Why I believe capitalism is morally wrong and evil...

[Az]

whoa , It seems that I've arrived too late.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

According to Revelations, No man made government is supposed to stand. Government is by nature flawed because it is by man.

Making arguements that one form of government or another is more aligned to Christian principles is flawed as until the 2nd coming no one really knows what Christ's government would be like.

[monkspider]

Charity was a misnomer, ya got me.
I suppose I view supporting Communism rather than capitalism as an act of charity itself as I'm supporting the common good, that is, the humanity as a whole, rather than my own individual interests.
I'm sure if I had no interest in helping out other people, I would make a fine capitalist.

BTW, I still want you to join us Dino, at least take it under consideration.

[DinoDoc]

That's why I was amused about the talk about how Christian communism is.

[monkspider]

Ogie, just because all governments in this world are destined to fall one day doesn't mean we should give up and support one that is based one unchristian principles, when we can just as easily, if we have the strength as christians at least, support one based on christian principles.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

LOL Dino.

Psst... Go ahead join. We caps need a mole.

[Ramo]

Capitalism is indeed morally wrong. A system in which a bunch of capitalists can tell workers what to do because they own the means of production is morally wrong for precisely the same reason why a statist system where the state can tell its workers what to do because it owns the means of production is morally wrong; both systems ultimately deny people their liberty.

The corporation, for instance, is an incredibly authoritarian, anti-democratic organization. These organizations are strictly hierarchial, orders going top-down. If they called themselves states instead of private businesses, they would universally be considered totalitarian.

[Caligastia]

Capitalism must be regulated, otherwise it descends into chaos and violence. As for the morality of capitalism, I think that can only be measured by the collective morality of those who participate in capitalist systems. In any case, capitalism is far more moral than the alternative - legalised theft. Capitalism is not perfect, but its the best humankind can manage right now. In a few thousand years when our collective sense of morality has evolved to higher levels, things will seem a lot less capitalist. But that will only be because we will choose to co-operate with each other, not because we forced each other to.

Competition is good, but co-operation is better.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Ramo
Capitalism is indeed morally wrong. A system in which a bunch of capitalists can tell workers what to do because they own the means of production is morally wrong

They can quit and go soemwhere else to work if they don't like it.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Monk,

We are mixing and matching. Gov's are not eco systems.

Capitalism is not necessarily a governmental system.

OTOH communism is both an economic and governmental system. And whilst capitalism may be akin to the lenders Jesus threw out of the temple, communism is very explicit in that the precepts stated that the state first. Organized religion the opiate of the masses and all that drivel. I would naturally assume that goes against "Have no other Gods before me".

Of the two Jesus threw the money lenders out. God eradicated empires for having graven images. You decide which one He was more pissed off about.

But hey I'm just human (flaws and all) what do I know in comparison to the Almighty.

[monkspider]

Oggie- Communism is no more inherently a governmental than capitalism. For example, the United States is Democratic and Capitalist. It could just as easily be Democratic and Communism. That is, democratic with a Communist system of distribution of wealth in place.
You have a valid point that in Communist despotisms have typically shunned religion, and in many cases the old religions were replaced with worship of the state. In fact Marx himself hasn't had too many good things to say about religion.
But the fact remains there is nothing intristically atheist about the economic system of Communism. In fact, on the contrary, a system of sharing and brotherhood is much more in sync with Christ's teachings than the system that capitalism creates, with it's greed, exploitation, violence, swallowing up the weak, and so forth. So we can support a system that mandates, unchristian teachings, such a capitalism, or one that mandates a system closely in sync with the teachings of the lord.
I know which one I will support, and I highly urge you to do the same, Oggie.

[Ramo]

They can quit and go soemwhere else to work if they don't like it.

People can immigrate to other states if they don't like it.

[JCG]

No system is inherently wrong and evil, AFAIK, it all just depends on the application.

Capitalism may be good or evil in certain situations, but so may communism.

[monkspider]

Ramo makes an excellent point that Corporations, by their intristic nature are totalitarian and anti-democratic.
They are secretive, they have no accountability, they are built on a hierarchy system where only the most machiavellian survive usually. There is no room for demoracy in the corporate world. So to that degree, it can be easily argued that corporations are in fact, intristically immoral.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Loinburger: So true...