Capitaism is not the problem.

[summonerrk]

Most of the time, I see people blaming capitalism for the world's situation. I see it on the forum, I see it on social media and even on the news. But is capitalism really the cause of the world being shit today? If the whole world had other economic systems, would it be better than it is today? How about countries that use other economic systems? Are they perfect?

The world is in a mess because the government that is supposed to make sure the world is in order is a mess itself. So if the government are that bad, how do you think the world would be if they had control of everything?
Capitalism does not take away oversight, supervision or regulation. The government has the power to make sure things are done fairly, but they are too corrupt or incompetent to do anything about it, so this gives the big corporations opportunities to make more money out of the system.
Socialism won't take away inequality as they claim. If you doubt, you can check how equal the people in socialist societies are. Let's not even talk about the final form of socialism. communism because that only works in theory, it is not practical at all.

It shouldn't matter if one person has more money than everyone else combined, as long as he made the money legally and ethically. It's a free world, and people should be allowed to use their brains to whatever capacity they want as long as they don't trample on other people's human rights or do unethical things. At no point in the history of mankind have we been equal financially, so this is not an unnatural thing.
The problem is not billionaires owning most of the world's money; the problem is the government not trying to make people's lives better. They can't control inflation, and they can't find ways to make sure jobs are created. If the Government of all the countries in the world actually focused on making the lives of their citiens better, the world would be a better place even with capitalism as the economic system.

Capitalism is not a bad thing, and it is probably the only viable economic structure in our time. Because no one will work for ideas, everyone needs money, because families need to be provided with income rather than ideological bullshit that promises a better future. Capitalism forces small and large firms to compete and produce better services and goods, and with open trade relations, capitalism encourages exports and imports, resulting in the provision of high-quality goods and services outside the country where the firm was established. But the only thing that the banana republics should not forget is that capitalism does not encourage the creation of domestic products, which makes countries vulnerable to political boycotts and sanctions that can affect exports and imports and, consequently, the economy.

[Findingnemo]

I am not against capitalism but also I won't say it makes the world a better place, it is just shitty as other system too.

Legally making money? Government create the laws and these big companies controls the government or atleast influence them as they want it to, so they can make anything legal just to get away with it or they will pull other stunts to hide their loose ends, even if it is going to affect a whole lot pf people that is what capitalism is all about and make money to be comfortable.

[trendcoin]

Historical examples also provide us with this answer. For instance, the Berlin Wall was built to prevent people from fleeing from the Eastern Bloc to the Western Bloc... :) For instance, even China uses capitalism today... :)

Capitalism is such a powerful force that it has defeated not only its economic opponents but also religious doctrines. Even in hunter-gatherer cultures, places of worship, which once stood at the center of life, have now been replaced by shopping malls. Whether driven by economic theory or religious motivation, no force has been able to stand up to capitalism. Individually, we all want to maximize our own benefit, and that is why we choose capitalism. Of course, it is not a flawless system; it leads to social tensions, but for now, in this period of history, it is the winner...

[stompix]

Gaddafi of Libya made Libya self-styled socialist country but the citizens of Libya during his time had longest life expectancy in the world. They had good standards of living during his time. What that matters are leaders.

Lol...so I assume you have some data to back this up, right?
Life expectancy in Libya went up to 74.5 years two years before this death, then declined, meanwhile Japan was 7 full years ahead!
Also, he wasn't that great leader, he had money, when the money from oil ran out...so did his leadership!

Are you sure about that? Some people become rich, which translates into some people to become poor.

Since when is the wealth of nation capped and redistibuted?
https://ourworldindata.org/poverty?insight=global-extreme-poverty-declined-substantially-over-the-last-generation#key-insights

I am not against capitalism but also I won't say it makes the world a better place, it is just shitty as other system too.

Ever lived under true communism?
Try it for 10 years then you will pray evey day for an hour never to experince it again and another hour to the wonders of capitalism!

[Charles-Tim]

Lol...so I assume you have some data to back this up, right?
Life expectancy in Libya went up to 74.5 years two years before this death, then declined, meanwhile Japan was 7 full years ahead!
Also, he wasn't that great leader, he had money, when the money from oil ran out...so did his leadership!

