Quality of life & equality under capitalism

[tao_oat]

An argument I often hear is that capitalism improves the living standard globally, and while we may not become more equal, the quality of life of the poorest still improves more under capitalism than it would otherwise. I'm never sure how to respond to this - I'm not well-read enough, but it certainly goes against my intuitions. What would you say to this? And can you recommend any sources for further reading?

[Црвена]

Considering that modern capitalist society has the capacity to produce so much, and its production capacity is always increasing, it's a wonder that the living standards of the poorest people are improving as slowly as they are. I mean, homelessness coexists with empty homes, resources are poured into wars, competition and cleaning up after economic crises while people have to deal with austerity, in some of the poorest countries all money and resources go to rich foreigners and corrupt political elites while there isn't enough left to fund basic sanitation and more food is produced per day than the entire global population needs yet there are still nearly 900 million people without enough to eat. If the market wasn't so awful at allocating resources, the quality of life of the poorest would improve by much more and much more quickly.

[Vogel]

in the US, the richest country in the world, 50 million out of 318 million live in poverty. 100 million more are poor (which is kinda still close to poverty). 47% of Americans have little too no disposable income. The average wage in the world has declined, hence global recession. Because capitalism is moving from its old centers where it grew up (North America, Eu, Japan), workers in these centers are accepting dramatically lower incomes for jobs. In the developing countries where they are moving, the incomes are not rising at an equal rate as falling in the old centers. Hence global depression in wages.

Even in countries where the economy is growing, the people see almost none. In Nigeria, one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, 60% of its population live in poverty of under 1$ a day. GDP grows, people starve. Eko Atlantic (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2014/jan/21/new-privatized-african-city-heralds-climate-apartheid). All imma say.

[Cliff Paul]

An argument I often hear is that capitalism improves the living standard globally, and while we may not become more equal, the quality of life of the poorest still improves more under capitalism than it would otherwise. I'm never sure how to respond to this - I'm not well-read enough, but it certainly goes against my intuitions. What would you say to this? And can you recommend any sources for further reading?

Serfs in the 1300s were generally better off then serfs in the 1200s - so the fact that workers are better off in 2000 than they were in 1900 doesn't mean much.

[ñángara]

An argument I often hear is that capitalism improves the living standard globally, and while we may not become more equal, the quality of life of the poorest still improves more under capitalism than it would otherwise... That's a "hasty generalization". Even in the U.S. the household incomes don't pace with the gross domestic income, above all since the falling of the USSR (no need to rise the living standard to prevent the "red menace"). Actually there are countries where living standards are worst than ever (for instance, the 3 big southern peninsulas of Europe Spain-Portugal, Italy and Greece, Mexican campesinos).

[Comrade Strong]

Capitalism has improved the lives of many people, just as feudalism did before it. Capitalism was once a progressive force and the productive forces under capitalism have continued to improve.

However this doesn't mean that capitalism remains progressive. It is in fact now a conservative force, and it is withholding from the majority of people a vast improvement of their living standards, the likes of which capitalism itself generated when it overthrew feudalism.

It is true that capitalist development has improved many peoples lives. But socialist society would allow for an even greater increase in living standards.