You're getting somewhere! First, don't point your finger at capitalism as the problem. Second, acknowledge & understand greed and how it is inherent in all human nature. Third, build systems that minimize the damage done by individual or corporate greed. Check against consolidation, monopolization, and short term Wall St like thinking of endless growth. Four, make sure socialist programs exist to support everyone, and capitalism is not the only way to live, it's optional. When you think like that, the European nations seem to be doing things quite alright, but they are still vulnerable to greed. And so they must be vigilant against greed, not capitalism.

[–] JeSuisUnHombre@lemm.ee 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

First, don't point your finger at capitalism as the problem.

You already lost me

Second, acknowledge & understand greed and how it is inherent in all human nature.

I would rather acknowledge and encourage humans inherent nature to cooperate and grow together.

Third, build systems that minimize the damage done by individual or corporate greed.

Like building an economy that doesn't inherently reward greed? I wonder what that would look like.

Check against consolidation, monopolization, and short term Wall St like thinking of endless growth.

These things exist because of capitalism

Four, make sure socialist programs exist to support everyone

That's social welfare. Being socialist means the workers own the means of production

capitalism is not the only way to live, it's optional

It's so easy to live in the USA and just not do capitalism /s

the European nations seem to be doing things quite alright

Do you understand that their wealth was pillaged from the global south?

Can you give me a description of what makes socialism bad solely based on how it works (not referencing any country who may have attempted it)?

[+] fakir@lemm.ee -8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

First, don’t point your finger at capitalism as the problem.

You already lost me

I know, many here have have an automatic trigger on 'capitalism', but I appreciate you trying. I will try to respond sincerely.

Second, acknowledge & understand greed and how it is inherent in all human nature.

I would rather acknowledge and encourage humans inherent nature to cooperate and grow together.

Me too! Cooperation is the good against the evil of greed. But greed still exists, you can't wish it away, you have to strategize against.

Third, build systems that minimize the damage done by individual or corporate greed.

Like building an economy that doesn’t inherently reward greed? I wonder what that would look like.

Greed is rewarded in every economy.

Check against consolidation, monopolization, and short term Wall St like thinking of endless growth.

These things exist because of capitalism

No, they exist because of greed & corruption and failure of systems to contain those things.

Four, make sure socialist programs exist to support everyone

That’s social welfare. Being socialist means the workers own the means of production

No, socialist systems like free housing, healthcare, education can exist alongside capitalism. Worker owned systems like cooperatives still operate in a market.

capitalism is not the only way to live, it’s optional

It’s so easy to live in the USA and just not do capitalism /s

It's impossible in the USA, I'm with you.

the European nations seem to be doing things quite alright

Do you understand that their wealth was pillaged from the global south?

Yes, the British East India company uprooted my own ancestors and erased all culture. I'm against imperialism as much as you, but this has nothing to do with it.

Can you give me a description of what makes socialism bad solely based on how it works (not referencing any country who may have attempted it)?

Lack of standardization means you can't be sure of what you're getting. Is the milk from this farmer as good as the other farmer?
Same price for same good means lack of incentive to improve / innovate. Why grass feed your cows when milk will only sell for a set fixed price?
Markets will still exist, you can't wish them away. It's human nature. I want to make cake and feed you, but I still need to buy the ingredients, invest the capital, take the risk. Capitalism just rewards that risk.
Greed still exists, maybe I can add a little water to the milk, huh, who will ever find out?
Corruption still exists and without checks & balances, a centrally controlled system is very likely to being corrupted at the core.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The first half of your comment is attributing a static and supernatural quality to the concept of "greed" in a manner that obfuscates the underlying material structures, and why greed is expressed in different ways and degrees depending on the system. This is wrong.

Secondly, Social Programs are not Socialism. Socialism is an economy where Public Ownership is the principle aspect of the economy, while Capitalism is where Private Ownership is the principle. Whichever has firm control of the state, large firms, and key industries is the principle aspect. A cooperative in the US is not a single fragment of Socialism, just like a market in the PRC is not simply Capitalism.

Now, for your five points:

This is not a problem with Socialism in any capacity. I truly don't understand what you mean by saying standardization is an issue with Socialism.
Price fixing is not Socialism itself, but a tool. Socialist systems can and do employ price fixing on some goods, but this is a tool that works well in some situtations and not so well in others, and as such Socialist systems can apply them where needed.
Markets are not Capitalism. Markets work well at lower stages in development, but gradually monopolize and centralize over time, making it more effective to publicly own and plan. You agree with Marx when you say you can't wish them away, but you imply they will always be useful based on a biological need to trade, which does not exist.
Regulations and oversight exists within Socialism, directly breaking the law can be punished and audited. This point is silly.
Checks and balances can be better implemented in Socialist systems where private individuals do not weild massive armies of influence. This is another silly point.

I recommend you read up on Marxism, I keep an introductory Marxist-Leninist reading list you can check out. If you haven't investigated a subject, why speak as though you have?

[–] JeSuisUnHombre@lemm.ee 4 points 1 week ago

Cowbee is mostly correct so I'm not going to address everything but there are 2 pieces I want to respond to.

Greed is rewarded in every economy.

That doesn't seem to be true. Like an economy that doesn't funnel money into individuals. Or even moneyless economies like Library or Gift. (Though moneyless economies imply we're achieving actual communism, going beyond socialism)

No, socialist systems like free housing, healthcare, education can exist alongside capitalism. Worker owned systems like cooperatives still operate in a market.

Are you talking about free housing (etc) programs being managed as a cooperative, alongside a commodities market of cooperatives? If yes, that's not capitalism, that's socialism. If no, then you must be talking about a welfare state like what's in Scandinavia, which isn't socialist.

Kind of relevant to both points, there are a few different schools of socialism so you could see if any make more sense to you.