Me and Me

As Capitalism is believed, it is supposed to have great progress, more inclusiveness into the market, it is supposed to increase(the nation that practices it) industry, agriculture, and living standards, and according to the propagandists/historians it is supposed to create more democracy.

So let's examine these things to see how Capitalism in the U.S. has faired so far.

Agriculture : is agriculture more productive today in the U.S. than it was say; 30 yrs ago? or 50 yrs ago? No it isn't. In fact the agricultural potential of our soil has been gone awaist by the way small famers are pushed out and replaced by huge corporate style farms. Also, the amount of farmed land has reduced dramatically, mainly in part that cheaper farms and cheaper labor can produce more PROFIT in other countries. So while the few owners of huge amounts of capital have profited, they have gained and the potential to feed and supply people that need food in our country does not exist. All for the sake of PROFIT.

Industry: This includes things like steal, oil, mining, etc. Do we produce more of this in the U.S. than we did 40 or 50 yrs ago? NO.
For alot of the same reasons that agriculture has been gutted, the industrial potential of the labor of american workers and the potential wealth that the resources could bring, are absent of the methods and means to get them.

The result of this drive for PROFIT for the few rich has reduced the majority of american workers to idle non productive jobs. Non productive meaning, work that doesn't produce goods. Most jobs held by americans are service jobs, or jobs that move goods and sell goods. This has resulted in the discovery and use of foreign resources of other countries, that help those countries rulers and the rich U.S. businessman but have brought nothing profitable to the average U.S. citizen. By the few implementing their ferocious greed have enriched themselves and enriched foreign rulers, and surpassed the U.S. in productivity and natural wealth.

This has made the U.S. Dependant on foreign resources therefore necessitated and precipitated more and more millitary involvement in other countries affairs, in order for the U.S. to maintain it's growth economically. Also keep in mind that the most productive producing business in the U.S. are weapons and war machines.

The U.S. has basically become hollow in the middle and having to go out further and further into other nations affairs to compete with other nations that have their own resources.

The BLOWBACK effects of this will affect the average U.S. citizen who will recieve the brunt of terrorist attacks and other nations hate for what the millitary does in our name, just so the rich can stay afloat.

What is U.S. Capitalism good for?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

echidna

Buying computers to participate in internet discussion groups, for starters.

What subjects are you studying M&M ?

elwoodblues

What? I can understand part of a point on the 'service industry' jab, but moving and selling goods being 'non productive'? Goods have to be moved to where they need to be. People have to watch the merchandise, help people out.

Thieving Magpie

Let me ask you something, Me and Me.. why do you suppose so many people support Capitalism? Politicians, intellectuals, and working people all support it, and if what you say is true then there must be something terribly wrong with most people. The alternative of course, is that there is something terribly wrong with your reasoning.

August Spies

Thieving Magpie :

I haven't read the OP, but let me say I think you response is a bit silly. Fact of the matter is EVERY current system is supported by most people most of the time.

Fuedalism was supported by most people for most of its history, monarchy was supported by most people, christianity was supported by freaking everyone....

wait a minute, most people here DO support christiaintiy. Does that mean its true? Of course not.

Skeptictank

Your ignorance both of economics and history would be funny if it wasn't incitive of a larger problem in the US educational system.

Agricultural productivity has increased markedly for years. The US has some of, if not THE, most productive farms in the world. Now whether or not you LIKE the fact that smaller "family" farms may not be competitive with agribusiness is a completely different issue. The point is, there is more food at cheaper prices. NEXT!!!

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Industry: This includes things like steal[sic], oil, mining, etc. Do we produce more of this in the U.S. than we did 40 or 50 yrs ago? NO. For alot of the same reasons that agriculture has been gutted, the industrial potential of the labor of american workers and the potential wealth that the resources could bring, are absent of the methods and means to get them.

Steel, oil, and mining are primary industries that you DON'T WANT! They are labor intensive and add little value relative to higher-end more knowledge intensive endevours.
Let's ask a more important question. Has US manufacturing as an aggregate increased or decreased? Why its increased! What a shock! But instead of producing low value steel we produce high value semiconductors, integrated systems equipment, computers, pharma and bio-tech and other products.
Let us also note that the largest petroleum and mining companies are still run out of the good old US of A. NEXT!!!!

