Is Capitalism to blame for the world's poverty?

2015-09-22T02:06:27-04:00

http://www.wnd.com/2015/09/the-left-has-its-pope/#8uvpvrzZXEPsq0VX.99
Any serious look at the history of human beings over the millennia shows that the species began in poverty. It is not poverty, but prosperity, that needs explaining. Poverty is automatic, but prosperity requires many things – none of which is equally distributed around the world or even within a given society.

The left has its pope

Pope Francis has created political controversy, both inside and outside the Catholic Church, by blaming capitalism for many of the problems of the poor. We can no doubt expect more of the same during his visit to the United States.Pope Francis is part of a larger trend of the rise of the political left among [...]

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Sep 22 at 2015 2:18 AM

2015-09-22T02:18:34-04:00

Poverty is enormously complex, so anyone trying to blame it on any single thing is a fool. The issue with Capitalism isn't that it creates poverty. It's that, unfettered, it creates wealth at the expense of others.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Sep 22 at 2015 3:09 AM

2015-09-22T03:09:56-04:00

Socialism and communism has created far more poverty than capitalism ever could. Capitalism is what people under communism engaged in whenever they had the chance to either feed themselves better, or make some extra money, or get something they couldn't get under communism. Capitalism is what happens when people have freedom to make their own decisions.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 3:28 AM

2015-09-22T03:28:43-04:00

No I think the answer is Greed is the problem.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 22 at 2015 4:08 AM

2015-09-22T04:08:40-04:00

Capitalism is responsible for the prosperity in the world; where you see free markets you see the most prosperity possible among the populations.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 22 at 2015 6:07 AM

2015-09-22T06:07:43-04:00

Any form of government can have a positive effect on it's people if the leaders are benevolent and beholding to the people. Most places where there is rampant poverty there are also "governments" that do not seem to care about those that live within their borders.

Where countries run amuck is where rulers are not justly elected and required to answer to the people. If you look at most modern democracies (democratic republics, social democracies, parliamentary democracies etc.) poverty is less of an issue. Why is that? Because the people have a voice in their country and prosperous countries can do more for the poor than less prosperous countries.

The poor will always be among us it is how we treat them as a society that is important. Also how we define poverty in the west is vastly different than it is defined in many/most third world countries.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 22 at 2015 6:23 AM

2015-09-22T06:23:00-04:00

No poverty is caused by numerous conditions in society & don't recall Capitalism on the list. I've been poor & lived in poverty during the Depression in the 30s. My Dad had a garden in our back yard & had chickens so at least he could put food on the table while he worked as a Day Laborer in Boston when he could find work. Sadly this Depression was so wide spread that some urban areas never fully recovered.. The recent Depressions have also had the same effect in our urban areas so what goes around comes around.. Depressions cause poverty but does Capitalism cause Depressions?? I am not smart enough to answer but would hazard a guess and say NO

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 22 at 2015 7:44 AM

2015-09-22T07:44:08-04:00

We have a Pope that actually Preaches "Social Justice" that has always been a cornerstone of the Catholic Faith. The only change I see is this one will not let the US College of Cardinals rest on their Laurels of Fighting against Abortion and makes them just as responsible for the other Tenants of the Faith.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 22 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-09-22T08:03:18-04:00

Not at all. Capitalism has brought people out of poverty

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Sep 22 at 2015 8:07 AM

2015-09-22T08:07:47-04:00

Oppression causes poverty. Frankly if you look around the world, countries with the most widespread poverty usually had a strong Catholic influence in their past or present.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-09-22T08:37:38-04:00

In general Capitalism lifts the standard of living for those who are practicing it. The problems is most of the world's impoverished people do not live in a true capitalist state. They live in war torn countries or in countries where the government, army, or police are so corrupt that goods and services never get to where they belong. And before anyone starts piping up about the impoverished in the US remember that if you have healthcare, food, home, running water, cable TV, cell phone, transportation, etc...by world standards you are far from impoverished.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 10:11 AM

