I seriously cannot have any degree of nuanced conversation here.

Like I get it, we all know capitalism is bad, but it feels like every time I or anyone go towards discussing the steps that need to be taken to address current looming problems in the short term, someone has to jump in and shut it down with "capitalism bad >:[ " and tear down any idea presented because its not complete and total destruction of the current economic model.

The result just feels like an echo chamber where no actual solutions get presented other than someone posting whole ass dissertations on their 33-step (where 30/33 steps are about as vague as “we’ll just handle it”) plan to fully convert the world to an anarchist commune.

Edit: I still vastly prefer Lemmy and the fediverse and a whole, my complaint here is that many of you are TOO INTENSE. You blow up small scale discussion.

  • Jaytreeman@kbin.social
    1·
    6 months ago

    I appreciate that.
    The internet in general is pretty negative. Something you said earlier reminded me of a quote that stuck with me. I can’t remember who said it but ‘the future is built on the present. What are you building today?’
    It’s easy to complain, it’s probably my favorite hobby, but what can we do to smash capitalism? Personally, I think it’s co-ops. Worker co-ops. Housing co-ops. Service co-ops. Let’s shed our corporate overlords and build something for eachother.
    What are you doing? What do you think we should be moving towards?

    • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
      1·
      6 months ago

      Cool quote. Funny you mention Co-ops. I was thinking about that not long ago.

      Some of the issues and problems, as I understand them, include:

      • Infinite growth incentive due to stock markets inherently demanding ever greater returns
      • Externalized costs resulting in tragedy of the commons
      • Corporations as entities permit infinite wealth accumulation vs people who can only build wealth generationally.
      • In many areas, like healthcare, profit is at cross-purposes with the service or product provided.
      • human greed rather than generosity and sense of community is the driving force behind our economy leading to exploitation and stratification

      I think corporations and the stock market were a colossal mistake. Entities that become too wealthy become powerful through regulatory capture and then wreak havoc with impunity. Whether it’s the Dutch East India Company or Apple or Nestle or whatever.

      I recognize that vast capital is needed to accomplish some beneficial things. But capitalists aren’t the only source of capital. I think a lot of the high dollar endeavors with public benefits like medical research, should be socialized.

      I think any field where the product or service is at odds with profit maximization should be socialized. So healthcare, safety products, stuff like that.

      I also think co-ops are necessary. I think the means of production shouldn’t fall to the few but to everyone in an organization. We must get away from corporate fiefdoms with employers as subjects. Corporations have way, way too much power over employees. We’ve traded kings and lords for corporations, basically.

      I think we should do a lot better at building a culture of community responsibility, reducing childhood abuse and neglect that lead to dysfunctional and antisocial behaviors that lead to sociopaths running companies. We should have social programs to help people that become poor for various reasons. We should have social safety nets so that nobody has to get left far behind.

      Crime would be reduced by much of these things. But for whatever crime remains, the goal of our justice system should be rehabilitation. That isn’t always possible but the goal shouldn’t be punishment, vengeance, or profit for privately owned prisons.