Like capitalist, like communist, like lots of things you've heard about

I have to wonder how some people can love capitalism. I don't mean thinking it's the less evil of multiple bad economic systems, which I can sort of see. I mean actually thinking it's GOOD. I suppose some of my aversion to capitalism and business is based more on my own perceptions than on reality. Not ALL businesses are cutthroat organizations concerned with nothing but the bottom line. You hear a lot about this sort of business, though, and I think that, coupled with the god-awful business lingo, gives business in general a bad name. Similar things could be said about capitalism.

I think I would consider myself socialistic to a certain degree. I wouldn't say I'm a communist, but I would say that it's a good idea for a society to adopt SOME socialistic policies. For instance, I think it's ridiculous that we don't have universal health care in the United States, and it's even MORE ridiculous that so many people seem not to want it. I'm sure you all remember how Bush was yakking about how the American health care system is the best in the world, which is untrue anyway, but even if it WERE true that we technically have the best doctors, medicine, etc., how is that benefitting those of us who can't afford these things? I guess that's part of the general Republican philosophy that only rich people should be entitled to anything. That leaves open the question as to why people in poor states voted for the guy, but I think that's a question that will never be sufficiently answered. But, getting back to the subject at hand, didn't the Declaration of Independence identify Life as an inalienable right? How can people who think it's perfectly all right to deny life-saving health care to the poor say they're in favor of life? I guess, when you get right down to it, our country has always been somewhat of an oligarchy. I have to wonder whether those who oppose universal health care realize how cruel and hypocritical they're being, though.

So, yeah, I think people should be guaranteed health care, food, and shelter. I guess I'm somewhat undecided on luxury items. While it would be nice for everyone who wants one to get a free GameCube and high-definition TV, would the logistics really work out? I don't know. As with world peace and international cooperation, though, I think this is an ideal that we probably won't be able to achieve anytime in the near future. We should be working toward it, though, and it seems like the modern United States is trying to stay as far away from it as possible.

The main problem, as I see it, is that our society and government have the apparent tendency to view businesses are more important than people. It doesn't matter how many people lose their jobs, or whether prices are outrageous, as long as companies are making money. Of course, the companies will also fight each other. You hear about how competition keeps prices down, and sometimes it does, but when a company takes competition to its logical extreme, and eliminates its opponents, that's no longer true. It's kind of a paradox, really. In order to keep competition alive, there need to be limits to it. That's not even mentioning that laissez-faire capitalism puts too much trust in entities that have proven themselves to be remarkably untrustworthy. It's the same way with trickle-down economics. If the government gives tax breaks to huge corporations, will it result in job creation and lower prices? Well, it technically could, but only if those who run the corporations decide to use their extra money that way. And I have a sneaking suspicion that quite a few of them won't.