2015-09-22T10:11:38-04:00

Name one true capitalist nation that has high poverty. Competitive markets simply create massive wealth when compared to socialist or Government controlled markets. Take a basic history of economics course to see how bad Government ran markets perform.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Sep 22 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-09-22T14:02:27-04:00

What is the saying. Drought in Africa. Instead of moving the water, move them TO the water. Even if we had Utopia, there will always be some enclaves of poor. Somethings are an unfortunate inevitability, but that doesn't mean we can't help.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Sep 22 at 2015 2:32 PM

2015-09-22T14:32:09-04:00

Absolutely not. --Unregulated-- capitalism is to blame for the world's poverty? (sorta tongue in cheek).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 8:55 AM

2015-09-23T08:55:50-04:00

We have our own poverty issues, which regardless of which crap political party is in office, won't be resolved.

Why are we worried about everyone else's problems, if we can't do anything about our own?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 23 at 2015 9:04 AM

2015-09-23T09:04:56-04:00

No CPO Andy Carrillo, MS neither capitalism nor socialism is responsible for the poverty in the world.
In what is known as the 3rd world corruption at many levels, internecine and inter-tribal warfare, and ignorance of good hygiene, farming and harvesting techniques coupled with unsafe drinking water in many areas leave many people in poverty.
In the first and second worlds [no sure who actuality coined the terms 1st, 2nd and 3rd worlds] personal greed at all levels lead to poverty and indolence where people are rewarded for not working helps to keep people in poverty.
In a sense we are all toddlers - we want it now and we want it our way and we don't really want to share the things we want only those we don't want are we willing to part with - like the black jelly beans for those those don't like them :-)
Thanks for tagging me CPT L S
As a believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and somebody who used to love money, I am thankful that by God's grace He has given me a better perspective on money.
Like the apostle Paul I have learned to be joyful in abundance and in poverty and have actually found myself less temped when I am in relative POVERTY THAN when I am abounding in riches.
Jesus actually said the love of money is the root of all evil. He also said render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-09-23T09:27:00-04:00

No, Capitalism is on the raise and poverty is going down. Capitalism is the answer to all the worlds wows including war and terrorism.

The global poverty rate had been cut in half in 20 years.

http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21578643-world-has-astonishing-chance-take-billion-people-out-extreme-poverty-2030-not

Not always with us

IN SEPTEMBER 2000 the heads of 147 governments pledged that they would halve the proportion of people on the Earth living in the direst poverty by 2015, using the...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 9:55 AM

2015-09-23T09:55:54-04:00

Here is a good read about capitalism and why it has always outperformed Socialist countries in the last 100 years.
http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2012/12/04/7_reasons_socialism_will_make_you_poorer_than_capitalism/page/full

For those doubters that still think Socialism is a better system because of our high poverty levels in this country take a look at these facts which compare what poverty actually looks like in this country and what it looks like in Socialist countries.
Poverty in America
76 percent have air conditioning.
66 percent have more than two rooms of living space per person.
97 percent own at least one color television.
62 percent have either cable or satellite television.
Almost 75 percent of households own a car (30 percent own two or more).
73 percent own microwave ovens.
More than 50 percent have stereos.
33 percent have automatic dishwashers.
99 percent have refrigerators.
Virtually none lack running water or flushing toilets.
46 percent own their own home, the average of which is a three bedroom house with 1.5 baths, that has a carport and porch or patio, and the average value of which is 70 percent of the median American home.
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article22497.html

Poverty in Socialist States
0% have air conditioning
50% have four bodies or more per room
0% have satellite TV (cable usually doesn't exist)
0% own a car
Most have not seen a microwave
0% have dishwashers
Most have refrigerators
Most have intermittent running water or use an outhouse
Most have a minimum wage of $2 or less a day.

