Politics & Stuff

[capriccioso 2,545]

The capitalism apologists in this thread should consider that capitalism is unsustainable in the future. It's only survived this long because of the huge expansion of Western monetary investment has given pretty much every capitalist country (aside from the unfortunate few nations in Africa with no resources to offer, thus no incentive for Western entrepreneurs to invest) a huge, one-off spike in living standards, thus eliminating social discontent and making the majority of people believe that capitalism is infallible. As the rest of the developing world catches up, Western living standards will fall as the life we lead now is simply unsustainable once you get 3 or 4 billion other humans having the money to be able to live like us. They will push the earth as far as it can go, by 2100 or so we will be left with next to no new sources of the resources we currently use to exploit. Then the economic debate will turn to how to make the most of an ever-shrinking resources pie, which is why if we permit capitalism to grow unchecked this century as we did the previous two, we'll effectively be writing our own death warrant as a species.

The only way we can permit capitalism to maintain its vice-like grip over the planet to proceed is if we start using renewable resources on a broad basis, as soon as possible, while conserving what's left of traditional resources (e.g. oil, coal) until we can find an alternative to them.

[Rmpr 8,977]

The capitalism apologists in this thread should consider that capitalism is unsustainable in the future. It's only survived this long because of the huge expansion of Western monetary investment has given pretty much every capitalist country (aside from the unfortunate few nations in Africa with no resources to offer, thus no incentive for Western entrepreneurs to invest) a huge, one-off spike in living standards, thus eliminating social discontent and making the majority of people believe that capitalism is infallible. As the rest of the developing world catches up, Western living standards will fall as the life we lead now is simply unsustainable once you get 3 or 4 billion other humans having the money to be able to live like us. They will push the earth as far as it can go, by 2100 or so we will be left with next to no new sources of the resources we currently use to exploit. Then the economic debate will turn to how to make the most of an ever-shrinking resources pie, which is why if we permit capitalism to grow unchecked this century as we did the previous two, we'll effectively be writing our own death warrant as a species.

The only way we can permit capitalism to maintain its vice-like grip over the planet to proceed is if we start using renewable resources on a broad basis, as soon as possible, while conserving what's left of traditional resources (e.g. oil, coal) until we can find an alternative to them.

1- It is useless to discuss capitalism with americans, their entire lives they have only been taught one point of view (even in university). It is not this generation's fault, its just default.

2- Did you know that if Indians or Chineses produced the ammount of junk and polution USA produces, the Earth would only have 30 more years?

In the end, it isnt about the major changes (capitalism, anarquism, etc). It is on the basic stuff in lifestyle and on industry way of production. Would making eletronic technology for 10b people harmful to the planet if they were made the right way?

[Spike 12,049]

Instead of complaining about how Capitalism fails, create a philosophy that doesn't. Until that day comes, the status quo will remain.

[Leif 6,006]

"The world isn't run by laws written on paper. It's run by people -

some according to laws, others not. It depends on each individual how his world will be; how he makes it."

I know some of you will want to dispute that due to being more 'serious' about life I guess, but I honestly agree with that quote.

Laws won't change people. You cannot force change.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Instead of complaining about how Capitalism fails, create a philosophy that doesn't. Until that day comes, the status quo will remain.

There are many brands of eco-friendly economics.

Capitalism will crush anything eco-friendly if it's not profitable short term. Capitalists aren't interested in waiting 50, 100 years for their investment to pay off. They want it now.

[OneMoSalah 8,614]

So as it stands today, British politicians are still cunts who are buying and redoing houses with tax payers money.... only if I was a British politician, would re do my house quite nice. Also our government are still idiots, moving on.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Nothing like a bit of corruption and embezzlement in government. Stop the presses.

[unclezillion 23]

[unclezillion 23]

I think Barack Obama is a war criminal and he should be executed (or whatever the maximum punishment is) for crimes against humanity. His policy with regards to predator drones is sickening, it's basically 'Every man within a 30 mile radius is a terrorist'. Estimates of civilian deaths in Pakistan and Afghanistan range between 900 and 7000, all from predator drones, which have only been used in the last 3 years or so.

