Some Evils in Capitalism

[hippiedude94]

I heard two men talking on the subway yesterday. I wasn't really listening to what there were saying until I heard one of them mention something "to fool people in the market." Now this got me interested so I kept listening. I don't remember their exact words but it was something like, "Yeah, we'll just use cheaper metal. Nobody will notice and if there is a recall, we can pretend that we didn't know about it." Just goes to show what cheap sneaks some companies are.

[LOLseph Stalin]

Oh, that's common. Capitalists will often use cheaper products to save money, especially in times of Economic crisis. Of course if these cheaper products break down we can blame them. :p However, they could just easily pull the whole "buyer beware" crap on us.

[F9]

Thats one of the most usual things you can find in capitalism.All try to reduce spents and increase incomings, as per capitalist system.So finding lower and cheaper quality materials and selling on the same price is every day happening, in most of things, and in things you can even imagine.
Its not something "new" nor "weird", its of the fundamentals of capitalism.

Fuserg9:star:

[A_Ciarra]

I want a return on my nail clippers bought one week ago, already the handle snapped. Must have cost them two whole cent's to make the thing, instead of four. :crying:

[heylelshalem]

thats what walmart is all about man. Cheap shit made by wage slaves in foreign countries

[Seodanrot]

You want to know evils in capitalism you don't even need to look far just look at some places like McDonald's Restaurant I made a video a little while back about it

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-OdPPqLwjc&feature=channel_page.

[rednordman]

Its interesting how you use the term 'some of the evils' of capitalism. This is because I do not believe this is a small part of the system, it IS the system. Trust me, if somehow you could look inside the runnings of every buisness in the world, it would definitly be an eye-opener. In many cases, the difference between breaking even and making profit, is exploiting safety by using cheap and dangerous equiptment and products.

Honestly, when you heard about 'capitalism saving the world' and all that, and actually look at how the market works, Ethics are thrown out the window at a very early stage. To get a completely ethical and responsible capitalism, it would have to be scrapped up and began again.

This is why when these corparations and buisnesses talk about helping poverty and the enviroment, it is generally just a front to look good.

[Stel]

A great evil of capitalism is unemployment.
The capital creates unemployment so that people will accept working more hours for less money.

[Pogue]

watch fight club

[Klaatu]

"I heard two men talking on the subway yesterday. I wasn't really listening to what there were saying until I heard one of them mention something "to fool people in the market." Now this got me interested so I kept listening. I don't remember their exact words but it was something like, "Yeah, we'll just use cheaper metal. Nobody will notice and if there is a recall, we can pretend that we didn't know about it." Just goes to show what cheap sneaks some companies are."

This is precisely the reason people do not like American cars. Before the 1980s, American cars were pretty good quality, mechanically speaking. Then something happened in the early 80s. The quality was intentionally lowered so that profit would improve. For example, I had an 83 Dodge Charger then. In that car, everything, I mean everything, broke down at one time or another. Should have painted it lemon-yellow. The thing is, other brands were similar. So the Detroit Three car companies lost market share to Japanese car makers, because their quality was superior. And so it continues, even though American quality has improved somewhat.

I used to work in a factory back then (a supplier for one of the Det Three) I heard a lot of "put the bad parts in the bottom of the box" and "when in doubt, ship it out"

Any wonder the capitalist economy is in the process of failing?

[RebelDog]

I heard two men talking on the subway yesterday. I wasn't really listening to what there were saying until I heard one of them mention something "to fool people in the market." Now this got me interested so I kept listening. I don't remember their exact words but it was something like, "Yeah, we'll just use cheaper metal. Nobody will notice and if there is a recall, we can pretend that we didn't know about it." Just goes to show what cheap sneaks some companies are.

Thats the way all capitalists think about the ingredients we use to make the products we need. They think of labour in exactly the same way.

[J.Yuan]

Come to China.

[Misanthrope]

I was talking to my father about one of his past jobs. He worked for a medicine distributor more or less. The company had a goal of sales for a given time. Once they reached that goal they would halt all distribution, regardless of death or suffering. I don't see why my Dad, a fiscal conservative would lie about this.

[Seodanrot]

You want to know evils in capitalism you don't even need to look far just look at some places like McDonald's Restaurant I made a video a little while back about it

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-OdPPqLwjc&feature=channel_page.


The reason I bring this up is because I used to work for McDonald's so I know the ins and out of it I know how they function and how they manipulate their employees.

[Seodanrot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-OdPPqLwjc

[Klaatu]

Seodanrot

Mickey D's isn't the only place doing that. The auto companies and many small businesses would love for their older workers to retire or quit, so they can hire younger, lesser-paid workers. The problem is that, many of these folks do not have good work experience (which is very valuable in some types of jobs) Many younger workers come to work drunk or high, too. (Something a married guy with kids to feed isn't likely to do)

I missed part 2 of your video (is it posted?)