7 Reasons Socialism Will Make You Poorer Than Capitalism

Given what we know in 2012, saying that capitalism will make a society richer than socialism should be about as controversial as saying the earth is round, not flat.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 23 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-09-23T11:10:17-04:00

Interesting that these two posts should be up at the same time
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/drug-goes-from-13-50-a-tablet-to-750-overnight

Drug Goes From $13.50 a Tablet to $750, Overnight | RallyPoint

I am neither for, nor am I against capitalism. I am for a moderation of how things should work ethically. This is a perfect example of using loopholes to exploit capitalism. I believe at this point the CEO has change the price back over threats and an outrage. But what do you guys think? [~188441:CPT L S] [~368184:SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"] [~29302:SGT Ben Keen] [~138758:COL Mikel Burroughs] [~337757:COL Ted Mc] [~581545:SGT Efaw (Mick)...

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 23 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-09-23T11:17:58-04:00

How the Hell can you benefit from poverty? By definition you have nothing to give or have taken from you. Many come from poverty and become something, I could tell you about a few, including my own background. There was a time when the communities and religious institution took care of the poverty, then the government stepped in and eliminated it by the trillions of dollars spent through programs like the Great Society Programs. You want to see real poverty, read up on the sub-Saharan continent and tell me how capitalism did that.

According to The Heritage Foundation, the federal poverty line also excludes income other than cash income, especially welfare benefits. Thus, if food stamps and public housing were successfully raising the standard of living for poverty stricken individuals, then the poverty line figures would not shift, since they do not consider the income equivalents of such entitlements

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Sep 23 at 2015 11:19 AM

2015-09-23T11:19:28-04:00

Capitalism is not the great evil of the world, corruption is. Duke Power is one example. They are a very powerful company. They continue to use unlined ponds to 'retain' toxic coal ash, which regularly contaminates ground water, and rivers in North Carolina. They also spend millions of dollars so the toxic leftovers are not labrled that way by the EPA. The easy solution would be to use lined retention ponds to stop spills and leaks. The corruption in the company drives it to spend no money on anything that does not involve profit. Putting profit above doing the right thing alienates a company.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Sep 23 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-09-23T12:26:15-04:00

No, I don't think so, communism didn't work, socialism doesn't work, dictatorships don't work either. The utopian government that the Pope seeks is one place, and that is not on this earth. To that end he can shut his trap about what the rest of should be doing in Free capitalistic societies. Go to China, North Korea, Some of the little the former Soviet vassal states and preach your message. Until you have what it takes to do the hard countries don't come here. Throw the SOB pedophile priests in jail, give up all the gold trinkets, how about renouncing that the papacy gave Ireland to the English? Apologize for the lack of action the Church took during the Nazi era, how about apologizing to the Arabs for the crusades. Apologize to Spanish for the Inquisition, to the Western World for the Actions of the Church against Native Peoples. Give me a fracking break. It is easy to preach the rest of us are bad, but fix your own house first. Hell he hasn't even reconciled with other Greek and Russian Orthodox Catholics.

Response by CPL Brian Clouser made Sep 23 at 2015 2:23 PM

2015-09-23T14:23:42-04:00

In spite what the anti-pope said, NO capitalism is not to blame. I believe laziness and a "I'm victim and you owe me" altitude are to blame. For years the US has given millions of dollars to the third world nations and they are no better off than they were 20-30 years ago. Why? Why should they work to improve themselves when the west gives them money for them to sit on their asses. We have the same altitude here in the States, the ones on welfare has it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 24 at 2015 7:29 AM

2015-09-24T07:29:11-04:00

http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-Pope-Secret-History-Pius/dp/014311400X

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 5:46 PM

2015-09-24T17:46:48-04:00

There is a lot of truth to this, in that many rich are not concerned in the least about the average person and is why there is a lot of suffering.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Sep 25 at 2015 9:40 AM

