Another minor gripe about the capitalist system

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia
Companies sure are hitting a low point when they "have to charge" 25 cents for using a card for transactions.
They say it is to "recover costs"
My rent went up last week and I received notification yesterday that I need to top up the rental bond by 4 times the amount of the rent increase.
McDonalds last week, the cashier was 5 cents short in my change and I asked for the 5 cents.
"Sheese, it is only 5 cents."
"Goes both ways you know, If I was 5 cents short you would demand the money or I would not get the product"

Where will it all end?
 

Every post is a winning post to some being a customer is bad enough but spare a thought for the micromanaged staff at McGreedy's.
Closer to home look at the contempt shown by the national carrier to its staff, passengers and shareholders.
To answer your question it could end with people reacting against *'short termism'* and cooking their own food again, although it probably won't so you don't have an answer yet.
 
Bretrick said:
Companies sure are hitting a low point when they "have to charge" 25 cents for using a card for transactions.
They say it is to "recover costs"
Where will it all end?
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The essence of Capitalism, or Free Enterprise as I prefer to call it, is take your business elsewhere if you don’t like the quality, selection, price, or service. It works and has proven to produce a thriving economy from which we all benefit.
 
Bretrick said:
Capitalist system/monetary system. Does not matter what system it is. The drive for more and more money is destroying society.
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Not likely the bartering system is going to return anytime soon. But just out of curiosity, what would you barter to pay for rent & rent increase?
 
Knight said:
Not likely the bartering system is going to return anytime soon. But just out of curiosity, what would you barter to pay for rent & rent increase?
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Bartering does not come into my calculations. I am in a system, like most other people where we pay for everything. That is what I am used to, I may not like it, living in this rat race but that is where I am.
My saving grace personally is that I am single and have no debts. Just ongoing bills that are rising continually.
I wonder, when will prices start to show a significant decrease? Prices started rising out of proportion when Covid was front and centre. I bet many prices will remain where they are, which in many cases 25 - 40% above what they where 2 years ago.
 
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Bretrick said:
Companies sure are hitting a low point when they "have to charge" 25 cents for using a card for transactions.
They say it is to "recover costs"
My rent went up last week and I received notification yesterday that I need to top up the rental bond by 4 times the amount of the rent increase.
McDonalds last week, the cashier was 5 cents short in my change and I asked for the 5 cents.
"Sheese, it is only 5 cents."
"Goes both ways you know, If I was 5 cents short you would demand the money or I would not get the product"

Where will it all end?
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Nothing to do with a capitalist society.
 
While some wealthy individuals and corporations do engage in charitable giving, the amount of money donated is often a small fraction of their overall wealth. According to Double the Donation, 11% of total corporate cash contributions to nonprofits are made through matching gift programs, for an estimated average of $2.86 billion donated each year1.

It is also worth noting that while employment can provide a source of income for families, it does not necessarily guarantee that they will be able to meet their basic needs. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a full-time minimum wage worker cannot afford a two-bedroom apartment in any state in the United States1.

In summary, while some wealthy individuals and corporations do engage in charitable giving and provide employment opportunities, the amount of money donated is often a small fraction of their overall wealth, and employment does not necessarily guarantee that families will be able to meet their basic needs1.
 
Paco Dennis said:
While some wealthy individuals and corporations do engage in charitable giving, the amount of money donated is often a small fraction of their overall wealth. According to Double the Donation, 11% of total corporate cash contributions to nonprofits are made through matching gift programs, for an estimated average of $2.86 billion donated each year1.

It is also worth noting that while employment can provide a source of income for families, it does not necessarily guarantee that they will be able to meet their basic needs. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a full-time minimum wage worker cannot afford a two-bedroom apartment in any state in the United States1.

In summary, while some wealthy individuals and corporations do engage in charitable giving and provide employment opportunities, the amount of money donated is often a small fraction of their overall wealth, and employment does not necessarily guarantee that families will be able to meet their basic needs1.
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So based on your views, everyone, every person, in the US needs to be made successful by other successful people or its not fair in some way.

The numbers you state make no sense. If they were accurate, the country would be in a deep depression. Now, are there some people doing better than others? Sure, as it should be.

Successful people should not be penalized or judged by less successful people.
Its sickening that self righteous people are jealous of others that are successful and they are not. People want to be successful, then work at it.
Its no surprise the National Low Income Housing Coalition is a Democrat organization.

Just look at the list below and say successful people don't help others.
Just so you know, the Charities Aid Foundation stated 'the US is the most generous country over the last 10 years.'

