General Discussion

OldBaldy1701E

(6,630 posts)

63. It's called 'capitalism' and we need to regulate the shit out of it immediately.

Reply to USAFRetired_Liberal (Original post)

Thu Dec 19, 2024, 05:06 PM

Dec 19

And while Trump is often seen as the face of this chaos, he’s really just a symptom of a much larger problem. He represents a deeper rot—a system and culture that prioritize power, money, and ideology over decency, justice, and the common good. Trump may come and go, but the forces that elevated him remain, and that is the most troubling reality of all.

The fact is that, during the late 70s and into the early 80s, we had a major paradigm shift in our society. We went from a nation in which 'business' (and its capitalistic mindset) was just a part of society to a business in which 'society' was just a little part of. Because of this, the concept of humans being the least valuable thing of any business and/or conglomeration has now evolved into a general societal attitude. And, their propaganda was so well run, we as a nation were and are convinced that it is a good thing.

We are entering the FO part of the equation. No need to whine about it now. We had many chances to rein in these out of control oligarchs and we let them convince us that our lives would collapse because their profits would. I know our current societal model will not survive because of the level of inequity, and that is a good thing.

What isn't good is the amount of suffering that will have to happen to get to the other side (whatever it will be). But, that seems to be what it takes to get the attention of the average American. We can thank our own delusion and stubbornness for that.

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eppur_se_muova Farmer-Rick

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I have no faith in America or our citizens [View all] USAFRetired_Liberal Dec 19 OP

This is a great read. I hope many more of us will see this and pass it on. OLDMDDEM Dec 19 #1

Agreed DENVERPOPS Dec 19 #33

Well, Germany did a turnaround. More recently, Syria. wnylib Dec 19 #60

I think they have so much money that they are immune to hardship. Evolve Dammit Dec 19 #70

Go to Protest March in DC or your State Jan 18th TigressDem Dec 19 #68

You and me both!! InAbLuEsTaTe Dec 19 #2

the economy exists to feed people, not the other way around. n/t rampartd Dec 19 #3

I lost faith in our fellow citizens in 1984 when Reagan was reelected. love_katz Dec 19 #4

You are correct... orwell Dec 19 #39

Excellent reply. love_katz Dec 19 #75

Jerry Mander..... Codifer Dec 19 #41

His real name: cbabe Dec 19 #79

Great book. It also discusses how the technology of tv brainwashes and addicts viewers. Way ahead of its time. cbabe Dec 19 #78

It really opened my eyes. love_katz Dec 19 #80

Mander was an advertising exec who turned against the corporate cbabe Dec 19 #82

And the riff-raff who support them... lame54 Dec 19 #5

The source of all the worlds problems.. Macrophylla Dec 19 #6

No one wants to talk about the 8 billion pound elephant in the room, CrispyQ Dec 19 #35

True johnnyfins Dec 19 #53

Excellent analysis. I agree. LoisB Dec 19 #7

I sadly agree with all of your points, but will add this. bluesbassman Dec 19 #8

Well said. A phrase which keeps rattling through my head is The Great Unraveling. May it be avoided. c-rational Dec 19 #9

Yea agree here. We definitely have a new bread of cats in our great country. bluestarone Dec 19 #10

Three things: racism, racism, and racism (and misogyny times three) Hateful bastards are such ingrates. usonian Dec 19 #11

You forget to add: "misogyny, misogyny, misogyny" to your "racism, racism, racism." hlthe2b Dec 19 #25

You got it, but to be "fair" to all their many (count them 2025) fatal flaws, it would be a very long list. usonian Dec 19 #26

"It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority." Lord Acton Ping Tung Dec 19 #12

They are nazis. Basso8vb Dec 19 #13

All the progress of the 20th century is being wiped out. Irish_Dem Dec 19 #14

Idiocracy came early orangecrush Dec 19 #15

Very well said. Full agreement here. RockRaven Dec 19 #16

I feel that way 4catsmom Dec 19 #17

The vast majority of Trump voters are fools if they think they won't be directly affected. Martin Eden Dec 19 #18

Sad but true. calimary Dec 19 #19

I feel pretty confident we'd come out of it, much like Germany did, if we had the time. CrispyQ Dec 20 #95

What they all said. Thanks. twodogsbarking Dec 19 #20

Well this is DU where we mainly complain about scapegoats TomCADem Dec 19 #21

I think we all know that mountain grammy Dec 19 #43

Why Can't MAGA Stay In Their RW Bubble, Blame The Media, Vote, and Call It A Day? TomCADem Dec 20 #91