2015-09-25T09:40:24-04:00

Not in the least. Capitalism has, in 200 years, done more to advance humanity than all of human history prior. 200 years ago, the norm for the overwhelming majority of humanity not royals was what would be today considered grinding poverty. Moreover, the poor have benefitted the most from capitalism. As Dr. Milton Friedman said, a Roman or Chinese emperor or Egyptian Pharaoh would likely be highly pleased by our advancements in medicine and transportation but not much else. Back then, running people substituted for running water. Today, a middle class American enjoys more comfort and entertainment than did monarchs two short centuries ago.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 25 at 2015 10:48 AM

2015-09-25T10:48:16-04:00

CPT L S - Ref "not only was Jesus and his family undocumented immigrants (or illegal), but many of his followers were outside of society in more ways than one, like ST Francis of Assissi. Ultimately, Jesus was for the poor, and yes, he did want to make their situation better, that is implied in EVERYTHING he did, and as he said, we have to judge from actions, not words in any case, and the words have been twisted through history, making that even more unreliable."
Remember, that Jesus is the Word of God - fully God existing forever, the author and finisher pf our faith, the Alpha and Omega. Every word in the Bible is His - not just the text in the Gospels.
As God, He is absolutely perfect while those who are his followers are imperfect.
Yes I agree people do twist the words of God for various reasons. Thankfully we can always go back to God's word to read for ourselves what the Word of God teaches. More importantly we who have a relationship with God have the blessed Holy Spirit to help us understand His word.
MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", CPO Andy Carrillo, MS, CMSgt Mark Schubert, CH (MAJ) William Beaver, MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, SGT Robert Hawks, SGT Randal Groover, SGT Forrest Stewart, SGT Jeremiah B., SGT James Hastings,
There are many aberrations of the gospel which have been created by man. I am highlighting tow man-made theologies which have a focus on the poor:
"The phrase “social gospel” is usually used to describe a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that came to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Those who adhered to a social gospel sought to apply Christian ethics to social problems such as poverty, slums, poor nutrition and education, alcoholism, crime, and war. These things were emphasized while the doctrines of sin, salvation, heaven and hell, and the future kingdom of God were downplayed. Theologically, the social gospel leaders were overwhelmingly postmillennialist, asserting that Christ’s Second Coming could not happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort." http://www.gotquestions.org/social-gospel.html
"Liberation theology is a movement that attempts to interpret Scripture through the plight of the poor. True followers of Jesus, according to liberation theology, must work toward a just society, bring about social and political change, and align themselves with the working class. Jesus, who was poor Himself, focused on the poor and downtrodden, and any legitimate church will give preference to those who have historically been marginalized or deprived of their rights. All church doctrine should grow out of the perspective of the poor. Defending the rights of the poor is seen as the central aspect of the gospel." http://www.gotquestions.org/liberation-theology.html
"The Bible certainly teaches followers of Christ to care for the poor (Galatians 2:10; James 2:15–16; 1 John 3:17), and we should speak out against injustice. And, yes, the Bible warns repeatedly against the deceitfulness of riches (Mark 4:19). However, liberation theology goes wrong in a couple of places. For one, it places social action on equal footing with the gospel message. As important as feeding the hungry is, it cannot take the place of the gospel of Christ (see Acts 3:6). Mankind’s primary need is spiritual, not social. Also, the gospel is for all people, including the rich (Luke 2:10). Visitors to the Christ Child included both shepherds and magi; both groups were welcome. To assign special status to any group as being preferred by God is to discriminate, something God does not do (Acts 10:34–35). Christ brings unity to His church, not division along socio-economic, racial, or gender lines (Ephesians 4:15)."

What is the social gospel?

What is the social gospel? How is the idea of a social gospel related to the concept of social justice?

Response by MSgt Darren VanDerwilt made Sep 25 at 2015 12:49 PM

2015-09-25T12:49:40-04:00

Capitalism isn't the free market. The Pope is only partially right, but majorly wrong in thinking centralized market controls, as in Marxism/Fascism, or government regulations are the answer. As was demonstrated in the Soviet Union, centralized control causes severe shortages. Capitalists try to ensure their market stays profitable either by adapting to competitive forces (good), or by controlling competitive forces (usually bad since this is done by stifling competition through government regulatory means, Crony Capitalism).

