It has been obvious for decades that the logic of industrial Capitalism ends with the extinction of the human species. All that prevented Marx from listing this in Capitalism 'down sides' was the prevalence of Newtonian physics. The question is no longer if we are going but which of the many man made contrivances( atomic,biological,genetic,nano) is to carry us off. As the end draws near and is increasingly socially visible the last question will be. Is our demise a loss to this world(or any other)? Best prepare your answers now.

Enjoy as long as it lasts for you!

Come back to the Communism or the capitalism will destroy the world!

Just to add that questioning capitalism and moreover Growth is already a big movement in Europe (and coming un america), called "Degrowth". Here are some links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrowth http://www.degrowth.eu (International Conference on Degrowth) http://degrowthpedia.org/ http://thetyee.ca/Life/2010/05/05/Degrowth/ http://picnic4degrowth.net/es (International Picnic the 6th of June) Regards. Romain

Capitalism is the means by which consumption has been able to skyrocket, and though it is also the means by which birth rates in some parts of the globe have been severely suppressed, in net it has increased consumption and stretched it to clearly unsustainable levels within present technology. What is the solution though? Yes, socialism by centralizing authority in the government would make environmental policies easier to pursue. However, whatever the means by which we carry this out, the only to way to solve the problem is by reducing, rather than increasing, per capita consumption, reducing total fertility rates, and developing cleaner more efficient technologies. In other words, right now people have to become poorer, have fewer children (and/or, aghast, not live as long), and wait, for some number of decades, for technology and a smaller population to finally enable us to go back to becoming wealthier in a responsible manner. This is a justified course of action, it is a simple course of action, and capitalism stands directly in its way. But so do people in general and no less their leaders. They don't want to do what's smart, they want to do what's easy. So there is no chance of this happening because everyone is too weak to agree to the sacrifices required by it. Ironically enough, by slowing down consumption the global financial crisis may have been a good thing. Under capitalism, under communism, the problem remains a greater obsession with short to mid-term material prosperity than the long-term good. Rare geniuses give men the powers of gods but not the maturity to wield them responsibly. It's remarkable that we even survived the Cold War. I disagree just turning off unused lights and using reusable bags and cups would be enough; I think we'd have to make real sacrifices.

We would not make real sacrifices. As species we are not at the level to do that. We'll just have to face the ugly reality one day and go the way of the dinosours. Then there will be oportunities for new species on this planet, sooner or later. Nature is inpartial; that is to say, we're so important only to ourselves. BR Aleks

Precisely, what we all need iis more capital.

(Sarcasm) The answer to all of the worlds problems are easily solved using the principles of free market capitalism, here is what we must do. Firstly, all the major religions must get together and form a 'God Lobby Group' and of course... lobby God, they can financially support His/ Her/ It's campaign to be worshipped worldwide. PR campaigns in support of God's policies can be carried by Mainstream Media and all (Capitalist) Governments in the world Could form a military block that could be used as a worldwide quick reaction force to bring 'Godliness' to any deviant, failed or 'ungodly countries. In return, God would be obliged to grant miracles to the Corporate Religions lobby groups. Once God has been enriched with US Dollars and empowered with the Western World's military might and worshipped by all major religions, we can demand that He/She /It fix the worlds ecosystems and clean up all the filth that we have contaminated the planet with. They could lobby for the return of lost species, the cleansing of the oceans and the atmosphere, the return of forests, jungles and coral reefs. They could also demand that He/She/It give us an unlimited supply of oil and gas. And we want to know if Elvis is OK. So there you are! It's a win win situation for both us and God. God gets rich and powerful and we get a clean planet and unlimited resources :) NB - In case you are wondering, yes God is a capitalist, He/She/It must be because Communists are Secular aren't they!

Capitalism,is about the miniority control over its masses,Aided and abetted by its servents in the media ,and broadcasters,Capitalism,is about the priveliged maintaining they lifestyles,nothing more,nothing less.Anyway there is always the possibility ,someone one comes along ,and rids society of its people at the top.

Reply for Enrique. The persons like you show that the gulag were necessary!

It is not so much the Capitalism that is to blame, what we have been seeing for a long time now is more accurately called Corporatism that has falsely been labeled as Capitalism by the mainstream media in demonizing purposes. It can also be called Fascism as Mussolini said. "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the marriage of government and corporate power."-Mussolini. This is at least how i look at it. Take care folks.

I like capitalism. It is an efficient way to manage an economy. But it is dangerous to let capitalists have their way with no curbs - human nature being what it is. I am for a regulated capitalism, and the degree of regulation should be negotiable based on the problems or needs of the people working in the system. Pure capitalism is too hard on the people in the system and does not make enough allowances for those who need help. What we in the USA have had is a weakening of the regulations to the point where they don't work as intended or not at all. We have plenty of regulatory agencies, but they only operate on small businesses that cannot pay for lawyers to find those big loopholes. Meanwhile lobbyists hired by the massive corporations can get their pets in Congress to call off the regulators or threaten their budgets if they don't "play along" with the big boys. The result is capitalism for a few and serfdom for the many. Time to clean house.

