Capitalism And Violence

The soundbite criticisms of capitalism are legion, yet it’s harder to offer alternatives, aside from the vague notion of 'something else'. Despite the carnage of trying to socially engineer equality in the 20th century, nevertheless the myth persists that capitalist wealth creation is superfluous and money is readily available to a small number of elitists called a government under common ownership, who distribute, or simply print more paper. Ironically, the ones shouting the loudest against capitalism are often those dependent on the profits of capitalism to provide the welfare payments needed to keep them alive.

In the essay, “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor,” Garret Hardin addresses the weakness of our current society with the long pondered questions of “who gets to live the happy life,” and if so, “why are others born just fated to suffer?” These questions reveal to readers how “bias/corrupt” society has become, especially in global affairs. If one really checks under the radar of international activities it is easy to see how skewed the worldwide trade system is towards lining the pockets of those in power. The rich only get richer while the poor are exploited and destitute. People have long condemned such discrimination/manipulation of those of apparent “weaker and or vulnerable” members of society. Yet, at the same time, the

Aggression – ‘the export of violence’ – played a central role in the rise of the West. Military and naval superiority rather than better resources, greater moral rectitude, irresistible commercial acumen underpinned western expansion. This same aggression was on display during the American Civil War. Both the North and South were fighting for their version of democracy in the Civil War. Lincoln optimized this in his closing line of the Gettysburg Address, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Several battles for both sides added to the attrition efforts and almost achieved a decisive victory but fell short. America felt the effects of battles on the home front and the political twisting that came with a war threatening our own land and well-being at home in a manner that wouldn’t be felt again for another 136 years. Even in the labels placed by the opposing sides, The "War of Northern Aggression" and “The "War of Southern Aggression", conversely, the ideal of aggression throughout the war was evident. The American Civil War revolved around the idea of saving the democracy through a decisive battle and political victory that would attrite the other side into submission; these ideals are rooted in an aggressive military tradition.

There are several issues that Jerome H. Skolnick and Elliott Currie are trying to address in their book, Crisis in American Institutions. One of the substantive issues that they are addressing is poverty in a nation of wealth. Specifically, they are addressing how to cut the poverty rate in half. They put an emphasis on building a stronger economy, with more lively communities so that there is a better nation with no bad neighborhoods in extreme poverty and where stable work is a protection from poverty and a way out of it (91). This paper is going to talk about a major issue that Skolnick and Currie address along with their positions on that issue. They used data to help the readers understand where they are coming from. The paper will conclude with me explaining if their argument and data use was convincing along with my opinion on the subject.

To some, "capitalistic democracy" conjures up the picture of a utopia where the free market is accompanied by individual liberty and social justice. To others, however, the term is more like a paradox—despite tremendous economic power, the advanced industrial nations are not immune from the evils of socio-political inequality as well as economical disparity. Amongst the capitalist democracies of the world, it is an established and well-known fact that when compared with the advanced industrial countries in Europe, the United States has the worst condition of economical-political inequality and social injustice. Its government is the least progressive, and

In “Capitalism and Inequality: What the Right and the Left Get Wrong,” Jerry Z. Muller’s intention is to provide a history of capitalism that results in the conclusion that economic inequality and insecurity are inevitable. According to the left, inequality is the result of politics, which is untrue because inequality is rooted much deeper than just a generalization, and despite what the right believes, inequality is everybody’s problem, and ignoring the problem will undermine the established social order and people will begin to retaliate against capitalism itself.

Its heavy involvement in government is clear, and promotes inequality within society. ____ and ____ present the idea that a restructuring of society needs to take place to eliminate the corruption in government created by capitalism. The current system is “very much a product of government policies and subsidies” (24) they report. Historically, government has had some form of control over corporations, but modernly they no longer hold that power, and instead work to further the need of investors. They report that according to the current system, “the main job of governance is to make sure the profit system works smoothly” (26). This entanglement of capitalism and government effect how democracy presents itself in the country. Democracy is put in place to allow all to govern equally and have equal chance, but in the topic of the future of employment the conversation leaves out most

Capitalism is, tautologically, private ownership over the means of production. On face, the notion of a capitalistic society epitomizes the essence of freedom; ownership entails control, power, and potential for bargaining. I contend, however, that a holistic analysis of the capitalist institution exposes the foreground as an ugly facade. In short, I will show that capitalism not only brings out the worst in people, but also, sustains a pathological cycle of violence. I will first provide a framework discussion of my analysis, summarize the hypocrisies and development of capitalism, and then demonstrate the horrific result of value-driven trade.