Jeff Bezos finally said he plans to give away the “majority” of his $122 billion fortune during his lifetime.
Warren Buffett will give away 99% of his fortune to charities.
These are just some of the billionaires, the list of millionaires is much longer.
billionairs.jpg
 
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The concentration of wealth among the top 1% of the population has been a subject of much debate and criticism. While some argue that capitalism promotes economic growth and innovation, others argue that it exacerbates income inequality and leads to social and economic instability .
It is worth noting that the concentration of wealth among the top 1% of the population does not necessarily indicate that the country is in a deep depression. However, it can lead to social and economic instability, as it can exacerbate income inequality and limit opportunities for those who are not part of the wealthy elite.
In order to address these issues, many countries have implemented policies to redistribute wealth and provide a social safety net for those in need. These policies can help to reduce income inequality and promote social and economic stability .
 
Nathan said:
Not so much, in dealing with monopolies.
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If you are speaking of a country store in the boondocks, then maybe so. On the other hand in a free market economy monopoly's are generally illegal. Socialism, on the other hand, can be what amounts to a vast monopoly, run by command rather than demand.
 
In a free market economy, monopolies are generally considered illegal if they engage in anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing, predatory pricing, or exclusive dealing 123. However, the free market does not guarantee that every powerful company will be immediately destroyed 1. In fact, the free market, including free international trade, is the most effective protection against monopolistic abuses 4.

Socialism is an economic system where the means of production are owned and controlled by the state or the community as a whole 5. In a socialist economy, the government has the power to regulate the production and distribution of goods and services 5. While socialism is not inherently monopolistic, it can lead to a situation where the government has a monopoly on certain goods and services 6. This is because the government has the power to regulate the production and distribution of goods and services, which can lead to a situation where there is no competition 6. However, this is not always the case, and there are many examples of socialist economies that have a competitive market 6.

It is important to note that the comparison between free market economy and socialism is complex and nuanced. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on a variety of factors such as the political, social, and economic context of a country 6
 
Some people use their brains and brawn to work hard and make a lot of money, then pass it down to their children to build on. In the process they create many jobs and innovate many new products to make life easier for everyone. They are known as the 1%, and hated by those who can't or won't work smart and hard enough to make their own. And those who hate them actually believe they should be able to take much of that away from those who worked for it. They call themselves socialists. And if they have their way, there will be no more new jobs and innovation...

I have always had to work for a living, and I appreciate those who made it possible to HAVE jobs to work at. They are the reason I can own this little piece of dirt.
 
There is no clear evidence that the 1% work harder than others to get rich. While some CEOs and self-made millionaires attribute their success to hard work and dedication 1, there are many factors that contribute to wealth accumulation, such as access to education, social networks, and inheritance 2. In fact, research suggests that the wealthiest people in the US are more likely to inherit their wealth than to earn it themselves 2.

It is also important to note that the relationship between hard work and wealth is not always straightforward. For example, many low-wage workers work long hours and multiple jobs but still struggle to make ends meet 1. Furthermore, some studies suggest that the wealthiest people in the US work fewer hours than the average worker 3.

In conclusion, while hard work and dedication can be important factors in achieving financial success, they are not the only factors. Wealth accumulation is a complex process that is influenced by a variety of factors, including access to education, social networks, and inheritance 2.
 
Many countries have implemented policies to redistribute wealth and provide a social safety net for those in need. The World Bank Group has been working with countries to develop and implement social safety net programs that protect families from the impact of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other crises. These programs include cash, in-kind transfers, social pensions, public works, and school feeding programs targeted to poor and vulnerable households.

An estimated 36 percent of the very poor escaped extreme poverty because of social safety nets, providing clear evidence that social safety net programs are making a substantial impact in the global fight against poverty. Data also shows that these programs lower inequality, and reduce the poverty gap by about 45 percent. These positive effects of safety net transfers hold true for low and middle-income countries alike. Developing and transition countries spend an average of 1.5 percent of GDP on safety net programs 1.

In addition, some countries have implemented policies to redistribute wealth. For instance, according to the OECD, income inequality before taxes reached 0.47 in OECD countries in 2016, but declined to an average of 0.32 after government intervention. Redistribution levels are highest in European countries with consolidated welfare states, such as Finland, Ireland, and Belgium 2.

It’s worth noting that some countries have mixed economies wherein providers of goods and services enjoy private ownership of resources, while citizens benefit from social-needs–oriented public services. Norway and Sweden are examples of such countries
 
Sippican said:
But we can't talk about the hundred of billions that the 1% give out through charitable giving or the millions of families they feed by employment....no, that don't count.....punish successful people, the mantra of the extreme Left.
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Sorry, but remarks about the "extreme left" or any other political entity are not tolerated in this forum and could be a reason for being banned. Granted, it was almost guaranteed that any thread about Capitalism would lead to politics but...
 
seadoug said:
Sorry, but remarks about the "extreme left" or any other political entity are not tolerated in this forum and could be a reason for being banned. Granted, it was almost guaranteed that any thread about Capitalism would lead to politics but...
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Agreed. Count me out.
 


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