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The result of this drive for PROFIT for the few rich has reduced the majority of american workers to idle non productive jobs. Non productive meaning, work that doesn't produce goods. Most jobs held by americans are service jobs, or jobs that move goods and sell goods.

Are you saying a doctor is "non-productive"? What about a research chemist? Software engineer? University Professor?
How is it that the US standard of living and average income has increased dramatically as these so-called "non-productive" jobs have taken hold? What very prosaic, simple ideas on wealth creation and value adding you have.......

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This has resulted in the discovery and use of foreign resources of other countries, that help those countries rulers and the rich U.S. businessman but have brought nothing profitable to the average U.S. citizen. By the few implementing their ferocious greed have enriched themselves and enriched foreign rulers, and surpassed the U.S. in productivity and natural wealth.

What countries exactly have surpassed the US in productivity? Let me bash this into your head one more time M&M, resources and agriculture are the LOWEST industries in terms of wealth and VALUE creation. They are not what advances a society.

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This has made the U.S. Dependant on foreign resources therefore necessitated and precipitated more and more millitary involvement in other countries affairs, in order for the U.S. to maintain it's growth economically. Also keep in mind that the most productive producing business in the U.S. are weapons and war machines.

<sigh> First of all, of all the nations out there the US, should is so choose to be, is the most capable of exercising autarky. Were we to end foreign trade I can assure you our trading partners would suffer much more than we do.
Second, Japan has virtually NO natural resources yet is the second largest economy in the world. Explain.
Third "most productive producing business"??? Beyond bad grammer, what the hell does that mean? While the US certainly is the #1 arms trader in the world US arms exports are a very small fraction of US exports or the US economy. NEXT!!

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The U.S. has basically become hollow in the middle and having to go out further and further into other nations affairs to compete with other nations that have their own resources. The BLOWBACK effects of this will affect the average U.S. citizen who will recieve the brunt of terrorist attacks and other nations hate for what the millitary does in our name, just so the rich can stay afloat.

Do you know anything about economics at all? Or history? Seriously you need some basic education before you come back spouting off about things of which you have no knowledge. :banghead:

echidna

Seriously M&M, despite your claims of shrinkage, the US economy as a whole has continued to grow since � well you tell me. If some sectors decline, well study some economics before you pronounce judgement.

Newsflash : the wooden cartwheel industry collapses : capitalism proven a dismal failure

Today the US remains the leading world economy & US citizens higher per capita standards of living than virtually the rest of the planet.

Maybe not so high school students, but that�s how the cookie crumbles. Chances are by the time you�re 30 you�ll be driving a new car of your choosing and beginning to pay off your own house, & that�s more than the majority of the world can say. Not happy ? Well capitalism is only good for generating an economy of choice, what you do with that choice is up to you, be happy, be unhappy, your call. Choose to worship money & become a lawyer to drive a BMW, or surf at the beach, scrub dishes & drive a Hyundai, either way, your call. Shit, not many people in this world get that choice.

What good has capitalism done the U.S. ? I mean if it weren�t for your subsequent paragraphs I might have thought your post was satire.

Me and Me

I didn't say that the U.S. Doesn't produce any commodities anymore. I said that manufacturing and production of goods, has significantly decreased over the years.

I didn't say that service jobs aren't productive, I said that they are non producing jobs, where commodities aren't produced.

And surely you aren't trying to fool your fellow flag wavers into believing that more farm land is used in the U.S. than was used 30 or even 50 yrs ago.

The U.S. is not the leading producer of any type of commodity now. That makes us DEPENDANT on other countries. All this went to profit the few.

elwoodblues

Are we talking tonnage? Or monetary value? Or man-hours put into production? Because each is incredibly different, though valid measure of 'production of goods'.

beyelzu

Your questions have been answered, and yet still you post your rhetoric,

me and me, please read the posts and respond. we produce more now not less.

I dont know if we farm less land now, but I do know that average crop yeilds per acre have increased in the last 30 and 50 years.


Have you considered that?