JAA
Footballguy
This is a prettied up post from the FFA CV thread. However, I think it outlines a lot of the major flaws in our american capitalism experiment. I've put my opinion in a different thread here, it got kicked around some. Id honestly like to hear additional feedback from both left and right sides.
Why have this thread? Im angry that our entire economy is currently in the trash and millions upon millions of people are now unemployed due to an unplanned 4-6 week work shutdown. Why do we accept this? Why do we allow corporations to feed off its citizens? I feel like we can be so much more than we are today.
TLDR: Why is it we privatize profits for our corporations and shareholders, but we socialize losses for the same corporations through bailouts which as we all well know will ultimately will be paid by citizens taxes?
Post:
I agree that our version of capitalism could work for the common good if guardrails where in place. Unfortunately, they are not nor do I believe most people understand why they should want said guardrails.
Example 1: Capitalism currently servers the shareholders. Shareholders used to be long-term minded investors who wanted to be a part in the growth of companies. The growth of companies used to be driven through hiring people and growing a localized workforce. That served the common good. Today, shareholders are driven by microsecond deviations of 1/8th percentage points. If their point drops, they sell millions upon millions of shares of companies that employ people. People cannot respond to this level of change. Also, IIRC 70% of all stock is not owned by individuals. Think about that.
Example 2: We as a people want and expect our citizens to have a savings account and plan for "when things get tough". While the vast majority of Americans dont have these savings, if they lose their job or have an unexpected cost they could lose their house, car, everything. They may need to declare bankruptcy, get their future wages garnished, stay with family/friends until its all recovered from. Now - look at corporations. Our stock market drops like 20-30% in 1 month, just 1 month, and now all corporations need to layoff millions of workers. We have the largest unemployment numbers in like forever. Why is it we expect our citizens to have "savings accounts for tough times", but we dont expect our corporations to have the same protections? Where is the corporations plans? Why did they not prepare for hardship or the unexpected expense? Where was this future planning when things were good? Why is it we privatize profits for our corporations and shareholders, but we socialize losses for the same corporations through bailouts which as we all well know will ultimately will be paid by citizens taxes? Why is this way? Why is it when things are good execs and shareholders are rewarded (remember, shareholders are for the most part not people) but when things are bad, the citizens need to pay for it?
Once you understand the system and how is is organized, its easy to see, plainly easy IMO, that it does not benefit the common good.
Why have this thread? Im angry that our entire economy is currently in the trash and millions upon millions of people are now unemployed due to an unplanned 4-6 week work shutdown. Why do we accept this? Why do we allow corporations to feed off its citizens? I feel like we can be so much more than we are today.
TLDR: Why is it we privatize profits for our corporations and shareholders, but we socialize losses for the same corporations through bailouts which as we all well know will ultimately will be paid by citizens taxes?
Post:
I agree that our version of capitalism could work for the common good if guardrails where in place. Unfortunately, they are not nor do I believe most people understand why they should want said guardrails.
Example 1: Capitalism currently servers the shareholders. Shareholders used to be long-term minded investors who wanted to be a part in the growth of companies. The growth of companies used to be driven through hiring people and growing a localized workforce. That served the common good. Today, shareholders are driven by microsecond deviations of 1/8th percentage points. If their point drops, they sell millions upon millions of shares of companies that employ people. People cannot respond to this level of change. Also, IIRC 70% of all stock is not owned by individuals. Think about that.
Example 2: We as a people want and expect our citizens to have a savings account and plan for "when things get tough". While the vast majority of Americans dont have these savings, if they lose their job or have an unexpected cost they could lose their house, car, everything. They may need to declare bankruptcy, get their future wages garnished, stay with family/friends until its all recovered from. Now - look at corporations. Our stock market drops like 20-30% in 1 month, just 1 month, and now all corporations need to layoff millions of workers. We have the largest unemployment numbers in like forever. Why is it we expect our citizens to have "savings accounts for tough times", but we dont expect our corporations to have the same protections? Where is the corporations plans? Why did they not prepare for hardship or the unexpected expense? Where was this future planning when things were good? Why is it we privatize profits for our corporations and shareholders, but we socialize losses for the same corporations through bailouts which as we all well know will ultimately will be paid by citizens taxes? Why is this way? Why is it when things are good execs and shareholders are rewarded (remember, shareholders are for the most part not people) but when things are bad, the citizens need to pay for it?
Once you understand the system and how is is organized, its easy to see, plainly easy IMO, that it does not benefit the common good.