He was a great leader is what Africans are seeing. You are from the West, so I expect you to think otherwise. He wanted Africa to be United but the foolish leaders can never understand. Just read about the man and what he did in his country for you to understand how Libya was a better country.

He was killed by the United States. He was betrayed by former French president which has now been sentenced when French government knew that Gadaffi sponsored his election to become French president. But the man spoke bad of him.

Just browse about this man for you to know he take his citizens seriously.

The West came, killed him and Libya was never like his time.

If a Libyan is sick and the medical treatment is not in Libya, he flew the citizens abroad.

These are what I see using AI but which are not new to me. We Africans kniw who Gadaffi is:

During the reign of Muammar Gaddafi (1969–2011), the Libyan government implemented a comprehensive social welfare system funded by oil revenues, providing direct cash payments, subsidies, and free services to its citizens. Gaddafi aimed to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, offering significant financial incentives to enhance the standard of living.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
 +1
Key Financial and Social Benefits

Direct Payments: New couples received 60,000 Dinar (approx. $50,000) for housing, while mothers received a $5,000 birth grant. Additionally, a portion of oil revenue was directly deposited into citizens' accounts.

Support & Subsidies: The government offered 50% car subsidies, provided heavily subsidized fuel, and free electricity. Education and healthcare were free, and the state offered loans with 0% interest.

Employment & Agriculture: Graduates unable to find work received the average salary of their profession, while those entering farming received free land and equipment.

Economic Context: Libya operated without external debt, holding significant foreign reserves. In 2009, a plan was proposed to distribute $32 billion in oil revenue directly to citizens to combat corruption.

If African leaders are like him, we will not be like this.

Forget about Western news.

[stompix]

Forget about Western news.

Yeah lol.
You made a claim:

Gaddafi of Libya made Libya self-styled socialist country but the citizens of Libya during his time had longest life expectancy in the world.

The burden of proof is on your side, so any data to actually back this claim up or are you going to man up and recognize you pulled it out of you know what?
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?end=2010&locations=LY-JP-FR-EG&start=1969

[trendcoin]

Just read about the man and what he did in his country for you to understand how Libya was a better country.

Stomp is a sick person. I wish Gaddafi were still alive so he could have treated him too, but that’s not the point here. :)

I don’t know if you’re Libyan, so I don’t want to offend you, but Gaddafi was, first and foremost, a military coup leader. In other words, he was a tyrant. But I know that in your eyes, he’s a Robin Hood. In other words, he’s a good hero who provided social assistance to the poor.

That’s where the big problem starts. I won’t get into the political reasons behind his aid. When you give everyone something for free, productivity in society declines. Highly intelligent, talented people choose to live a life of ease as average individuals rather than putting in the extra effort to achieve something. Such a society remains below average.

So, the problem here isn’t the hero, it’s the system.

[Charles-Tim]

The burden of proof is on your side, so any data to actually back this claim up or are you going to man up and recognize you pulled it out of you know what?

Okay, I get your point now. Libya life expectancy was the highest in Africa and not the world. But the man's time was great but taken down by Libyans that are hungry for power while the West see it as an advantage but see where Libya is now compared to Gadaffi time. He was a very great man. There have been many countries that leaders that did not favour the West are taken down. They use their citizens to take them down. See how wise Africans leaders were.

[X-ray]

The problem is not billionaires owning most of the world's money; the problem is the government not trying to make people's lives better. They can't control inflation, and they can't find ways to make sure jobs are created. If the Government of all the countries in the world actually focused on making the lives of their citiens better, the world would be a better place even with capitalism as the economic system.

Wholly agreed on this point, Capitalism is a proven economic system where it incentivizes the people that actually do something and solve problems. Capitalism on itself is actually very good and the reason why countries that adopt capitalism are mostly successful countries.

If a country with capitalism can't make live better, it's indeed on the government. They are the one making rules and the only deciding factor on this, companies just obey the law and regulation.

[mindrust]

Capitalism rewards competence.

Communism rewards laziness.

There are elites in both systems but with capitalism, at least you have a chance to become the slave master (maybe not the elite) even though it is very slim.

With communism, no matter how smart and skillful you are, you are the slave foreva.

