"Capitalism" was the ideal way of extracting maximum resources in minimum time. That worked great for a couple of hundred years. But with the ability to extract cheap energy now more in our past than in our future, that changes, and if nature is any guide, "capitalism" will turn into the fastest road to ruin. A century from now, people will look back at economic theories from the 1900s as little more than self-aggrandizing fantasies by people who really didn't get it.
Capitalism has a feedback loop to reality in the market system. It can be vicious, similar to "survival of the fittest". If we are the lion, then we like it, if we are the mouse, then maybe not so much. In successive downturns, it tend to monopoly or oligopoly which destroys its efficiency. Socialism has no feedback loop that I can see. It is based on wishing will make it so. It makes for good copy for the foolish though.
A fast road to ruin sounds pretty bad. Any chicken on the bone? What's your great idea? Please share with us, or else we'll be stuck with the same old.
I think it is really worrying that the 2 alternatives seem to be failing in some major respects. Could that mean democracy itself is a failing idea ? Politicians with 1 eye on getting re-elected for another term and the the other on filling tyheir own pockets looks like they can't afford taking tough decisions. When things are going reasonably well, it doesn't matter but as the situaion worsens, an alternative needs to be found imho With science etc. perhaps better candidates could be selected and put forward. Someone suggested free votes in Congress/Parliament. No more party lines to follow. Might help. Assuming we all start equal, perhaps a system where an extra vote is allotted to certain achievements like passing a degree /qualification ? Just like I upgrade my computer set-up why not upgrade the political system or should we wait for bankruptcy/revolution to force change ?
Is everyone in this thread completely brain dead? How can you say that America has democracy? You got to vote for a guy who would be king for 4 years, doing what the hell he likes (more to the point, what the Elite likes). Tell me, what did you get to vote on? Did you vote on going to invading another country? Did you vote on government spending? Did you vote on Obamacare? Did you actually vote on anything other than your King for the next four years? Please tell me, how is that any different from a straight monarchy? The only democracy that I know of is Switzerland. They have referendums on anything that they want. No matter how big or small. I can tell you, it's not a good place to be a politician or a lobbyist. There is a reason why this little country, situated right in the middle of Europe is not part of the EUSSR. Do you know what it is? The people keep on voting no!! Wake up retards.
Geez someone has woken up to the fiction of democracy, next they will be questioning " the American dream " and apple pie. What is the world coming to ? Another major problem is an ailing planet. Temperatures are rising much more quickly than was predicted. Just another thorny question NOT being taken care of. The above may have a solution - which is possible via the internet
The world may be ailing but that is mainly due to pollution by big industry, not to forget massive oil spills etc. How do they get away with it? Simple, the people have no democratic say, and the King is just a puppet. As for a warming planet, that is just a fiction to expedite consolidation of power and further errosion of peoples freedoms. Again, wake up.
One final point, to all the retards talking about how Capitalism has failed in the U.S. You have not had Capitalism for a long time. At best you have crony capitalism which is really just the power and means of production in the hands of the Elite. Face reality, you are more and more socialist every day. The only capitalist locations that I know of are Hong Kong and perhaps Switzerland. I doubt they will stay that way for a long though as it's kind of inconvenient for the Elites. Go back to sleep retards.
A related thread entitled "Can someone explain this to me" is at http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=3309633#post3309633 Who will pay the bills for those who produce little and want everything for free?