Benjamin Franklin predicted "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." How right he was.

Capitalism is not bankrupt, Capitalist in some cases are. The world is a tough place, but no system has ever come close to capitalism in producing prosperity for the greatest number of people. Our poor are wealthy compared to the needy in other countries , Go to Mumbi, Ja****a almost anywhere in urban africa and then reflect on the concept of poverty. The rich can only do a few things with their money; spend it(producing jobs and employment) give it away( helping others that are not so rich) or invest( providing the capital to build and grow commerce=jobs and income to others).

Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and 18 to 20 other Capitalists have just vowed to give at least half of the fortunes to charity. Hard to imagine that action as morally bankrupt.

I usually don't chime in in this kind of stuff, but isn't this all just hateful political opinions of some people. I know you can get half the people to lean left and half to lean right. I think that is good. Since we are all in the same boat, if we all leaned the same way we would tip over.

I really think this kind of political conversation hidden in economic or an article discussion is not good for the board.

Mom always said never talk about politics or religion.

I do not accept the OPINION that this discussion is political....let alone the assertion it is not good for this boaed!!!!
It is an economic discussion. Just because there is disagreement or differing opinions does not = political.

The real problem is insufficient discussions of what this country's real problems are. Not discussing them is exactly what the manipulators of today (politicians, executives, the media, hollywood, the ric et al) expect and thrive upon.

The more one knows about what is either happening or not happening the easier it is to reach a decision on what to do about it.

To hide behind the boogeyman of let us not discuss politics is BS!

Stand and be counted is a much better option than sitting in the bus and TAKEN wherever!!!!!

In my humble opinion!!!

btk

:agree:What he said! It's time to take a stand for what you believe is right and just and get heads out of the sand!

I feel very strongly both ways - after all, I don't like to argue.

I agree with you.

Actually, the slowing degrading culture is what is truly morally bankrupt. That point aside, the dishonesty that led to the Financial Crisis (and the ongoing QE "solution" etc) could be quickly cured by putting several CEO's in jail and impeaching some high level politicians.

That being said, American Capitalism has made more people well off and brought more of the common folks into the middle class than any other system in history. Even if one is a devout Socialist, the facts are clear and beyond dispute. Yes, the distribution of wealth is skewed but that's also the historical norm given the unequal distribution of talent and skill.

A truly morally bankrupt system is better exemplified by the former USSR and current Russian state, or my personal favorite, Venezuela. The current strong man and ignorant former bus driver is travelling on the same path that Mugabe book in Zimbabwe. Everybody gets screwed in that process except the politically connected and super rich.

Excellent post and spot on.

I have a friend who is a medical foster parent with his wife. He told me yesterday about. New baby he has, who is very sick as the mother was a twenty five year old crack head and alcoholic. The baby has HIV and aids. There is a couple who wants to adopt the baby but, the fifty year old father is using legal aid to fight for custody.

My friend told me that the father had no interest in the child till he found out that if he had custody then he would get about $600 a month.

The real problem is that the father is from Jamaica and can't read or write. He thinks his son just has a cold and that is why he has difficulty breathing.

So tens of thousand of our tax dollars spent to protect the child from his own fathers ignorance. Since he can't read what is on the ten plus pill bottles the child has, my friend said if the father gets custody the child will be dead in a few months.

This whole story is just one more example of what is wrong with the world. No personal responsibility. No ethics. People not caring about one another.

Everyone in it for the buck. From the 1% to the last percent. The only thing we can expect from our politicians is to lie to us to gain power, money and perhaps a place in history. Which they spend the rest of there lives to rewrite.

This is all true for both sides of the isle.

But if we think we have it bad read some historical fiction or historical romance. Things were much worse back in history.

So I say God bless America. No mater what it's still the best place on earth.

Agreed

Agree

Agree

American Capitalism is just PLAIN GREED!

Do you find communism to be a better choice?