Why Do Intellectuals Oppose Capitalism?

[labelwench]

One other aspect of capitalism that generates a rift, is the tiered structure of white collar and blue collar labor, and the overarching umbrella of many tiers of management.

Some jobs are more physically demanding, even dangerous to the person, and compensation rates often reflect this reality, although not always, and sometimes not adequately so.

Other jobs can be very mentally and psychologically challenging, and likewise dangerous to the health, yet the dangers are not so obvious. High blood pressure, and a host of other risks and disorders can be traced to continual exposure to workplace stress, among other factors.

The layers of management are often the most perplexing to contemplate, as some of the positions would seem to serve little actual purpose, in that they do not apparently generate either of a good or service. In truth, many of these positions are becoming redundant with the ability of computers to analyze data more efficiently than humans, within certain parameters and contexts. Yet, persons must be kept 'employed' in order for the economy to continue to function as it has, rather like a merry-go-round.

The circle or wheel.

Ever a symbol of life, the seasons, industry and commerce.

Interesting that it is starting to look a lot more like a roulette wheel everyday, and capitalism wants to keep the ball rolling, not allowing it to drop into any particular slot.

Or perhaps it's starting to more resemble the Wheel Of Fortune....

[labelwench]

More than one gentleman on the forum has made the remark that the female of our species bases her mate selection process quite largely on the cumulative wealth or the ability to generate such, of the male of our species.

In looking at other species in nature and the process by which selection takes place therein, the first criteria would seem to be availability of a mate. Likewise in human studies, the propinquity effect has been observed to be one of the most influential factors.

Only when there is a surplus of available mates, does the selection process truly engage. Species such as horses and wild ungulates tend to have a harem that is established and defended by the dominant male. The unsuccessful males tend to form bachelor groupings for mutual aid as in horses, or lead solitary lives as with most ungulates, save during the breeding season.
Birds are one species that compete through displays of plumage, aerial skills and nest building to attract the attention of a mate.

Do any of the behaviors above sound familiar?

How does this relate to our current system of Capitalism?

As wage earners, women have historically had lower earning power, therefore a woman wanting to raise a family would most logically seek an emotionally secure, and financially stable partner just as most men base their selections of a female based on her apparent health and appearance as relates to criteria logical for the male to realize his goal of propagating his genetics. The goal of the woman is likewise to further her genetics, yet she also has need for assistance in raising the conceived young. Not all men are concerned beyond the contribution of their genetic potential, so one should not be critical of the woman for using analytical skills and criteria as applied to securing the greatest resources for the shared offspring.

With the ever changing role of women in the employment sector and with an improvement in wage parity between the genders, I have been encountering a growing number of women who are professionals, and who are choosing not to marry or have children.

So now the question is raised of whether it is the capitalist system that is being opposed, or if the gradual filtration of female professionals into this formerly male bastion may also be a contributing factor.

It would seem logical for not only intellectuals, but any persons to be opposed to a system that might in some way affect their opportunities in the mate selection process.

Perhaps, in this instance, there is far more at stake than the money.....

[labelwench]

This being tax season, and income tax being directly related to the topic of Capitalism, I thought I might toss this little 'beef' into the discussion.

Circumstance has dictated that I add to my employment income, and in so doing, and by working at several situations, the combined tax taken off was not sufficient to satisfy the revenue masters and so my accountant sadly verified that I would have to refund to the government 75% of two weeks wages. YIKES! Double Yikes, as this is only the second time in my employment history that the math did not work in my favor, as ever I have extra tax taken off.

By working harder, the combined revenue and wage increments at work placed me into a higher tax bracket over the course of the year, and so for working harder, my reward is less. Now that's a reason to oppose the capitalist system, lol, especially as if I had two children and a husband, and neither of us able to work, I could receive without effort, EXACTLY THE SUM THAT I NOW TAKE HOME MONTHLY, by my efforts working four nights and two mornings, after four years of wage increments.