Anyone disagree?

i think whoever said it is an idiot and i'll counter with

[unclezillion 23]

So that is,what you think about my religion?We are brutal people?

Sikhs historically pride themselves on being warriors, perhaps in a modern society this would/may be considered brutal.

I have worked with enough Singh's to get a reasonable idea of where they r at!

[unclezillion 23]

@TorontoChelsea,

Such improvements are possible without capitalism. The USSR is a great example. Stalin, for all his insanity and inability for independent thought, oversaw and controlled an incredible transition from being a backward country, virtually on the same level as many colonies that belonged to European countries; into a force capable of crushing the most powerful army of its time, and being able to conceivably compete with the greatest power in the history of the world for decades. Living standards certainly improved as well, unless you were a dissident/saboteur/accused of any of the two untruthfully. China too, has flourished with an economy still mostly under the control of the government. Of course there are outerliers like Korea DPR or Angola, but for the most part I remain convinced that you can achieve progress with a left leaning government in charge. The big tell though will be what happens to France 30 years down the track due to Hollande's actions.

I think Lenin had it spot on with his brand of Marxism. Small level capitalism for the individual is permitted, but the commanding heights of the economy remain under government control. The best of both worlds, you're insulated from the forces of the free market but an individual still has a fair chance of carving out a reasonable fortune for themselves. Trotsky, much as I love him, was a bit too extremist; and the less said about wankers like Mao and Deng, the better.

What makes you think that China is left leaning? China is a state capitalist society hiding under the banner of socialism. A simplistic way of looking at this is that a capitalist society is geared towards the protection of money where as a state capitalist society is geared towards the protection of the state.

[capriccioso 2,545]

i think whoever said it is an idiot and i'll counter with

I don't think anyone is disputing that Bush should be put on trial as well, and would be had he been Iraqi or Bosnian instead of American. Bush, for all his faults, didn't use predator drones, although that would primarily because he didn't have widespread access to them. I'm certain he would have had no qualms using them if he had them at his disposal in 2001. The main concerns I have with him are torture in Guantamo Bay and their unconstitutional nature, as well as the fact that they circumvent Geneva Convention regulation on the treatment of POWs.

What makes you think that China is left leaning? China is a state capitalist society hiding under the banner of socialism. A simplistic way of looking at this is that a capitalist society is geared towards the protection of money where as a state capitalist society is geared towards the protection of the state.

What makes me think that? Briefly put, its because China is largely Maoist outside the Special Economic Zones. The rural areas still operate under Stalin style collectivist farms.

Of course China is not a true leftist nation but then there's never been any state anywhere near Marx's definition of communism.

[unclezillion 23]

I don't think anyone is disputing that Bush should be put on trial as well, and would be had he been Iraqi or Bosnian instead of American. Bush, for all his faults, didn't use predator drones, although that would primarily because he didn't have widespread access to them. I'm certain he would have had no qualms using them if he had them at his disposal in 2001. The main concerns I have with him are torture in Guantamo Bay and their unconstitutional nature, as well as the fact that they circumvent Geneva Convention regulation on the treatment of POWs.

What makes me think that? Briefly put, its because China is largely Maoist outside the Special Economic Zones. The rural areas still operate under Stalin style collectivist farms.

Of course China is not a true leftist nation but then there's never been any state anywhere near Marx's definition of communism.

Try Russia 1818-21 under Lenin.

So we go from the working classes to the agrarian peasants in revolutionary terms but neither China nor Russia in all its modern guises is anywhere near Communism/Marxism because both systems worked opposite to what Marx was suggesting: according to Marx the state should be controlled from the bottom up instead of the state controlling from the top down. What we learn from both China and Russia despite similar theoretical identities is that the quest for and the holding onto power corrupts and becomes the main driving force behind subsequent propaganda! And the friggin man of steel (is what Stalin means his real name was Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili) was an asshole/murderer second to none including dear old Adolf! Can you imagine being at a venue listening to him speak and you were disappeared if you were the first one to stop clapping ?

