for the most part, separation of church and state has worked out pretty good for both sides. If we had something like separation of business and state maybe things would go a little better. If we ever did for the catholic church what we do for GE the ACLU would be all over it.
I think part of the problem is people have different definitions of what is capitalism or socialism (which is why I try to view them as extremes of a spectrum). - For instance, do you consider some level of taxes and welfare socialism? I do and argue that it is needed to keep society from self destructing. I.e. welfare slightly above subsistence level prevents people being taken advantage of by "capitalists" - Some argue that corporations should have "masters" other than shareholders/executives, i.e. such as employees, community. I agree with this and would consider this part of socialism. - Some argue that corporations shouldn't have any voice in politics. I agree and would consider this socialism. I'd also argue unfettered capitalism can lead to perverse levels of socialism (i.e. corporations co-opting gov't) and unfettered socialism can lead to perverse "capitalism" (gov't co-opting businesses, nationalisations). Either way, both extremes are dangerously similar, and the outcome is very undesirable for society. Right now I'd argue the crony capitalists are the bigger threat. For many of them, it is no longer "Whatâs Good for [Big Co.] Is Good for Americaâ-- yet people still think of them as looking out for America.
I disagree. Poll enough people and I'm pretty sure that most do not desire the need for two wage earners per household, wage disparity, offshoring, outsourcing, inflation, healthcare and education cost increases that far exceed it, 401k plans, planned obsolescence. I'm sure there are many more if I spend more than 30 seconds thinking about all the unwanted/unneeded things that modern capitalism has given society.
I would guess probably every business in America sponsors some event for the betterment of society whether it's buying uniforms for little league baseball team or ballet, Shakespeare in the park in nyc. Employee's of cos volunteer time, give blood all in behalf of the companies they work for. Ford donates autos to the police dept of Dearborn, Ford also donated computers to schools, as does or did bill gates. The list os probably endless. Wtf do people want?
While it is quite true that government can, and has in the U.S. case, interfered with free markets, this state of affairs is consistent with crony capitalism. Capitalists detest free markets. The proper role of government in capitalist countries is to act as a restraining force, a referee if you will, and so to preserve and assure competition and free markets. However in the United States capitalists and government are bedfellows. The result has been crony capitalism. This is the form of capitalism that the U.S. has nearly perfected. "Competition [ a free market] is a sin." -- John D. Rockefeller
With respect, in the grand scheme of things, I would say all those things are largely irrelevant. Assuming it is for the right reasons, it is great that companies do that, but it seems to me to be a form of charity which doesn't help society at large. I think most people want more control wrested back to the "individual" worker, not more charity. Most people do want to work, but they do not want to have to play the corporate ladder or bust game in order to make a "decent" living--from my biased view, I can't blame them. And although more are always welcome, not everyone wants to take considerable risks being entrepreneurs.
Speaking about Ford, think about Henry Ford who doubled his employees salaries. He did this because he wanted to ensure he retained the skilled workers in his factories once they were trained and also wanted to ensure they could each afford the Model-T's they were building at the price Ford was selling. This is by far a perfect example of how capitalism can serve itself and society at the same time. Everyone benefited. But capitalism has been replaced by corporatism and where one thrives the other will fail it just takes time. How can a corporation survive if it lays off its workers? Who will be working and making money to buy the goods it makes. You may say China or someone else in the global economy, but eventualy those consumers will be out of work because the buyers of the goods they make and export back here in the U.S. won't be buying because they lost there job to someone in China. We're all connected.
I am expecting that the fatcat politicians in the UK will have to resore to students free Uni courses etc. to take the heat out of the protests. This will be done early next year after serious riots imho. I don't support violence but the politicians do not seem to react to peaceful demos. Living in the plush suburbs, their butts are almost out-of-range.
Not keen on violence either. But am supportive of the protests originally from the Tea Party and now from OWS.