You guys failed to remember that it was this kind of thinking which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The world is a dynamic place with people with different needs and means. Trying to regulate those "means" and deciding who needs "what" is basically centrally planning policy, tried and failed in all former communist countries. Capitalism is not perfect, but it is the nature of things, of basic human desires to want "more". Without it, there could not be creativity, which again, is the credo of human civilization. Just fix things where they need fixing, but yearning for a socialist paradise is just pure stupidity. By the way, isn't the real reason Russia is doing better these days because of practiced free market policy?

Reply for egor. Before saying that the Communist are stupid, read "The capital" of Karl Marx!

To Mig 29: I did. And it resembled the rambling of a mad man, unimpressive and full of resentments of the establishment of that period, yet failed to recognize the basics of human nature. Karl Marx ought to be condemned for bringing so much sufferings to human existence by pretending that his opinion will save the world, far from it. There is particularly good reason why former communist countries quickly embraced "free market enterprise", "restructuring" or whatever you call it. So, stop dwelling on the "glorious" past and focus on the modernization of Russia, a REAL Russia that we all can be proud of -through REAL achievements that can benefit human kind, such as broadband Internet for all people, for example, and not whether Russia can build the biggest planes or submarines.

Reply for egor. It is necessary reading the books and understanding them.

Do all you imbeciles think your warped version of communism is superior to capitalism?Under communism the individual no longer exists so in effect communism is totalitarianism..just ask the millions of people murdered by your psychopath loon Stalin because they had a difference of opinion. The problem with the free market is that it is not a free market but a market controlled by similiar STALIN types in central banks who are no better than any other despot tyrant except they exterminate their enemies with impoverishment. None of your ideals or fantasy utopia theories are worth spit unless one of them involves praying or something because this system is already in place constantly evolving around your narrow views and catering for your simple generalisations of what is and what is not.Go back to worrying about whats on your sports channels or whatever keeps you occupied your whining about communism and all that rubbish. You lot are too uneducated and full of narrowminded views to be capable of how the world is ran today so maybe you should volunteer for slavery before it is forced on you..hehe.........AND YES ITS COMING BABY.....economic slavery and total dependence and non self sufficiency is on the menu and its either take it or starve similiar to your election process of choice between dumb and dumber.

May 14, 2010, 18:36, American wrote > Capitalism is the means by which consumption has been able to skyrocket, and though it is also the means by which birth rates in some parts of the globe have been severely suppressed, in net it has increased consumption and stretched it to clearly unsustainable levels within present technology. > What is the solution though? > Yes, socialism by centralizing authority in the government would make environmental policies easier to pursue. > However, whatever the means by which we carry this out, the only to way to solve the problem is by reducing, rather than increasing, per capita consumption, reducing total fertility rates, and developing cleaner more efficient technologies. In other words, right now people have to become poorer, have fewer children (and/or, aghast, not live as long), and wait, for some number of decades, for technology and a smaller population to finally enable us to go back to becoming wealthier in a responsible manner. This is a justified course of action, it is a simple course of action, and capitalism stands directly in its way. > Ironically enough, by slowing down consumption the global financial crisis may have been a good thing. Under > I disagree just turning off unused lights and using reusable bags and cups would be enough; I think we'd have to make real sacrifices. You go ahead and make those sacrifices buddy but you aint going to make the ones who caused the problems and profit from them do likewise..blah blah.your words are deluded and sound like some twisted social darwinian academic loon looking for acknowledgement

May 18, 2010, 11:50, Blackie wrote > It is not so much the Capitalism that is to blame, what we have been seeing for a long time now is more accurately called Corporatism that has falsely been labeled as Capitalism by the mainstream media in demonizing purposes. It can also be called Fascism as Mussolini said. "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the marriage of government and corporate power."-Mussolini. This is at least how i look at it. Take care folks. Hmmm..Bit out there but interesting although the comments are recycled somewhat..but nevertheless has certain truth except missing the fractional reserve issues that bear the main problem and interest bearing loans against gov bonds requiring a servicing of an increasing debt to non public shareholdings and privatisation of strategic assets..although this could bear resemblence to your label corporatism when the state has to pay for what it already owns.Fiat currency and trade in derivatives is the main problem along with large asset swaps but the privatisation of national assets is highly suspect.Although the rest of the simpletons on this forum may not understand that your short comments make some sense without boring us to death with geopolitics and fantasy social ideals.