IMHO the biggest problem we face is...
POSTED BY: SignyM
UPDATED: Friday, August 4, 2006 06:38
VIEWED: 3202
PAGE 2 of 4
Hey, this isn't fun if we all agree!
Can't Take My Gorram Sky 
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
OK, I'm game. I got a bunch of meetings to go to today and tomorrow, but here's my contra -
If it wasn't for technology and capitalism concentrating resources, we wouldn't be living as well as we do. We'd still be carrying fire from place to place, grubbing whatever food we could find and always at the day-to-day mercy of the environment. Technology and capitalism are good things.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Of course they are!
We're just too naturally selfish and undisciplined to use these things in ways that don't end up harming us, as well. :)
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:It's a shame they weren't around earlier and then we could have wiped out the species in nuclear war centuries ago!
Originally posted by rue:
If it wasn't for technology and capitalism concentrating resources, we wouldn't be living as well as we do. We'd still be carrying fire from place to place, grubbing whatever food we could find and always at the day-to-day mercy of the environment. Technology and capitalism are good things.
No wait, is that a good thing?
I suppose it depends whether you are Human or not.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:Socialism works along these lines. You put in whatever you can, and take out only what you need.
Originally posted by SignyM:Quote:Which relates to the "Its Disgusting, It Really Is" thread.
Humanity needs another paradigm, one which takes into account individual physical survival can be guaranteed - as long as everyone limits themselves to what they need, what they will use.
Except it doesn't work.
It doesn't work because what we need is not a paradigm shift, it's an evolution. Ironically the very traits that allowed us to ascend the evolutionary ladder to the top of the food chain are quite possibly the ones that will compel us to self destruction.
Corporations may think they're big and clever for inventing built in obsolescence making us upgrade in perpetuity, little do they realise that mother nature was doing this long before we even existed with a far more elegant solution. Sowing the seeds of our destruction with our success, Our self destruction syndrome.
Quote:Power and money promotes in it's own image
Which just goes to show that wealth can't buy brains.
.More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
(Now I really have to go outside of my comfort zone ... )
But if you didn't have the 'cheese' of being able to claim the profits, nothing would get built. It doesn't matter how good your ideas are - it's what gets accomplished that counts. And that is what I'm arguing (channeling really, since the usual suspects aren't around) - that without capitalism, the technology wouldn't have been harnessed.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:Which is why there was no technological development until the advent of capitalism.
Originally posted by rue:
(Now I really have to go outside of my comfort zone ... )
But if you didn't have the 'cheese' of being able to claim the profits, nothing would get built. It doesn't matter how good your ideas are - it's what gets accomplished that counts. And that is what I'm arguing (channeling really, since the usual suspects aren't around) - that without capitalism, the technology wouldn't have been harnessed.
No, wait...
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
You're really going to make me do this ..... argue every single point ....
Just b/c back then it wasn't called capitalism doesn't mean it wasn't ! It was all like Adam Smith said - invisible hand and all.
Talk to the hand.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I just like watching you squirm 
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME