Is it ludicrous to think that the world will remain Capitalistic?

[Zoltan_Cobalt]

Why do you think it would never happen? I have a policy - never say never because never is a long time.

Remember we are talking about a Never-Never Land situation.

Need is one thing, want is another. I don’t think it’s good to have what we want when we want. Particularly if when we get it we realize we didn’t want it that much.

Fine for YOU…but not WE.

I think it would better if you said:

“I don’t think it’s good to have what I want when I want. Particularly if when I get it I realize I didn’t want it that much.”

You see, I know what I want and how much of it I want. I don’t care to have anyone else tell me what I want and how much I should have.

I wanted a new Mercedes last year. I couldn’t afford it last year. Now I can afford one.

Can you give me a reason why I shouldn’t have it?

Who does the rain forest belong to and who gave permission to harvest trees? It would guess the people who live in the rain forest weren’t even consulted and it is their home. Just because someone needs something does not mean they have the right to take it.

As I understand it…the rain forest people are harvesting the trees and are being paid for their work.

 

[minkymurph]

My fault…I was not clear with my story.

“Todd” applied for the job on a temporary basis. He was up front and said that he needed a job for a little over a year. I was considering a tall shapely blonde for the job on a permanent basis…she had no knowledge of computers…but she did look good.
Todd was actually overqualified. All temporary jobs he applied for paid minimum wages.
Actually I liked him right off. He said he could do the job and was willing to take less than what I was offering (which was A LOT more than minimum wage) because he would only be with me for a year or so. Yes…I did do him a favor and I saved some money.
Todd never asked for a raise and didn’t really need it. He was happy and so was I. I tried to tempt him into staying with me but I could not match his potential earnings as an attorney.

We joked about exploitation. I teased him and he came right back with feigned threats of violations of labor law or quitting and going to work at McDonald’s. His favorite “trick” was to leave my office and call out over his shoulder “I’ve had it with you Cobalt. When I get my license I’ll have you in court.” This would bring on cheers and applause from the entire office staff. Then I would stick my head out, with my best Ebenezer Scrooge look, and yell…“back to work…or you are all fired”. Boos, hisses, and laughter from the staff. We really had a good time. My crew knew when to work hard and when to have some fun. Todd fit right in.

Todd’s farewell speech and threat of legal action was probably brought on by the champagne that was flowing at the party. It was nothing more than the continuation of our running exploitation joke.

I sold the company several years ago, but Todd remains on retainer as legal council. We still have our quarterly lunch meetings…and I pick up the tab for exploitation sake.

I think exploitation is in the eyes of the beholder.

And what do you behold exploitation as?

 

[minkymurph]

Remember we are talking about a Never-Never Land situation.

An imaginary Never-Never Land can be anything we want it to be, but unfortunately some of us have to live in the real world and find real solutions to real problems.

Fine for YOU…but not WE.

I think it would better if you said:

“I don’t think it’s good to have what I want when I want. Particularly if when I get it I realize I didn’t want it that much.”

You see, I know what I want and how much of it I want. I don’t care to have anyone else tell me what I want and how much I should have.

I wanted a new Mercedes last year. I couldn’t afford it last year. Now I can afford one.

Can you give me a reason why I shouldn’t have it?

I think there is a bit of difference between buying a new Mercedes and destroying the rain forest which is what we were discussing.

As I understand it…the rain forest people are harvesting the trees and are being paid for their work.

I find it very hard to believe you actually buy that, but then you advocate a Never Never land as a solution to our problems. You know Zolton, when started debating I thought you were just winding ‘lefty’ up and you didn’t really mean what you said. Part of me still hopes you don’t really believe some of things you have said, but the realist in me indicates you do.

I think I’ve heard enough. Your testimony is evidence to the fact capitalism is grounded on pure self-interest. As such, it can never be humanitarian no matter how efficient it is. But thanks for giving me a main argument for my essay on moral equality - Libertarianism will never prescribe moral equality because it is founded on pure self-interest.

 

[minkymurph]

I just want to add it leaves me cold there are people in the world who would prioritize profit over the well-being of their fellow man yet argue they are humanitarian.