The problem isn't social norms. The problem is untethered capitalism allows concentrations of wealth and power with no check on it. Those capitalists then stoke fascism to retain power once material conditions have decayed enough due to that concentration of wealth.
They are able to choose to do those things because capitalism has created massive surpluses that allow people to survive on a relatively small amount of labor. This creates a surplus that can be directed towards leisure or given to the less fortunate.
> Capitalism doesn't fuel everything.
Its true there are a handful of susbsistence level societies that do not rely on capitalism for anything but they are in danger of being assimilated and exterminated. [0]
> The problem isn't social norms. The problem is untethered capitalism allows concentrations of wealth and power with no check on it.
While I disagree with you that is an accurate statement of the facts; surely you can see that allowing concentrations of wealth is a social norm that you consider to be a problem.
> Those capitalists then stoke fascism to retain power once material conditions have decayed enough due to that concentration of wealth.
The material conditions that result from capitalism are widespread prosperity; conditions deteriorate when the oligarchs convince you to allow them to use the government to redistribute the wealth of the middle class.
How many people work two plus jobs? How many have to do gig work to make ends meet? Capitalism has created massive surpluses and free time, for the capitalists.
> Its true there are a handful of susbsistence level societies that do not rely on capitalism for anything but they are in danger of being assimilated and exterminated.
By capitalists looking to exploit them.
> While I disagree with you that is an accurate statement of the facts; surely you can see that allowing concentrations of wealth is a social norm that you consider to be a problem.
No, it isn't a social norm. What definition of social norm are you even using here? It is a direct consequence of capitalism.
> The material conditions that result from capitalism are widespread prosperity; conditions deteriorate when the oligarchs convince you to allow them to use the government to redistribute the wealth of the middle class.
Half the globe lives in poverty. More and more in the US are living in poverty. Wages have stagnated while productivity has increased. There isn't widespread prosperity by any definition. You've been watching too much PragerU if you honestly believe this.
The US is not a capitalist country.
> By capitalists looking to exploit them.
By imperialists looking to exploit them. Under capitalism they would own their land.
> No, it isn't a social norm. What definition of social norm are you even using here? It is a direct consequence of capitalism.
Capitalism is a set of social norms, I’m using the same definition as sociologists and anthropologists.
> Half the globe lives in poverty. More and more in the US are living in poverty. Wages have stagnated while productivity has increased. There isn't widespread prosperity by any definition.
The increasing poverty is a direct result of social norms that inhibit free exchange on markets. Regardless, the level of prosperity is the highest its been in 10,000 years and if you think people are poor now, you should read a history book.
> You've been watching too much PragerU if you honestly believe this.
I suggest you widen your understanding of history rather than cast aspersions on the sources you believe others are relying upon.
In order for the parasites to have something, they permit a limited amount of regulated market activity (including some forms of rent on capital) and that’s where all the goods and services are produced.
> Give an example of what you consider a capitalist country, please.
Obviously there are none.
Think about what capitalism has brought us. More and more people on the planet are lifted out of poverty every year as a direct consequence of capitalism.
Why did the colonials, when they arrived in west Africa, find they had basically done nothing for thousands of years? Because they didn't have capitalism in my eyes. Capitalism brought you the computer you are typing on.
> Why did the colonials, when they arrived in west Africa, find they had basically done nothing for thousands of years?
This is so racist and imperialistic, really bad take.
> Capitalism brought you the computer you are typing on.
Soviets had computers too, ya know.