THis economic ideology emphasises freedom-freedom to earn as much money as one can. And freedom is what we must strive for, such as is offered bythis ideology. Capitalism also offers a strong economy, and when the economy does well everybody benefits.

was put in prison for speaking out against george bush

I used to believe, as classical economics suggests, that capitalism is about pursuing one's self-interest. As an individualist, perhaps even an ethical egoist of sorts, I felt that I also had to be a laissez-faire capitalist. Then I got a job and my whole perspective changed. To say that capitalism is about self-interest presupposes that the end of a person's life is to make money. Clearly, however, the finest things if life are those that are done for their own sake rather than to produce a profit. Freedom inheres in leisure, not in work. Capitalism has its advantages in creating wealth, but heaven knows we post-industrial peoples have enough stuff. What we need now is a guaranteed minimum income for a minimum amount of work, in addition to better, more equitable education in the arts, pure sciences, lifetime fitness, etc., so that individuals can realize their potential as thinking, creative beings rather than resign themselves to wage slavery. For some food for thought, read Bertrand Russell's In Praise of Idleness and his essay on socialism in the same collection. For a more up-to-date critique of consumer capitalism, check out Juliet Schor's books.

Capitalism has both the pontential to be both great and terrible. Unregulated and uncontrolled capitalism like that of the Gilded Ages invariable leads to poverty and suffering of the vast majority of people while the upper echelon exploit the lower classes. It ultimatly leads to the destruction of the elite as well because an economy cannot function without a large and healthy middle class of consumers. Also if capitialism is not tamed and used for the good of society it is likely to be overthrown in favor of communism, not a good thing. On the other hand, capitalism, when regulated, can lead to great wealth for the nation as a whole. With taxes and labor and antitrust laws to act as a restraint upon capitalism, it can work to better all the people of a nation. The best model of capitalism is social democracy (capitalism with a healthy dose of socialist programs to alliviate some of the ills of a free market). Capitalism is like a game, play it right and you can be a big winner; but like all games, you must have some rules.

like all ideologies just fine if balanced. like all ideologies bad when it is without any balance. ideologies in general are builded and founded as a kind of anti-thesis. if they become the winner in that struggle they have no frontiers anymore. and then they are becoming kind of selfish and destroying. like we see exactly about capitalism. as long as he had its big opponent socialism was defeated and diasppeared(socialism itself was a historical try to handle the terrible situation of early capitalism during the period of industrialisation when more and more people became poor and exisatential threatened) there wasnt anything to bound its power: the winner takes it all. so also the policy wasnt longer forced to make its own political system more attractive - like we saw in the social security sustems, health care and so on. so my facit is: capitalism is the best form to get the most benefit out of the econimacal process. but if its values becomeing just the dominating ones it is becoming threatening. shouldnt become a kind of religion but always be known: its just a way FOR the people to organise their existence best, not worthy value by itself.

Capitalism, along with democracy, has made all of our lives so much easier and happier than they would be otherwise. It is not a perfectly fair system, but it the fairest system that rewards hard work we have.

If capitalism works, how come the US is the world's biggest debtor nation owes trillions of dollars and its main creditor nations - like Japan- have been having a tough time of it in recent years to say the least? Duh!!

the american way. but you're junk won't mean a thing when you die. personally i love to hear about when a rich person dies.

I love it! I am a proud capitalist and for those of you who hate it clearly don't know how the system works. Great economics!

The truth is that capitalism has already failed, and has only maintained a working system by implementing Keynesian and socialist reforms. But these reforms have only delayed what capitalism inevitably leds to: the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. Capitalism is in essence no different from fuedalism: in fuedalism, he who controls the land controls the people; in capitalism, he who controls the money (capital) controls the people. Instead of being a serf tied to the land, you are a worker, tied to opportunity cost. The only difference being that in capitalism, even a worker can build up enough capital to eventually retire.

System don't care about da poor and working class. I can see why hard work don't always pay dividends.

Capitalism is awful!!! Works for the ruling class - that's about it!!! Communism is the way forward!!! Come on! workers of the world unite!!!!

Capitalism, although promising good fortune for all, has done the opposite. Despite what the government would have you think, poverty is rampant in America and other developed nations. Communism in the end seems to create a class of all poor, but a blend of socialism (not Communism, socialism) and capitalism would be better. We should not continue blindly worshipping a failed economic system in which greedy business executives have all the power.

