Fixing Capitalism

[Bhud]

[chickenstrip]

[Easy-X]

If we put "Stocks & Shares" in the general box of "financial instruments" it'd be a start just to separate the honest from the lies.

According to market cap Tesla Inc. is worth >$900 billion but you wouldn't get anywhere near that if the company was liquidated so where's all the extra money hiding? As turnover is >$2 billion a year one might simplistically suggest the value is the market's faith in Tesla continuing to exist, continuing to bring in money and continuing to turn a profit. For how long? No idea in days/months/years but erm... $900 billion is a placeholder for timescale so long enough

"The Market" might be a great system to dictate what the price of eggs is now but it's also a mechanism for speculative future value of... well... almost anything Is it unfair? Is it all just some giant Ponzi scheme? Yes and yes but that's life. Coming up with a fairer system is like shouting at the wind: all attempts to do so have failed so far and look idiotic.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ribenapigeon]

[Easy-X]

[Bhud]

People are unhappy now - no doubt about it. Human needs have, for the most part, been met. The basic drive of mankind in the developed world is no longer greed but envy. It wasn't that long ago when common people had to use public baths, and they did so infrequently, and toilets, such as they were, were in an outbuilding. Overcrowding, squalor, disease, illiteracy etc. From a time when people were mostly malnourished and could hardly get enough to eat and had to walk everywhere, to where life expectancy is around 80 years, and people catch a ride or take private transport, and most health problems result from people being overweight. It's a huge leap. It wasn't that long ago when taking a trip to eastern Europe, Turkey and north Africa was a serious adventure requiring ingenuity, resourcefulness, stamina, social skills, basic linguistic ability and plenty of funds. Now, such a trip is within the purview of a student on a gap year, and a travel company will take care of everything. All covered. This is where capitalism has got us.

I would feel uncomfortable expressing this view on social media. People are hopping mad. They're absolutely discontent. They have physical infirmities, psychological problems, addictions, etc. This is because their expectations from life are astronomical and unrealistic. No doubt, there are problems. However, the market tends to fix them thanks to its ability to self-correct, i.e. recession and depression can occur and readjust supply, prices and inflation, but it would take a lot more to trigger complete collapse. Under a communist system, top-down management would require production and productivity in several different sectors. Which is cheaper? Labour or automation? Under capitalism, labour gets more and more expensive, and automation gets cheaper. Under communism, automation is nonexistent and you don't even buy it from another country if there is no drive. Therefore, you set the people (basically free, slave workforce) to work in the fields, to provide the food and other stuff. More stuff needed so you have something to sell? No problem - set more slaves to work in mines or factories. It's hell on earth - North Korea is a good example.

[Easy-X]

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[chickenstrip]