I like capitalism. There simply no other way is.

Keep breeding. Your country depends on you. At least 3 children. Get to work now.

[kazilunex]

I see this point, but I don't think it's as simple as saying "capitalism is a good and government is bad". From what I've observed, the real issue is how both work together.

Capitalism works well when there's proper regulations. Without it, you get monopolies, price manipulation, and unfair advantages. But too much control from the government can also slow innovation or may lead to corruption. So basically it's more about balance than choosing one system over another.

A good example is inflation, in many countries, poor policy decisions (like excessive money printing) reduce purchasing power over time. For instance, even a 5-10% annual inflation can quietly erode savings if income doesn't keep up. From what I've noticed, countries that perform better aren't purely capitalist or socialist, they are a mix of both. They allow businesses to grow but still enforce rules to protect people.

So yeah, the system itself isn't only the problem. It's how it's managed. A bad government can ruin any system, but well-run one can make even  imperfect system work better.

[davis196]

If the Government of all the countries in the world actually focused on making the lives of their citiens better, the world would be a better place even with capitalism as the economic system.

The whole "the government should make the lives of their citizens betters" idea seems too naive to me. I do get the point, but we have to understand that the governments didn't "serve the people" throughout most of human history. The governments mostly serve the oligarchy and the rich elites. Democracy isn't a perfect system and I do believe that most of the western democracies have finally turned into oligarchies in disguise, which means that the quality of life in the western countries is about to drop in the next decades and the levels of inequality will worsen. Capitalism is a problem only for the stupid people, who don't know what to do with their lives and how to make their lives better by themselves(without having to wait for a government to "make their life better").

[EarnOnVictor]

Capitalism could be spoken for or against, and it highly depends on the goodness and goodwill of the citizens/residents doing business in country. Many countries are suffering from capitalism, that's a fact, and I hope you see what Nigerians are facing in the hands of capitalism, for example.

It's better when the country doesn't face any economic challenges, especially inflation, I mean the tiniest of it, that's when you know that the heart of dominant actors are wickedly wicked. They will abnormally inflate the price and reduce quality and the quality. This is what happens if people are given the entire market autonomy, especially if the government is also corrupt.They turn blind eyes and do nothing, for those players sponsor them.

But where the country's people are reasonable and the government is up and doing with their regulations, I believe capitalism could be fair.

[viljy]

True capitalism existed only in the 19th century. What exists now is some kind of financial-speculative form of imperialism. There has never been pure socialism at all. So a lot really depends on the leaders of states and governments. But these leaders are controlled and manipulated by oligarchs, the Deep State, etc. The oligarchs, and even more so the Deep State or Epstein's friends, do not care about people's lives at all. On the contrary, they want to reduce the population, make them work for food (ideally 24/7), and even better, replace them with AI robots, etc. Therefore, as long as the world is ruled by oligarchs, nothing will change.

[IjawMan]

I prefer capitalism because great nations all over the world are mostly capitalist countries. In a country, anyone can be rich as you can see anyone that is poor can become rich later in life. Just let us forget about inequity, this life is created not for everyone to be equal, regardless of the society that we are. Many wealthy people are not born rich, but they make their money.

But what I do not like is United State trying to influence other countries to do what they are doing. An example is Cuba which is a socialist or a communist country, but see how Donald Trump is pressuring the country. He arrested Maduro in Venezuela and tell the women there now in Venezuela not to ship oil to Cuba. Until recently that I heard Russia is shipping oil to Cuba.

Many capitalist nations are making progress with development in economic, science and technology and o
other areas but what I do not like about capitalism is how it does makes the ideology of a free market for everyone to freely compete but the capitalists that have already gained weight in the market do not make it competitively free for newly small scale competitors to grow.

Forget what is written in books about how best capitalism is, both the capitalist countries and individuals have this nature of exploitation and oppression on less powerful nations and individuals to ensure the continuity of their dominance .

Every country should be allowed to practice what economic system that can fast track their rounded growth, it must not be capitalism but if a country on their own chooses it then still great, but not to be imposed.