Capatalism is the best type economy there is. It allows people to work in their own best self interest. You are free to make your own econimic decisions. If you don't like your job you can find another one. You are not stuck in the class you are born into. If you truly work hard and want to succeed then most of the time you can succeed.

What I earn is mine...unless the government steals it..

Economics are simply the systems we employ to allocate limited materials and scarce resources-nothing more. For the sake of defining capitalism it is important to note that it rests upon the rational thought and actions of morally bound individuals and is predicated upon naturally accepted axioms. These axioms are woven into an existing culture. Capitalism assumes a natural right of ownership; it promotes individual choice within morally defined parameters supported by respected legal structures, which allow for the existence of liberty. Christian principles support these natural rights. The Commandments thou shalt not steal and thou shalt not covet themselves presume a substantive degree of ownership. The most fundamental title of ownership a free man has is to his labor, and his personal thoughts that he can sell for a price to which he voluntarily agrees. Critically basic to the capitalist system are the legal and traditional observation of this natural right and to the ownership of its materialization. In as far as liberty is not license, freedom is not to do whatever you wish whenever you will. Nihilism, whereby the powerful covet all that they desire is the antithesis of capitalism. Nihilism lacks the legal recognition of ownership and respect for the natural right the individual has to the (free) exercise of his labor. Nihilism as a system is that of disorder and chaos, cannibalizing the structures necessary to the natural fecundity of the capitalist system. It is obvious from many of the rants about capitalism people aren't complaining about captialism they're complaining about a perceived mythical nihilism. The moral goal of a just society is to how best feed our needy and pass a better society off to the future while respecting the liberty for man to act freely. No system addresses earthly limitations and alleviates adverse earthly conditions better than capitalism. Those who have complaints with capitalism ignore statistics abound that support the notion that capitalism lifts the boat of the poor while allowing them to be freely mobile within the system (25 million people moved out of the poor class and into the middle or upper middle class during the 80's) that blurs the divisions of class and distinction by continually increasing the individuals' wealth regardless of race, color, creed or religion. In a capitalist system if you have a job you are gaining capital-human capital at the very least (you can actually save money and invest as well, over 70% of Americans own their homes and over 50% own stocks) that you can sell on the free market to the highest bidder as the skills you possess increase in value with experience. The market therefore forces the value of the individual upward making him mobile through the classes. It is in essence the only classless system. Furthermore, competition within the marketplace brings products to the consumer at lower and lower prices. Products that were luxuries for the rich one day are alleviating earthly conditions for the poor the next at a fraction of the cost because the rich purchased the risk of the initial investment in the original products. This is true with appliances to health care procedures. The true gripe the opponents have with capitalism is the a distain for the income gap. They simply don't like the fact that some are rich and some are not. Well guess what? Some people are tall and others are not.. it's life! Ask a liberal if he would support an economic program that would increase the wealth for the poor by 10% and the rich by 5% simultaneously and he'll normally say HELL NO! Life is getting much much better in America if you just take into account the access to information, education and products let alone the freedom this country allows for those who want to pursue their own ends. Life expectancy is up for every ethnic group with the highest rate of increase occuring for black males. More people are getting college degrees than ever before. Medical procedures that were years ago experimental are now routine and saving thousands of lives- no government program made this happen. We don't have a starvation problem amongst our poor we have a OBESITY problem! The amount America spends on entertainment is increasing- not a sign of people scrapping to make ends meet. More people are gaining higher educations than ever. And though 12% of the population is considered poor that is down from 22% in 1960. Of that 12% over half will be out of poverty in 3-5 years and over 80% will be in 20 years. No system is perfect in an imperfect world but look around you and you'll notice this ain't all that bad. As a matter of fact things are pretty good.

Capitalism is the greatest concept on the planet. Imagine the idea of being able to have a dream and then pursue that dream until it becomes a reality. The only downfall of our nation is not teaching the principle of Capitalism to our children.

The only people who technically should support capitalism are the rich and their sycophant lapdogs, but it seems that many others have been brainwashed. Capitalism: JUST NO! Ayn Rand needs to burn, by the way.