The only real difference between Leninism and Stalinism on the surface was Marxism should have been a worldwide revolution (Lenin) rather than it being acceptable restricted to one country (Stalin)

Uncle specialized in Soviet politics and Marxism in a different lifetime lol why? it seemed like a good idea at the time!

[capriccioso 2,545]

Try Russia 1818-21 under Lenin.

So we go from the working classes to the agrarian peasants in revolutionary terms but neither China nor Russia in all its modern guises is anywhere near Communism/Marxism because both systems worked opposite to what Marx was suggesting: according to Marx the state should be controlled from the bottom up instead of the state controlling from the top down. What we learn from both China and Russia despite similar theoretical identities is that the quest for and the holding onto power corrupts and becomes the main driving force behind subsequent propaganda! And the friggin man of steel (is what Stalin means his real name was Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili) was an asshole/murderer second to none including dear old Adolf! Can you imagine being at a venue listening to him speak and you were disappeared if you were the first one to stop clapping ?

The only real difference between Leninism and Stalinism on the surface was Marxism should have been a worldwide revolution (Lenin) rather than it being acceptable restricted to one country (Stalin)

Uncle specialized in Soviet politics and Marxism in a different lifetime lol why? it seemed like a good idea at the time!

No fucking way, I want to major in Soviet Studies as well

[unclezillion 23]

No fucking way, I want to major in Soviet Studies as well

Where are you hoping to study it?

interestingly Karl Marx never had a job and was even turned down by the railways in England because they found his handwriting illegible.

Engles paid for him in England and Marx refused to let his mistress in the house he paid for lol, Karl Marx is buried in Highgate cemetery in Spud or Gooner country.

a good read is Engles "Condition of the working class in England" takes a very descriptive look at Manchester in the 19th century, (average life expectancy was 25).

if you can find a chinese or communist bookshop you will be able to get very cheap books by Marx, vladimir illich illyanof (lenin), Lev Bronstein (trotsky), stalin et al/

please ignore my bad spelling of Russian names!

Uncle used to get his vodka and caviar free or extremely cheap from the Russian Trade delegation in the 70's and even saw the new year in in a Russian diplomatic property stuck up a hairy bird from Moscow lol

[capriccioso 2,545]

Where are you hoping to study it?

interestingly Karl Marx never had a job and was even turned down by the railways in England because they found his handwriting illegible.

Engles paid for him in England and Marx refused to let his mistress in the house he paid for lol, Karl Marx is buried in Highgate cemetery in Spud or Gooner country.

a good read is Engles "Condition of the working class in England" takes a very descriptive look at Manchester in the 19th century, (average life expectancy was 25).

if you can find a chinese or communist bookshop you will be able to get very cheap books by Marx, vladimir illich illyanof (lenin), Lev Bronstein (trotsky), stalin et al/

please ignore my bad spelling of Russian names!

Uncle used to get his vodka and caviar free or extremely cheap from the Russian Trade delegation in the 70's and even saw the new year in in a Russian diplomatic property stuck up a hairy bird from Moscow lol

There's an online archive that has close to all Trotsky's major works and quite a few fron Lenin. I think its called Trotsky.org or .net.

I'm studying Arts at uni atm, I should be eligiBle to start specialising in Russia next year.

[epicsarah-ous 329]

:3, I've been pretty interested in Stuff like the soviet union, Lenin,Stalin,Cold war, Policies, What life was like in the soviet union, I heard good of the soviet union under stalins regime for good equality but i hear a lot of impression it was bad, but i want to get hard...well views and such stuff information >8D

[unclezillion 23]

:3, I've been pretty interested in Stuff like the soviet union, Lenin,Stalin,Cold war, Policies, What life was like in the soviet union, I heard good of the soviet union under stalins regime for good equality but i hear a lot of impression it was bad, but i want to get hard...well views and such stuff information >8D

Stalin was a mass murder on a scale greater than Hitler! Not bad for a priest!

lots of website around for soviet history but really you need to start from about 1880-5