To be faaair, the thread topic addresses US corruption, but it’s too difficult to avoid comparing our corruption to their corruption. Exploitation isn’t unique to the US. It’s a human survival trait, to capture the best parts of a resource before others do.
Leaders will be seen as weak if they pass on something profitable for ethical reasons, and voter reactions are generally more visceral than reasoned. Citizens are willing to tolerate corruption as long as it doesn’t make our country look feeble.
Along with attributing corruption to “wealthy corporate interests and dynastic benefactors” and like sentiments.
Suggesting that endemic corruption isn’t limited to capitalist countries shouldn’t be that controversial, but when someone is into screeching hysterics about the fiendishness of “this entire culture”*, it apparently is viewed as intolerable heresy.
*Roger’s only serious competition here when it comes to random, unfiltered brain droppings is Jim_B.
Actually, wealhy corporations and dynastic enities are not requisite features of capitalism. They appear to have used their leverage in the media marketplace to convince you that they are, but, unless you are an Alisa Rosenbaum or Ludwig von Mises anarchoprescriptivist, these concerns can, in theory, be greatly mitigated without abandoning capitalism. This is what people are assailing, the top-heavy power structures that have been becoming increasingly problematic for the past 4 decades.
In other words, capitalism is a very broad classification that can easily accommodate a lot of variation. To say that capitalism is being attacked suggests that you basically object to any efforts toward introducing stabilizing reforms to address the increasingly dangerous imbalances that threaten to topple our system.
Yes, I get the anxiety about policy creep, wherein you or I might get caught up in something that was not intended for us, and that can be a real concern. The alternative – doing nothing – is much more likely to have much greater consequences, though you and I are not going to be around to see those, so fuck it.
If so, wow, that’s a pretty bold claim. If not, then you are not saying anything useful or new here.
It’s not. However, your claim that anyone has said that it is limited to capitalist countries is downright stupid.
No, it’s your screeching hysterics that anyone said that corruption is limited to capitalism that people are calling you out for.
Eh, @Roger_That sometimes has some “interesting” and out there ideas, but at least he’s able to read a thread, and doesn’t throw around passive aggressive and unfounded accusations.
You know, as a very strong advocate for vaccines, I’ve enjoyed many of your posts over the years. This garbage that you are spewing now, however, well, I’m glad that you are not the only reference I’ve had for being pro-vax myself, or I’d be rethinking that opinion in light of how deluded you are.
Out of curiosity, what are you thinking to accomplish with your current drivel?
Well, duh, corruption operating within corporacapitalist systems in particular DOES often involve wealthy corporate interests and dynastic benefactors.
Nowhere in this thread AFAICT is anybody claiming or implying that endemic corruption operates ONLY within corporacapitalist systems, or “is limited to capitalist countries”.
I mean, if you’re just making illogical claims in order to have fun belligerently insulting people who correct you on them, then carry on I guess, this is the Pit after all.
And people wonder why Communism, the red-headed (pardon the pun) stepchild of socioeconomic systems, has never completely gone away, even after a century of mishandling by Altruistic Men O’the People like Stalin, Pol Pot, Castro… It’s bad enough when you can’t fight City Hall, mainly because of entrenched bureaucracy and just plain inertia, but when Mr. GotRocks can buy (or at least rent) it, that can really get you in the mood for torchlit mobs and Blood In The Streets TONIGHT!!
Do I have a solution? Wait till I’ve had a couple. Then the ideas start to flow…