Contrary to what so many good people, out of sheer terror of Communism think, Capitalism is not free enterprise, an incentive for success, a chance for all. Capitalism is trusts, speculation, parasitical usury. Capitalism is J. P. Morgan, Rothschild's bank, ripping apart the nations like maddened swine. Capitalism is the frying pan in which culture is rendered down to the grease of money. Following it, as the night to day, is the thrice hotter fire of Communism.

Capitalism lets you determine your own future. Businesses are made and managed by people. Why should an honest hard working man who has a thriving business have to compromise his revenue to the pigs in washington? If you can make a living for yourself, you are entitled to the benefits.

Thank heavens for Capitalism. It is really too bad that it gets such a bad rap. The words Capitalist and pig should not be together in the same sentence. Blasphemy! If you want to grasp a better understanding of the nature of Capitalism, try reading Ayn Rand's Capitalism: An Unknown Ideal.

The best exonomic system ever devised which allows anyone of any background, race, gender or creed to become successful. Rewards achievement and hard work, the backbone of the success and wealth of our nation.

capitialism is the opiate of the idiot masses as long as you have money or a bushie or house of saud the free market is dying a slow death capitialism is just facism without the nice suits and oraginized marches of the nazi party.

God bless America! You don't like it, go to Canada.

The average person in America below poverty level has a color TV with cable and doesn't go hungry. Enough said.

Completely unrestrained capitalism is a short-sighted and narrow ideology that is a recipe for disaster. However, capitalismn with some restrictions and restraints works quite well, both to serve the interests of the individual and the interests of society as a whole.

I rate this as 5 stars because it works. I hate to say it, but people by nature are greedy, they are, and always will be. Its opposite, socialism/comunism is based on a utopian ideal. To work they require utopian conditions, namely the absence of greed, which will never happen. So instead a system that bases itself on human greed will always be stronger and will have a better ability to last.

Capitalism is the only proper political and economic system. It is the only system which preserves the rights of individuals to behave in their own rational self-interests, and rewards those who do so.

Truly the greatest economic system. I can't imagine having it any other way.

It can be a bitch. . .it does punish the uprepared, the uneducated, and the unlucky. It does reward (usually) drive and hard work. No system is completely fair but I'll take this one over some of the others I've seen.

Capitalism can have some real benefits. I believe that it is a necessary system because it results in technological advances and a higher standard of living which benefits us all. But I do not think that the capitalists should have any political power. That is where everything gets completely screwed up. There has to be government control on things like monopolies, fiscal and monetary policy, and tragedies like the Enron scandal. Seriously, if the capitalists had not so much political power in this country, the perpetrators of the Enron fraud would be rightfully spending the rest of their lives in jail. Instead, they got a slap on the wrist for ruining the lives of thousands of people. A responsible government would keep a closer eye on companies like Enron to ensure that a single person cannot become impossibly wealthy by stealing from thousands of employees and clients. Otherwise, capitalism can be a good thing which enriches our lives.

Captalism is the reason why America is so rich and diverse. In a captalist society, there is an incentive for studying hard, working hard, and being creative. Here in America, you have the opportunity to choose a goal, live where you want, own property, choose a school, and choose a job. I'm tired of people constantly complaining about this country. I'm tired of hearing complaints of wealthy people getting special privaleges. The top 1% of income earners pay nearly a third of our taxes. I disagree with programs designed to make citizens lazy such as: affirmative action programs, welfare, etc. I know America is not perfect and has problems. However if it's so bad, why are so many immigrants flocking to this country? Big government is bad government!