Even though capitalism has its advantages such as fueling technological innovations, there are some downsides to it. For example, capitalism creates inequalities and clear “winners” or “losers” in society. However, some people blame the poor for their circumstances and attribute their economic misfortune as due to a lack of morality (Lecture April 22, 2015).Those who blame the poor for their “laziness” are unlikely to support welfare programs, such as food stamps, because they see those as handouts.

“It isn’t fair! It isn’t right!” shouts the victim in Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery. The same cry is heard in Michael Moore’s film Capitalism: A Love Story. Both narratives describe a system of blind obedience and conformity to a hierarchical social order without any possibility of freedom of speech, free enterprise, fairness, or liberty. Villainous acts are being committed against seemingly innocent victims.

Ethical Responsibilities of a Business, the basic premises based on Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Introduction & Discussion Atlas Shrugged is a Novel which was by Ayn Rand with an attempt to showcase the morality of rational self-interest by exploring the consequences of a strike by intellectuals refusing to supply their inventions, art, business leadership, scientific research, or new ideas to the rest of the world. The author supports capitalism through the promotion of intellectual capacity, hardwork, and free capital markets and portrays how a corrupt society that doesn’t carries ethical values downplays overall welfare of the society (Rand, Ayn 1997). Liberal productive minds are left with no option but to keep off the business activities due to deplorable unfriendly government policies

It is often said that violence begets violence but in the case of the novel “The White Tiger” written by Aravind Adiga it can be implied that neoliberalism begets violence. Where neoliberalism is political view that argues that economic prosperity and social justice is effectively maintained by minimal government interference and regulations. It is often said that violence begets violence, but in the case of the novel “The White Tiger” written by Aravind Adiga it can be implied that neoliberalism begets violence. Where neoliberalism is a political viewpoint that argues that economic prosperity and social justice is effectively maintained by minimal government interference and regulations. Aravind Adiga seems to be critiquing the detriments

Neoliberalism has a tendency to increase social inequality and this tendency is no accident. The rich thorough military force political maneuvering and the construction of mass consent decimate social infrastructure and break trade unions and social movements in order to cement class power. Proof that neoliberalism is more about class power than economic efficiency can be found in the numbers. The global picture looks, at least on the surface, to be very bleak. The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income . Income inequality increased by 32% between 1960 and 2005 in the UK and in the US it increased by 23% . Neoliberal governance often departs from the theoretical template, providing further proof for Harvey’s thesis that neoliberalism is a political project to restore class power. These pragmatic departures prove very beneficial to the rich and in turn result in increased inequality and poverty. Harvey argues that neoliberal governance has two fundamental biases which show how favouring class power trumps the theoretical framework. Firstly, in practice neoliberal governance always favours fostering ‘good investment’ over ‘good business. Second, neoliberal states ‘typically favour the integrity of the financial system and the solvency of financial institutions over the well-being of the population or environmental quality’ . The reliance neoliberalism places on

Rather than eradicate capitalism, socialism exists within it. Moreover, democratic socialism is characterised through the balance and compromise between free market capitalism and the Governmental state (Bernstein 1993: 142, Heywood 2012:128, Anderson 1985: 10). Marx considered socialism as a class movement, which is what subsequently played out in the political realm, once universal suffrage had been achieved. For previously powerless people it was the only peaceful way to be heard: “Electoral politics constitutes the mechanism through which anyone can as a citizen express claims to goods and services.” (Przeworski 1985:11).

Prevalent flaws within most modern democracies are evident in their social and economic systems. One such problem, in a system that advocates freedom to do whatever you please, is the consequential wealth disparity (Wong, Oct. 24 lecture, tutorial). Aristotle once said that, “democracy is the form of government in which… the free are the many and the rich are the few”. This highlights a paradox of democracy in that it attempts to be equal to all, yet often the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer, and an increasing wealth divide will influence governance. Constant writes (pg. 12), “wealth is a power more readily available at any moment… more