Your point is valid. However....But...😎 it is awful hard to turn on the light after seeing the unbelievable walkingman Dec 19 #62

Excellent summation. love_katz Dec 19 #86

Kick and recommend bronxiteforever Dec 19 #22

I finally got there, to the place of Sommerfeld, with Germany. NNadir Dec 19 #23

Very well put get the red out Dec 19 #24

But, but Speaker Musk will make it all better... rubbersole Dec 19 #27

Don't you mean Dear Leader Musk misanthrope Dec 19 #67

I was quoting my queen - mtg rubbersole Dec 19 #88

Keep the faith brother. I respectfully disagree about all the progress we were making under President Obama being lost. William769 Dec 19 #28

What do you mean by "Last two generations"? maxsolomon Dec 19 #47

I mixed up the generations, I apologize for that. William769 Dec 19 #50

There's good and bad in every generation. returnee Dec 19 #64

I am sad to agree with every word. yardwork Dec 19 #29

Eloquent. Frank D. Lincoln Dec 19 #30

Agreed. anciano Dec 19 #31

And it's the people we know, our relatives, our co-workers, our neighbors. mtngirl47 Dec 19 #32

mtngirl47............ Upthevibe Dec 19 #40

She won't see her children lose SS or Medicare, or lose her pension. maxsolomon Dec 19 #49

Had none kairos12 Dec 19 #34

THE USA has been exporting this since the 50's IbogaProject Dec 19 #36

The greedy and corrupt have taken over power. An indifferent society have allowed GoodRaisin Dec 19 #37

I haven't lost faith in our idealisms, e.g. life, liberty, and justice. Festivito Dec 19 #38

"Christian" nationalism Nigrum Cattus Dec 19 #42

MAGA voters didn't "fall" for anything. SidneyR Dec 19 #44

No doubt this election sucked Tweedy Dec 19 #45

+1, I'll gain more faith if dems get a better amplifying network. No way these many people didn't understand how tariffs uponit7771 Dec 19 #51

We need to be that amplification network too Tweedy Dec 19 #56

As you said very accurately, Alice Kramden Dec 19 #54

The Movie Wall Street comes to mind with the phrase Greed is Good Beringia Dec 19 #46

Well said, and you're absolutely right wendyb-NC Dec 19 #48

It's Faux pas Dec 19 #52

"an American public that seems indifferent or asleep" Alice Kramden Dec 19 #55

Excellent - couldn't say it better. walkingman Dec 19 #57

I And Mine Are Healthier Happier People Because We Reject Faith And Believe In Nothing Instead We Examine Evidence MayReasonRule Dec 19 #58

Mega-dittos...... SergeStorms Dec 19 #59

"...but I believed the majority of people were caring and compassionate." 3catwoman3 Dec 19 #61

It's called 'capitalism' and we need to regulate the shit out of it immediately. OldBaldy1701E Dec 19 #63

Abraham Lincoln predicted... elliesmandt Dec 19 #65

Co-signed Blue_Tires Dec 19 #66

Please post this to Substack and Bluesky Jit423 Dec 19 #69

To (mis)quote from a few movies: Aussie105 Dec 19 #71

Well put. I agree. KR (NT). Pototan Dec 19 #72

This country is dying VanceFan Dec 19 #73

Preach! bagimin Dec 19 #74

Agreed, except I now believe that it wasn't indifference or people sleeping. ecstatic Dec 19 #76

Mad Max World Clouds Passing Dec 19 #77

I've often wondered what the end point is for fascists after they cbabe Dec 19 #83

They will either retreat to their underground bunkers or their space domiciles. What a sad Clouds Passing Dec 19 #84

Bunkers? You think we can't climb a fence? cbabe Dec 19 #85

End times dominionism Sucha NastyWoman Dec 20 #90

Yes. Like I said: insane. Doing evil thinking they will magically whip up good. cbabe Dec 20 #96

kick BlueWaveNeverEnd Dec 19 #81

Me either, I expect to be dead within a year YoshidaYui Dec 19 #87

My son looked at me and said mountain grammy Dec 20 #89

Erosion? Roy Rolling Dec 20 #92

I blame Reagan for starting this descent. no_hypocrisy Dec 20 #93

General Discussion rondawson Dec 20 #94

I am no PollyAnna Erda Dec 20 #97

American ineptitude cyclezealot1 Tuesday #98