This site sucks at formatting! To actually be able to read this comment, you should copy it into an .html file and open that with your web browser. <p>Capitalism: The system that _claims_ to reward hard work and superior products, but _really_ only rewards knowing the right people, and having lots of capital already under your control. </p> <p> Capitalism: The system that _claims_ to be ruled by an invisible hand, but is _actually_ ruled by an invisible social clique. </p> <p> The current United States President is an excellent example of capitalism in action: He became rich through inheritance, used his family ties and other social connections to become even richer, and rose to political power through the same family ties and social connections. </p> <p> Government, BTW, is only a public front for this network of the "right people"-- it is composed of many of the same people who are prominent in the capitalist economy. Bush himself was on the Board of Directors at a company called Caterair. He got there only because of his family ties-- NOT because he worked harder, NOT because he had a superior business strategy by which Caterair could compete on the so-called "free" market, and certainly NOT because he had an efficient brain, or even an effective one. </p> <p> Government offices are filled through the same who-ya-know network that is used to select the CEOs and board members of companies. Your vote comes into play only AFTER the candidates have been selected through this network. Referring back to my Bush example, he needed the same social connections to become the Republican Presidential candidate as he did to get on a board of directors in the 1990s. Those who are waiting for the government to save them from the corporations are kidding themselves. Socialism is a myth. (END government-is-a-front explanation) </p> <p> Capitalism dooms those of us who do not know the right people to a lifelong struggle for mere existence. The only reward for hard work alone is a chance to live long enough to do more hard work. Capitalism presents opportunity only to those in a favorable position on the who-ya-know network. </p> <p> In conclusion, while the legal structures associated with capitalism give you the legal right to spend your money as you choose, the unwritten, unspoken "who-ya-know" network of the elite guarantees that most of us will only ever have enough money to buy what we absolutely need in order to survive from now until next week, and only if we're lucky. The only economic "freedom" we _really_ have is the "freedom" to choose death from either starvation, thirst, or exposure. </p> <p> Postword: Those of you in the USA should watch the next Presidential election. Through their idle on-the-air conversation, the newscasters reveal some of the connections between politicians, corporate executives, and themselves. They speak of how they play at the same country clubs and go to each others' dinner parties. </p>

Look where it's gotten many of the Westernized countries! I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's gotten America this far.

It's paradoxical that in such prosperous times we should be so poor. With all that's available, all the information, all the wealth, that we are stressed out, so time-poor, that on average people are no more happier than 50 years ago. This shows that the economic 'growth' that seems to have become a new God isn't actually doing much to facilitate 'growth' in a more fundamental sense.

I am disappointed of you all. All of you who favor capitalism. You have no idea. How can you like a system that creates the upper and lower class. I bet 99% of the people in here that are in the lower class, the peasants, even have the guts to give it a five star. How is it to be in depths for the rest of your lives ? Working for a corporation whose boss you don't even know. How can you support a system that exploits and destroys our natures. YES IT DOES I can give you thousands of examples. Rain forest, ozon layers, kids dying in third world countries, pollution, etc etc etc. Our media is brainwash. Fox News, CNN, CBS, all brainwash. Just like in Fascism. If you are smart you only believe in what you see. Then 911 gave it the rest. Changing the whole constitution, and this is only the beginning. Giving up all of your rights in exchange of security, just like Orwell predicted. EXCATLY WHAT HE PREDICTED. Why do you poor peasants and I don't want to offend you, why do you like this system? You call yourselfs free? Free ?? Sitting head over under bills you have to pay. You aren't free at all. You are slaves of the system. You work for corporations that work closely together with the government. Your government makes decisions over you without giving a heck about what you have to say. Examples : Trilateral Commission, UN, G8 summits, etc. I mean what is wrong with you people???? I am not saying Comminism is better but this system is not the right one. The rich are getting richer and richer. The poor stay low, or, well, become even more poor. And you are willing to stand up, hold an American flag and run in front of enemy Machine Gun fire knowing your death will end, because of patriotism and nationalism. For what??? For those sick and corrupt leaders that want to for the New World Order ?? Is it that ? America isn't anymore what it once was. It changed. People don't hate us because they are jealous. They hate us mostly because we are such blind lambs. We call ourselfs the best and strongest and our media does a great job by keeping many of us afraid with only shockable terrible news they tell us. Be patriots !!! Not towards the government because it is changing, but towards the COnstitution ! They want to change it, they want it to go more direction fascism. Already after new laws, everything you say against the President or United Nations or whatever makes you a terrorist. Soon you'll go to jail because of that. Just think the system you are living in. Nothing is perfect. Believe only in what you see. politics is just a game. They need people like Bin Laden and Saddam etc to blame for, eventho Bin Laden and the USA were friends as Saddam and suddenly both turn into enemies. This sounds like too much of a game to me. Also wake up and realize that our country has high VIPs taking part in secret societies where people do crazy things like worship evil forces etc.... This sounds crazy but it is true. Hitler and Roosevelt being part of the same organization during WW2, soon after Truman. Many US presidents being Free Masons.... the richest and most powerful being Free Masons. At least HIGH ranked free masons because poor people in there are just there to be ripped off.. Wake up!

sure, its ok for america, it makes you richer. but consider the fact that outside of the countries that were already rich, no other country will ever benifit from it, how will capitalism ever help the millions and millions of starving people in the world? equal oppourtunity??? this is such a laugh, america doesnt promote free trade or open markets anyway, america only got in the position of hyper-power that it is in today behind a wall of tariffs and trade barriers

A system of free enterprise upon which this country is built. It does have its flaws, and sometimes punishes the unprepared (like the Enron Scandal), but it usually rewards hard work and allows people to manage their own finances and spend their money how, when and where they please, free from government control.

