: Hmm. "Soviet Union"... The only thing I can think of was a totalitarian state set up in Eastern Europe at the end of WWI that fell prey to the heirarchical nature of the power base in it (i.e. the bosses creamed off the profits for themselves, as usually happens in capitalist systems).::Humans are selfish and greedy by nature.
: Again, spoken with all the force and conviction of a deity. I bow to your superior wisdom; your immense brain has obviously examined in depth every possible future for the entire human race.
Do you see? You have just contradicted yourself. I'm not claiming to be any smarter than you so I won't insult your intelligence by explaining why you contradicted yourself.
: : An econimic system must be designed that can accomodate the needs of the human race.
: An economic system must be designed that can accommodate the needs of the entire planet. Not one that accommodates the whims of the richest 10% for about 250 years before destroying the planet's life-bearing weave. Oh, for your information, the 250-year glut started about 220 years ago.
You say capitalism isn't fair. It's the fairest thing we've got, though. While a small number of people may be kept from succeding under Capitalism, everyone is kept from succeding under socialism. It's equal, but not fair. It makes everybody misserable.
: : Capitalism is the best system that we have tried. On paper communism looks good.
: Actually, on paper, Das Kapital is one of the most forbiddingly large books you're ever likely to find. It's also very difficult to read.
Have you read it? No really, have you? In my 16 short years on this planet, I haven't had time to sit down with that one, but I would like to if you recomend it.
: On the surface, capitalism looks and feels good in the same way cocaine does - and look at the long term physical effects of cocaine.
Capitalism offers equality of opportunity. Everybody has the same chance at success. Socialism is simply equality of results. No one has the chance to become something better.
: : But when it is acctually applyed to the real world using real people, it back fires.
: Oh bollocks, another simpleton who thinks that "the real world" is the attitudes and intolerances they got fed from birth, and uses that poisonous little phrase to attack any new idea they don't agree with.
: Define "The Real World".
: The "real" world, as I understand it, is a rocky satellite of a middle-of-the-road star and is host to various carbon-based life forms. These life forms exist in a balance, such that harmful materials are processed out of the system. If one species becomes dominant and produces enough in the way of toxins, the balance may well change.
I have yet to be convinced that the earth is in some amount of serious trouble because of our existance. If you feel this way, may I suggest a web site for you: www.paranoia.com/coe/
: We don't know what it will do. It may change the balance to cope with the pollutants the species (humanity) is producing. Which will make life difficult, in that human-produced pollutants are, on the whole, harmful to humans. Alternatively, the balance could shift to eradicate the polluting species entirely, producing a species extinction, if you subscribe to Lovelock's theories.
I don't think that pollution will be the end of us. At the rate of population growth that we are now experiencing we may meet our end due to over-crowding. But hey, I'll bet you're a Darwinist. Survival of the fittist.
: Human nature is not "real" in any conventional sense. Human pollution is. Guns are a more immediate threat to me than divine retribution.
You don't have to many guns to worry about in the UK. Here in America we have the second amendment that gurantees us the right to keep and bear arms. If they ever change the constitution then the moral fabric of this nation has been shredded. I will find a different country.
The great consolation in life is to say what one thinks.
--Voltaire
Cara
