Is capitalism good?

your misconception is that the ONLY desire Capitalism attempts to satisfy is money. This is incorrect, and before you write off Capitalism, you should actually understand its true nature. If after truly understanding, you still disagree, then American is a not a place that would be optimal for you to live in.

The contradiction between capitalism and democracy
A democracy is a system of government in which not only the voice of the people is heard but the interests and wellbeing of all citizens are paramount. The existence of classes poses a serious problem for democracy, since classes presuppose contradictory interests in different parts (the different classes) of the society. But capitalist society is premised on class—diametrically opposed interests for owners and workers, the exploitation of labor for investors’/employers’ profit.The agenda of capitalism is to downgrade skilled workers, create a willingness to work for lower wages, deny sustenance to single parents, and so forth. That is a remarkably anti-democratic agenda. To achieve this goal they have been working hard:
"In our dream, we have limitless resources, and the people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hand. The present educational conventions fade from our minds; and, unhampered by tradition, we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive folk. We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or science. We are not to raise up from among them authors, orators, poets, or men of letters. We shall not search for embryo great artists, painters, musicians. Nor will we cherish even the humbler ambition to raise up from among them lawyers, doctors, preachers, politicians, statesmen, of whom we now have ample supply."
Rockefeller Foundation Director of Charity, Frederick Gates, 1913

Then is understandable why: Fraudelent Education Reform in America.

Capitalism is based on a power hierarchy in which investors/employers control the lives of those who work to create profits (capital). This is said in corporate rule: Command and control, which is military style. But democracy proposes that each person shall be an autonomous individual engaged in a common endeavor to create the greatest possible advancement and self-expression of all persons. Capitalism is individualistic. Democracy is communitarian, i.e., it seeks to strike a balance among individual interests. Capitalism seeks benefits for a few based on the exploitation of the many. Democracy requires that people come together to decide what is in the best interests of the community as a whole, regardless of class-based or individual interests.
A fully functioning political democracy could not tolerate a capitalist economy. The power elite knows this, which is why the U.S. government has tried to subvert democracy in every country in which U.S. capitalists have tried to exploit resources and labor. A country in which the people as a whole actually make decisions about their common destiny would, of course, not permit such exploitation. "Democracy subverts capitalism": it works on diametrically opposed principles of the value of human life and the worth of collective decision-making. The power elites does not have to take the same extreme steps in the U.S. because, as Domhoff explains throughout his book (and Parenti concurs in chapter 18 and the chapters on bureaucracy, the media and elections), it has already taken control of the "democratic" forms of the political system and has reduced political culture to mere "consumption" of the ideology of individualism and consumerism.
The corporations which form the foundations of its economy function more like autocracies. Main point is that these two models - capitalism and democracy - seem innately opposed to each other, and that a society couldn't at heart be both. This could explain a lot of the corporate bribing and electoral fraud that goes on in the US and other purported democracies; the drive for supremacy that capitalism creates would effectively undermine any true efforts at democracy.

well said, that is a very honest statement on Capitalisms strengths and weaknesses. Like you, I belive that a balanced system is good. However I also agree with having more economic control being left with the nature of people in the private sector.

People under the Capitalistic system have the power to do the greater good than any government ever could or ever can.

Communist governments do not exist they have all failed or have faile dtheir people. Where you get such a grand idea of communism is beyond me. The very thing you are advocating for yourself, "live a humble life and live in sync with the earth" is a matter of choice under Capitalism under communism it is not.

In a capitalist society you wouldn't have a "free education system".

thank you for helping me with my paper very strong passionate reason

Well, some people out there do actually work hard and try to make a honey living, but you have privat owned companies stripping the pay checks away dollar by dollar and banks raising mortages - leaving then in a cycle of dept. And don't make me mention credit. The only way you can achieve that, " American Dream " is by investing in capital. Only making those big banks bigger. That is exactly why I dint like capitalism. Because it depends on the rich to determine the economic state in which the lower classes are in. Don't you think that sounds like control. Control of your pockets. And you think government is bad, so I say we take that power from the upper class and determine our own economic state. Being rich is one thing, but hordeing your wealth to maintain your economic power is Ungodly, foolish, selfish, narsistic, and evil.

P.S. Money is paper; morals are humane

benefits were earned buddy. They are not simply given. Also "anti-sharing act"? Try " you get what you work for". How many people are born into wealth and keep it all by spending like crazy and not working? none, you have to work hard to make and keep your money. They dont have to share what they worked very hard for. Especially with someone like you who is ungrateful for what he has, you wouldnt even be grateful if they did share it with you.

Yeah capitalism doesn't benefit the lower class at all...... it's not like it consistently raises their quality of life or constantly increases their real income through prices being beaten down by competition. Those poor lower class in the capitalist societies have nothing! All they have is an air conditioned apartment, cable TV, and a cell phone. BOO HOO!

EVERY person under Capitalism has equal opportunity to succeed or fail. Those who don't believe that have never tried...never given an effort or are just afraid of the former (failure). To have worked hard and to try and end in failure is much better than standing with your hand out asking others to help you.

perfect! yahh thats true..

perfect! yahh thats true..

They do not "work hard" as you say. This is one of the flaws of capitalism, that it is too easy for money to be gained and lost that Western countries are having conflicts. Another problem is that many people do not want to listen to lower class peoples' ideas now!

the ones who are usually lose their wealth (both financially and morally) over time
(child stars)

Silly you, of course they have Marx because he is the antithesis of Capitalism. Communism was "invented" to try to "fix" what were seen as the abuses of the Capitalistic system.

Of course they have Adam Smith as well, as his "Wealth of Nations" made him the "Father of Capitalism."

Osama bin Laden is there for the same reason Marx is there - to represent the abuses of Capitalism.

What I don't know is why entertainers are there?! Except that maybe people who have not studied the writing of the others, may be familiar with the visual "pop culture" work of these entertainers?

"Us little people" have a choice to work or not to work under capitalism...you are free to try and succeed and or fail, under communism there is no incentive to give your best or be your best because the government is supposed to care for you either way....so why work at all? Why try at all.

jeez man, your like one of those people who go into the smoking section of the bar to complain about how smoking is bad for you. If you dont like it shut up and leave, no one is forcing you to stay in this country.

"I think it's real cute the second person you quote for disagree is Bin Laden.Can anyone say bias."

The world isn't black and white - sometimes you disagree with your friends, and sometimes you agree with your enemies. One should confront those disagreements and agreements with a passionate interest - not downplay or worse still censor them based on the sensitivities of certain parties. In any case, I don't see why Bin Laden's quote shouldn't be above Peter Joseph's quote - Bin Laden is certainly more influential than Peter Joseph. Furthermore, I think it's very interesting that Bin Laden is anti-capitalist - were you aware of this fact? Have you bothered to read what Bin Laden has said on this - or have you just chosen to ignore him? Are you sure you're not guilty of bias yourself?

Proverbs 28:19
He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Proverbs 31:31
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Ecclesiastes 2:21
For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

What do you think the priest would say about this??????? Right from the B I B L E

A core reason capitalism works is that it's based on a predominantly selfish view of human nature that meshes nicely with evolutionary psychology, while its alternatives are based on romantic notions of human nature that people like to signal but do not live up to (ironically also for evo-psych reasons).

If we accept people act primarily out of self interest, and we want to maximize everyone's self interest, then the best system will empower each person. The alternatives require that the individuals whom comprise the bureaucratic power structure tasked with wealth allocation will resist the temptation to act in accordance with their nature.