[imthegreat]

In the country where I live, the basis of the economy is cake resources, not production or banks, and not tourism. It turns out that in a sense, this is a so-called banana republic. This means that the country has a single source of income, and as a rule, in such countries, the government forgets that it is not possible to order absolutely everything from abroad using the revenue from the main source of income. This makes the country vulnerable to export bans by other countries. There is a company that builds cars. It is the only one, and it has no competitors or accountability. And it's terrible and ridiculous. They have no competitors and no reports, so they just exist on subsidies. This is not a sign of good capitalism, but a sign of a dead end.

[Alpha Marine]

He was a great leader is what Africans are seeing. You are from the West, so I expect you to think otherwise. He wanted Africa to be United but the foolish leaders can never understand. Just read about the man and what he did in his country for you to understand how Libya was a better country.

Whoever stands against America and European imperialism is often seen as a hero. We see how people painted Maduro as a hero. We see people paint Khomeini as a hero. If the corrupt and useless president of my country stands against the bullying of the US today and he gets killed, he would be seen as a hero.
We don't measure heroes by how they stood against the imperialism of the West alone.

I won't call Gaddafi a great leader, but neither would I call him a bad leader. But what I do know for sure is that his whole style is not what I would want other African leaders to emulate.
Yes, there was free health care, free education and subsidised housing, but there was heavy political repression. You couldn't disagree with him; you couldn't have a different view from him. It was take his way or die.
You can't use life expectancy alone to determine. The life expectancy of North Korea is around 74 years, while that of the US is 73, but I have a pretty good idea which country you would choose to live in if given the two choices.

As for uniting Africa to be one, that is such a funny thing to believe in. You're Nigerian, you know how the country has been simply because the British forced three or two very different people to become one. Now you have a country with very different beliefs and way of life to an extent that they can't even agree on something as humane as illegalising child marriage.
United Africa is a bullshit dream. It's exactly the kind of dream a tyrant would have. Europe did not have to unite into a country to be great. Europe did not have to be one country to share a currency.
Northern Africans even consider themselves better than the rest of Africa. Believing in Africa as a country is so laughable.
You look around Africa and see how tribes are fighting against each other in different ways, and believe the continent can be one country?

[Uhwuchukwu53]

"we shouldn't be that depending on what our government could do for us but we should also think of what we could do for our country to be a better place".

Every thriving economy is deeply dependant on government including what the citizens can offer, that citizens strive to help in betterment of their nation is based on the policies and foundation laid by the government, several instance I have seen some nation goes into others nation to peak men and women of intelligence and talent to work most at times is from the childhood where they discovered this and go after them to harness those talent, in this situation people or citizens are willing eager to try all possible means to help the government as the government is in return helping to lift them up. I'm a nation where your dream or talent is hunt by the government and try all means to eliminate and frustrate you how will one help? Today in most nation human rights who speak to reshape the government whose government is to work with in solving some life problem as well received help from citizens are silent for saying the truth, the things is that no body can better a place where his efforts is not needed or recognized by it's government.

Today in my nation there are thousands of talent and people ready to unleashed their skills but can't because the government is not ready to do their part which will give edge to bring in this talent to reality and be converted to money.

[Cryptomultiplier]

What you talking about is majorly a problem of how the government operates today, rather than private ownership and trade being a failed venture.
We have enough social contracts that are broken on a regular basis and government on their path are unable to provide basic necessities and economic stability for the nation. The legal system is a fraud and the systems in place are simply bullshit to the common man who is trying to survive.

I think for things to work out well in any society, the caliber of persons in governance should be of credibility and accountability and the strength of the rule of law must be sound for the economy to work out well.

[Agbamoni]

Most of the time, I see people blaming capitalism for the world's situation. I see it on the forum, I see it on social media and even on the news. But is capitalism really the cause of the world being shit today? If the whole world had other economic systems, would it be better than it is today? How about countries that use other economic systems? Are they perfect? 

Lazy individuals are the ones complaining about capitalism. In developing countries where the government dont see any need to help develop the country, the few individuals with large capital have to find a way. And if they are successful, they capitalise on the economy to create wealth. During capitalism, there is employment for the citizen, thousands will be employed, not by the government but by a private institution. The current situation of the world is, no one is coming to save you, save yourself.