What the Pope, and most everyone else for that matter, fails to recognize, is the market place actually runs smoother when left alone, laissez-faire. It's called "Spontaneous Order." There's a short essay by Lawrence Reed called "I, Pencil" that explains this concept. The Pope, and everyone else, should give it a read and try to understand that controlling the market is untenable.

Response by SSG John Erny made Sep 25 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-09-25T13:04:57-04:00

Absolute Power corrupts absolutely!
Absolute Power corrupts absolutely, any system that is based on absolute central authority such as communism, socialism, and fascism will fail because humans are flawed. The corrupt in such a society will gain power and via cronyism surround themselves with people to keep them there. Those who were permitted to join the communist party in the USSR had a better life style than those who did not. The USSR was supposed to have treated all people the same but it failed to provide that. It is likely that the Soviets killed more of their own people during WWII than the Nazi’s. They burned down the grain storages in the Ukraine and let the people face the Russian winter with no food.
It would take a legion of saints to run communal society and they would have to be replaced with such people every generation. This is not possible given human nature and would at some point fail: Absolute Power corrupts absolutely

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 1:11 PM

2015-09-25T13:11:44-04:00

No, without capitalism, we are still fighting for resources like the barbarian before us. Capitalism change humanity course for much better than it was. It may not be prefect but it is way better what is used to be. Capitalism only function correctly with a moral society, all the problem we are experiencing right now is all related to human nature, greed and laziness ... etc.

Blaming capitalism is like blaming a gun is killing people. :)

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Sep 25 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-09-25T13:26:00-04:00

Lets see, we have the highest incarceration, child poverty, and uninsured rate of any industrialize world. An education system that will burden those who attended with thousands of dollars in loans. I just don't understand how people are accused of being lazy when people are working 2 to 3 jobs just to make ends meet? Greed will be the downfall of the U.S., just as it has with any other civilization from the Romans to the French revolution.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Sep 25 at 2015 1:34 PM

2015-09-25T13:34:41-04:00

No is the answer because so many other cultures,nationalities , found themselves embroiled in wars. Capitalism made their aid and relief possible but their respective greed made prosperity impossible.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 25 at 2015 2:20 PM

2015-09-25T14:20:35-04:00

I would think that Capitalism plays a part in the greed.
Everyone wants to earn money and the more money you earn the more you want.
And as we have seen many wealthy people (politicians at the top of the list here) don't give a rats ass about the worlds poor and downtrodden. No I'm not trying to cry a river but those with the means can do something to get programs in place to help those people learn something valuable to get a better life, yes those people also have to want that better life and have to break the cycle of poverty.
Capitalism is good but its also going to bear some of the burden for poverty because I would guess that less than 1% of those powerful and rich people even care about more than their own bottom line.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Sep 25 at 2015 3:02 PM

2015-09-25T15:02:57-04:00

Part of my heritage is Indian from India. I recall when my father went to India to visit family and friends. He told me of traveling on a train for hours to reach a cousin who lived in a village well beyond the populous. While visiting this cousin who lived in a grass shack as my father described it, my father felt he needed to do more for his cousin and the family. My Dad noted his cousin admiring the gold watch I brought my father. My Dad began to take it off his wrist and give it to his cousin. His cousin refused it. The cousin questioned why he needed the watch as there is no reason to track time. He knows when it's time to wake as the sun tells him so. He knows when it time to eat, his stomach tell him so. My Dad still left money for his cousin, against his cousin's wishes and told him for those days or times when things are not as plentiful. I think about this event and how we as a society believe our way is the only way to live. We see this as poverty and despair and want to fix it our way. Don't misunderstand, there are many places where our wealth can do good, but we need to engage the people to see what they need more so than what we think they need.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Sep 25 at 2015 8:47 PM

2015-09-25T20:47:38-04:00

Capitalism in Agentina is different from capitalism in the United States.