[Seodanrot]

Seodanrot

Mickey D's isn't the only place doing that. The auto companies and many small businesses would love for their older workers to retire or quit, so they can hire younger, lesser-paid workers. The problem is that, many of these folks do not have good work experience (which is very valuable in some types of jobs) Many younger workers come to work drunk or high, too. (Something a married guy with kids to feed isn't likely to do)

I missed part 2 of your video (is it posted?)

I haven't made it yet. But I will if people are interested.

[Klaatu]

That would be a good thing. We need more film makers to expose the folly of capitalism.
Michael Moore is tops in this field, in this respect. Which of his films have you seen?

[Markie_G]

Wow

[Seodanrot]

That would be a good thing. We need more film makers to expose the folly of capitalism.
Michael Moore is tops in this field, in this respect. Which of his films have you seen?

Here is the second part of the video about McDonalds and Tim Hortons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMtNPFsvyyY

[Seodanrot]

Seodanrot

Mickey D's isn't the only place doing that. The auto companies and many small businesses would love for their older workers to retire or quit, so they can hire younger, lesser-paid workers. The problem is that, many of these folks do not have good work experience (which is very valuable in some types of jobs) Many younger workers come to work drunk or high, too. (Something a married guy with kids to feed isn't likely to do)

I missed part 2 of your video (is it posted?)

Micky D's is just one of the many places that is corrupted many big fast food and other large companies have there dirty ways of exploiting their employees and nasty ways of turning a profit.

[Seodanrot]

I think the best option here is to spend this to as many people as possible to let them be aware of this crap and for those who work at these kinds places and witness this kind of things to speak out against this bullshit. Tho sadly many would probably not for fear they will lose their job for doing so because for some it's the only income they have to stay alive in this world.

[Klaatu]

The solution is to form a union. (Not the "ideal" solution, but better than nothing)

[politics student]

The solution is to form a union. (Not the "ideal" solution, but better than nothing)

That can be a hard thing to do in some jobs....

I fully agree unions are a good solution and have issues. Depends mainly on your fellow staff and the company.

[LOLseph Stalin]

That can be a hard thing to do in some jobs....

I fully agree unions are a good solution and have issues. Depends mainly on your fellow staff and the company.

Yes, it can be difficult to get unions going with some jobs. Wal-Mart is a good example. They would rather shut down a store than negotiate with employees and form a union. Not exactly a place I would want to work, but I suppose many people don't have a choice. It seem there are alot of immigrants and such who work at places like Wal-Mart.

[Seodanrot]

Many places of employment would try to fire whoever tries to start a union like McDonald's and Tim Horton's

[politics student]

Many places of employment would try to fire whoever tries to start a union like McDonald's and Tim Horton's

Yep I have known friends who have had threats from employers given to generally to staff members... Considering they can fire you in most jobs I have had in the first 6 months for no reason. You have no defense from unfair employment.

I am just glad I have my heads in the clouds by avoiding employment thanks to Uni. Shame about my £21,000 worth of debts at an interest of 3.8% (non profit apparently) :rolleyes:

[Klaatu]

Some time ago, I was studying U.S. history, and found that there were huge socialist movements in the early 20th century in America. In my opinion, perhaps the workers were pacified by the following uprise in union power, thus a socialist-style government never really materialized in America and Canada. But if the present out-sourcing and union-busting tactics get workers pissed off enough (again, as they were then) hopefully we can see a resurgence of either unions or socialism, or better, both.

[khad]

Some time ago, I was studying U.S. history, and found that there were huge socialist movements in the early 20th century in America. In my opinion, perhaps the workers were pacified by the following uprise in union power, thus a socialist-style government never really materialized in America and Canada. But if the present out-sourcing and union-busting tactics get workers pissed off enough (again, as they were then) hopefully we can see a resurgence of either unions or socialism, or better, both.
It's a bit more complicated than that. Following WW2 there developed what became known as "Cold War Liberalism," which sought to merge capital and labor together in an anti-communist front. Some of the propaganda films following the war described unions as what made US industries strong. They were quickly incorporated and compromised, which was helped along by the pervasive fear mongering of the McCarthy era. Socialists were purged from union positions, and unions increasingly surrendered their control of the shop floor in return for higher wages, retirement benefits, etc.

It worked very well in that overall workers did experience higher standards of living in the 1950s and 60s. However, this development also meant that unions lost more and more leveraging position in the industries where their workers worked. The fact that these unions are embedded within capital is reflected in their political strategies. Today, American unions are most likely to invest their funds into political lobbying--they have hardly any street presence like the unions in say, France, do.