I have a problem with the presumptions that:
a) "the market" and "supply and demand" exist almost as if they were natural laws, like the law of gravity. They are not. There is no such thing as a free market in real terms, in the same way as there has never been any such thing as communism in real terms. Neither have been practised - only bastardised substitute systems loosely based on the concepts; and
b) the capitalist system is the only system that would afford us a decent standard of living. It affords a decent standard of living to a relatively small minority of the earth's population, and does this by the exploitation of the larger majority - with so much wealth around, how come so many people are still living in
poverty. I am fortunate that I fall into the relatively wealthy minority, but that doesn't mean that I have to accept that it is the only way to do things.
Bas_I_Am has a point, and he is entitled to put his point across. But, firstly, he seems not to be able to envisage a system where he wouldn't need to pay for his kids' college or healthcare and meds as it could be provided for by, for example a state-funded system.
Secondly I am disappointed that he chooses to revert to flame and insult to make his statement. That is the sort of ranting we see on political blogs, but it does nothing here except alienate people, imo.
That stance, for me, is the personification of Western Capitalism - arrogance, cock-suredness and an inability to entertain the notion of any other workable economic structure, perhaps for fear that somebody else might have a good point too, which undermines their belief system.
So let's rant and insult and belittle instead of engaging, cos that way we don't need to even consider what the other person is saying, much less question our own views...