Leeches who exploit the workers.

Freedom, equal oppourtnity, free rights.... sounds good! Capitalism is the only pratical economic system which has led to prosperity & fullfilment of human aspirations with it's own fallibles.Fair Enough. But it's only good within a country....what about transnational capitalism mostly knows as "globalistaion"! Capitalism is a system where the best commands the market so naturally the countries which is more competeively placed gains an upper hand so finally the weaker nations becomes dependent on the stronger ones, and politics & economics is an inseparable ally... hence history is a good indicator that the stronger nations has always used their economic muscle power to arm twist the weaker nations viz sanctions, economic embargo etc etc...The nations which have kickstarted their economic on capitalist model have reached a certain stage where the other nations find it diffcult to catch up.... So as we see any SELF RESPECTING nation has adopted socialist model which is a SELF RELIANT ECONOMIC SYSTEM !

Capitalism is crap, to put it nicely. Rich people stepping over the poor is not what I call a great thing. We say that slavery was abolished, but LOOK AROUND it's still here, it's everywhere!

Seen objectivly it's the greatest source of evil and inequality in history.

Capitalism gives every man the opportunity to strike it rich, but is far from equal. The Enron scandal proved that. A regulated market that prevents such underhanded dealings can level the playing field and truly achieve the freedom and equality that our country preaches. Capitalism has its upside but one cannot ignore its drawbacks.

Tragedy of the commons anyone?

Let prosperity be your guide.

I am refering to contemporary capitalism, which has no integral checks and balances. It fuels greed by allowing the rich to get richer by exploitation. I do believe that some system of capital is the most efficient means of trade. Something however must be done to assure some degree of equity so that even the lowest rung of workers has something to look forward to.

The best economic ideology yet. Equal opportunity + big (and small) business + small government + strong millitary + freedom = America! You know what the problem with America is? Liberals! They're out opposing and trying to destroy everything that makes this country great. For some reason they think that if the government taxes every penny anyone earns and lets the Democratic party spend it we'd finally have Utopia! Hate rich people if you want. They're the ones providing jobs. The human spirit demands freedom. So why would the liberals be trying to take away these things? They're not human!

Capitalism is great. Where would our country be without it??? We would be in as much economic hell as Canada or be as communist as China. The reason certain people (especially liberals) have problems with capitalism is because they dont want people to do things independently, they want them to either lay back on the government. That is stupid. Capitalism requires education, but I am positive that if we could cut teacher funding benefits(education bills) and give people vouchers, they may learn more. If it werent for the uneducated, capitalism would NEVER be criticized.

I HATE CAPITALISM BECAUSE IT ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO SCREW PEOOPLE UP! IT IS TO BLAME FOR POVERTY, OUR HIGH CRIME RATE, MANY OF OUR INNER CITY KIDS GETTING A POOR EDUCATION, AND DRUGS. IT IS ALSO TO BLAME FOR MANY AMERICANS BEING DROPPED OFF THEIR LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE, LAYOFFS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND BUSINESSES RIPPING INNOCENT PEOPLE OFF! WE NEED MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN OUR BUSINNESSES AND ECONOMY! THAT IS ONE OF THE ONLY FEW THINGS I HATE ABOUT AMERICA! IF WE HAD MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN OUR ECONOMY, AMERICA WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN!

Capitalism is the greatest system for natural selection in our man-made, unnatural world. We know the sayings about shoddy products and survival of the bestist. But its more than that, its freedom. If a product or service does not meet the demands of its user, then it will be replaced by something else that can better meet those needs. For that there should be an award. Yes there are some drawbacks and losers in any "game". This game of life is much easier to play under Capitalism than any other system. Can you imagine what any sporting event would be like without a way to determine if you are winning or losing? Yes I can here the cries of those who feel its not fair, but in socialism there is no way to improve your lot if the lot is already busted. I love capitalism and I love America.