Capitalism is beautiful.
Capitalism is the reason there will be a hotel with a room available when he goes to visit family. It's the reason there will be gas at the gas stations along the way. It's the reason Disneyworld will still be operating when he gets there.
Most important of all, Capitalism is the reason why so many of his peers are wealthy enough to afford the basic survival needs of themselves and their own families that they are able to donate some of their surplus to help this family in need.
That said, I agree that consumerism and living beyond one's means and not saving for a rainy day and distorted markets are problems.
I wish we had Capitalism. All we have is an extraordinarily misdirected, poorly run welfare state.
Oh, and welfare state is not a bad word. Some of the most prosperous and equitable countries in the world are welfare states[0].
Some of the worst functioning countries on earth are also very poorly run welfare states. Feel free to point out several poorly functioning, free market Capitalism countries though.
Socialism is what gives rise to Corporatism. The intrusion of government into the economy - rather than the proper separation of the two - through regulation and bribes, opening up a flood gate of protectionism, lobbying and special favors.
I'm well aware of the arguments on the nordic model. Most of them had to reform their poorly functioning welfare models over the last few decades (see: Sweden).
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0803/international-invest-...
Corporatism is a legal construction of the state: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation#Formation
And your comparison isn't accurate at all. There are obvious and often massive differences between America's economic models of 1825, 1910, 1960, and 2014. 2014 isn't in any respect similar to the 1825 or 1910 versions. To argue that America in 2014 is highly Capitalistic, is to argue that Capitalism is compatible with a government system taking 40% of the economy through taxation, massive wealth redistribution, government interference in essentially every sector, nationalization (quasi or total) of core economic segments, welfare programs sprawling to hundreds of billions in cost, tens of thousands of regulations covering every field, and on and on - basically it's like saying that Capitalism can be anything. It can't, it's a specific type of model.
Total government expenditure of USA 2013: 3.45 trillion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_budg...) GDP of China in 2013: 8.3 trillion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomin...)
If I am not mistaken, the federal spending budget includes military spending as well.
And maybe he was thinking of a China GDP number from a year or two ago. When I google "China GDP" it gives me $7.3 billion from 2011.
And "nearly" is subjective.
And most military spending is welfare, either to defense contractors or otherwise.
Welfare for the rich. Naked social darwinism for the poor.
That part did seem odd to me. If they're true family (ie. worth visiting), why isn't he staying with them?
I can't think of a place I've lived that can't support 6 extra people, 4 of them being kids.
It may not be comfortable but its probably less comfortable than not seeing your family because you can't afford a hotel.
How about posting on facebook "I'm dying, here's a fund we started to help support my wife and children in my absence" and leave it at that. This comes across as entitled and unrealistic.
That being said, his situation is extremely shitty and it is probably worthwhile for anyone with the means to help him out for that reason alone.
1) paying off debt so his currently income-less wife has some breathing room
2) spending time with family.
He's not snorting cocaine off a dead hooker's ass here.
Yes, I'm all about financial responsibility, but experiences can't be bought later, a little debt can be paid later.
No, I think it's more we are so selfish. Which has always been the case in history. But now we are better educated and more informed so should be pushing for a more compassionate, logical and less racist society over the current owning stuff society.
It is a philosophy that might be possible for at least part of the population.
Bill Gates is doing it. He's helping the worlds real poor. We need part of the population to start to realise people in the 3rd world are as human as the people down the road even if they seem different.
And for a lot less cost than a fancy funeral one could actually save lives. A family could get to keep their father or mother or child.