The easiest way to derail the Capitalist system, if that is one's objective, is to continue on such a course. As a guest instructor and speaker at an Innovators In The Workplace conference held at a local high school some years ago, I was appalled when, at the plenary session, a large number of the soon-to-be -graduates, cited Social Assistance among the 'employment options'.

Whatever have we been teaching the coming generation, in regards to finding their path in the world?

Mind you, when you look at the numbers involved as a wage slave or being 'on the dole', one has to admit, from a mathematical perspective, or from the physics law that energy ever chooses the path of least resistance, such a conclusion appears quite 'logical'.

[labelwench]

In the natural world, every plant and creature has a niche, and performs the functions of it's nature to live, thrive and reproduce before it dies.

Nature uses a 'capitalist system' of it's own, the currency in use being energy instead of fiat money.

Human beings likewise need and use energy to survive, the chief difference being, that much of the world utilizes far more energy that in needed for survival. Some examples that come to mind is the luxury resort industry and our elite sporting industries and all of the travel to and from such venues, the Olympics being another such example. To what purpose save the vanity of Capitalism itself? What other species indulges in vacations, lol?

It is this excess use of energy that is contributing to the imbalance of resource distribution and the energy deficit, in that we are using resources at a greater rate, in many areas, than our planet can replenish them.

So, are we personally going to do anything about it, or are we all resigned to being 'done to' as the drama plays out?

The devil's advocate must now depart to participate in the grand folly of the topic under discussion.

Later, perhaps.....

[G_burnett]

the only thing we can be sure of in life is taxes and death and one does not nessisarily stop after the other.

[labelwench]

the only thing we can be sure of in life is taxes and death and one does not nessisarily stop after the other.

Indeed.

The estates of many persons now deceased are earning far more money than ever did the person while alive.

That gives one cause for ponder....

Is this the best or the worst of Capitalism and a free market economy?

[Lloyd Gillespie]

Fortune 500: A changing landscape

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/21century/swf/index.html

(Run mouse up and down chart...)
(click on arrow for video...)

Iceland Eruption Pics...

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/icelands_disruptive_volcano.html#photo6

[Meem]

http://www.propublica.org/ion/blog/i...-investigation

http://topics.npr.org/article/0gPqePS9bG8jY


I think it's because rabid beasts are running it from time to time.

[labelwench]

Every winter, many persons from Yukon and across Canada head south to Mexico, to enjoy the warm climate and lower cost of living.

Yet, much of our work force in Yukon is now coming from Mexico, eager to pursue the economic opportunities of our much maligned Capitalist system. Many of these people work in our local coffee shops, retail grocery, and commercial janitorial sectors. Others, with broader education, are now becoming more evident through the professional fields also, in accounting and medicine.

These people are among the most pleasant and professional that I encounter, and they are obviously delighted by the opportunities that they find in our country.

So, if this is 'the place to be', why aren't we more cognizant of such fact, and working toward ever improving this system that others throughout the less advantaged nations envy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn_JuvLjLe8

[labelwench]

Interesting juxtaposition between the financial forces of the Fortune 500 and the forces of nature.......LW

Fortune 500: A changing landscape

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/21century/swf/index.html

(Run mouse up and down chart...)
(click on arrow for video...)

The Fortune 500 information is particularly interesting to me as I work for a corporation and have witnessed first hand the number-crunching and belt tightening of the last five years. Many corporations are remaining profitable despite great losses in revenue. This profitability comes at the expense of job loss and increased burden on the remaining workforce. One needs to look farther than the pretty graphics and numbers presented.

It is the pictures and numbers that are not presented that tell the more accurate story.

Pictures such as those of the volcano in Iceland are great for putting into perspective just how insignificant our accomplishments truly are in the face of the forces of nature, forces which we are far from comprehending the scope of, IMO.

We are free to plan as we may, yet the final outcomes are not ours to say, though we are fond of thinking otherwise.

Iceland Eruption Pics...

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/icelands_disruptive_volcano.html#photo6