. Right wing media uses these terms perniciously while some left wing groups, in fairness, also misuse the term sometimes. What they are really calling for is social democracy if you actually read their goals even though they sometimes call themselves democratic socialists. People don't read the fine print.

Another hurdle is Citizens United. True democratic countries take money out of politics so everyone is on equal footing. This would help people who actually care about helping others (like AOC) be able to afford to get into office. I have worked (volunteered) on multiple campaigns and know how much goes into fundraising. It's absurd.

I am not sure how much change is coming, in the short term or long term. I know something has to happen though. Between the widening wealth gap and climate change we literally won't survive unfettered capitalism.

Long, long term - as in beyond our lifetimes, I picture either a true social democracy that takes care of people, allows for growth and innovation, and fights climate change or a military dystopian dictatorship. I don't believe there will be an in between.

The end of capitalism

They didn't call the the trillion dollar bail out for Wall Street "socialism"

They don't call the trillion dollar subsidies for oil and gas "socialism"

They don't call the billion dollar bailouts for farmers "socialism"

...but health care, fair wages, and food for poor? - it's called socialism and you're a communist for supporting it.