Is capitalism really the only successful system of running a functional and properous society?

[loverboy10108]

Sure, as a result of capitalism, all of us have a lot of unnecessary stuff that we don't need, but makes us happy. Is there anything more to life than working n making payments for the stuff that is not necessaity but only luxury.

[Ben]

Yes. The only alternative is Communism, which we have seen fail many times. (Soviet Union, East Berlin.)

[MavistheMaven]

Capitalism has certainly pushed consumerism and materialism - making us buy more and more, and equating that with happiness.

Theoretically, a semi-socialist society could be functional, prosperous for all and could make for a very happy society. IMO, it would restrain corporate greed, giving some balance to environmental concerns and liveability. Everyone would get a good education, not one dependent on the taxes their community can pay. Standards of living could be high for everyone. I could go on and on...

[andrewclunn]

You seem to be asking 2 questions:

First, are there systems other than capitalism that can run a functional prosperous society?

That depends on your definition of prosperity. The benefit of capitalism is that when money is the means of power, power can be distributed throughout a population. Most other forms of economic systems either occurred before the invention of money, or require a strong centralized government that completely plans the economy. There is a lot of debate over whether a planned economy is better than free market capitalism.

The advantages of planned economies are that they can be more efficient if run properly and can take into consideration things that might not be able to be dealt with be separate individuals. The problems with planned economies are that they tend to consolidate power in the government to a point that leads to dictatorship and strict social classes with no incentives to get people to work hard and limited freedoms.

The advantages of free market or capitalist societies is that they allow for greater freedom for individuals and often develop new technology, ideas, and inventions because of innate competition and positive feedback (through profits) that the system has. The main criticism is that while some people win, others lose, and so capitalism will always have poor people.

So I guess it depends on whether you consider prosperity to be equality or freedom. Capitalist free markets bring freedom, socialist planned economies bring equality.

Your second question asks if there's more to life than buying stuff you don't need. Of course there is, but it's a common misconception that people who like capitalism only do so because they are materialistic.

[j2442j]

Capitalism is deception about ownership of companies.

There are all new companies, stores, restaurants, and banks every 4 years and an average employment duration of 1 year within false economics capitalism, (that is possibly a secret homelessness-without-health insurance death camp). Remaining solvent does not actually exist within false economics capitalism.

Get rich quick schemes in the capitalist business world, (buyouts, IPOs, conglomerates, acquisitions, mergers, and the stock market), do not actually work. Profit existing in the capitalist business world, or millionaires existing within capitalism, is pathological deception committed by the 21 organizations spying on the population with plain clothes agents, (with covert fake names and fake backgrounds).

Actual economics is the persons that are paying the business loans of companies voting at work in order to control the property they are paying for. The employees of companies are also paying the expenses of companies beyond the salary of the employees.

Capitalism is the psychology of imaginary parents, false economics, and the criminal deception of employees that are paying the bills (including the stocks and bonds, or shares) of companies.