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Sep 25 at 2015 10:03 PM

2015-09-25T22:03:21-04:00

Absolutely NO!
And the Pope is being a HYPOCRITE. He's from Argentina, a country with a long history of Fascism called Peronismo there. He's also a Socialist.

Capitalism is where the Money is. And he and his "church" come to Capitalism ALL THE TIME when they're looking for Money. They want, they need, they drool for Capitalism's Money, they covet it, they LOVE IT! Not only Capitalism is where the Money is, is also where the God given rights of Mankind to OWN something and to leave it as an inheritance to his/her children are respected.

The RCC is itself a Politico-religious Organization with Financial "Interests" in the world. They even have a Bank. Which BTW has been charged more than once in Italy with delinquent activities. That Bank is and operates as a Capitalist Financial institution.

Poor people have more Benefits, Opportunities and Care in Capitalism than in Communism, Socialism, Fascism and Argentina's Fascism. So again the pope is a HYPOCRITE!

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 26 at 2015 5:23 PM

2015-09-26T17:23:22-04:00

Our senior senator from the great state of Massachusetts seems to think Capitalism is the cause of just about all of our problems in this country. Buy yet she gladly accepts Big Bucks from these same Capitalists that she is always badmouthing...She doesn't give this money to the poor but rather it goes into her campaign funds. Probably just in case she is asked to be a VP for one of the Dems running for president..

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Sep 26 at 2015 7:54 PM

2015-09-26T19:54:28-04:00

Even Bono, who championed petitioning governments to solve the worldwide poverty issue admitted that there is nothing that compares to the effectiveness of Capitalism to fight poverty.

Response by CPT(P) David Thorp made Sep 27 at 2015 12:27 AM

2015-09-27T00:27:30-04:00

Any civilization that employs a monetary system as its driving force, will require scarcity in order to maintain its existence. There has to be a socio-economic hierarchy in order for money to be continuously supplied (because it's all in the form of debt). Without debt and scarcity of resources, money is merely just a piece of paper. Without a lower and middle class, it just doesn't work.

So unfortunatly, poverty is not going away until we evolve as a species. The problem is money itself, not just capitalism. There is plenty of food and resources on our planet and there is great potential for technological advancements - all of which must remain scarce otherwise the whole thing falls apart for the ruling class.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Sep 28 at 2015 4:02 PM

2015-09-28T16:02:52-04:00

Here's an illustration illuminating the difference between the market, and a government managed market...

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 10:28 PM

2015-10-01T22:28:34-04:00

Capitalism is a very loaded term... as is pretty much any economic label. Much of the capitalism we see and many of the popularized examples of the problems with it stem from very non-free market activities. Take pharmaceuticals for example. Buy the rights to a already developed cheap drug and then gain market protection from the FDA which makes it prohibitively costly for competitors to enter the market. At that point, you are free to raise the price to whatever you want. That isn't free market capitalism, it is a government backed monopoly. I would point out that many of the things we in the U.S. complain of being too expensive are generally heavily government regulated or subsidized... higher education, healthcare, energy.

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Oct 12 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-10-12T14:25:22-04:00

No dictatorship is. These tribal warlords keep the populace in perpetual poverty. These impoverished people have no hope for their civilizations to advance with some greedy warmongers boot on their throats

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 27 at 2016 10:59 PM

2016-10-27T22:59:55-04:00

Capitalism is the only economic system to ever reduce poverty for any sustained period of time. It is at work today in China and India lifting millions out of poverty, creating a middle class in societies, ancient societies where wealth had been limited to selected classes of people.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 28 at 2016 12:54 AM

2016-10-28T00:54:06-04:00

Greed graft and corruption

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Oct 28 at 2016 9:55 PM

2016-10-28T21:55:49-04:00

Political economy came into being as a natural result of the expansion of trade, and with its appearance elementary, unscientific huckstering was replaced by a developed system of licensed fraud, an entire science of enrichment.

Frederik Engels, Outlines of Political Economy (1844)