sickboy
Active Member
Originally Posted by uneverno
http:///forum/post/3165964
I.e. at what point is Capitalism at odds with the Constitution?
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3165995
Never. A better question is at what point is government regulation of capitalism at odds with the constitution.
This brings up a good question.
On one hand, you could argue that the American constitution was created BECAUSE of capitalism. After all, the settling of North America was b/c of British Capitalists need for cheap goods. In Britain, land is in short supply, thus the need for the a large supply of land on which to grow cotton and other goods. If land is less expensive it costs less to utilize it, thus increasing profit margins. Because of the capitalist system, the producers were paid a price, dictated by the market, to the "home" country. The home country, Britain, wanted to tax American producers as citizens taking part in English capitalism the same as those at "home", but without political representation. So, in some ways, Capitalism created the American Revolution. The workers, which in 13 colonies terms could losely be call a "union", revolted against the owners in order to gain a greater share of the profits. So you might conclude that capitalism was always at odds with the constitution.
On another hand, contrary to popular belief, government regulation is exactly what ALLOWS capitalism to happen. Government regulation, also called laws, ensure personal property rights. If property rights, tangible or intangible, are not protected by a governmental unit, capitalism can not exist (hence socialism, and also why it is ludicrous to call any American politician a socialist). So, in a way, government can not be in the way of capitalism, as it allows and fosters it. However, it is possible for gov't to dampen "capitalistic growth." Regardless, you could conclude that it is impossible for the government to be at odds with the capitalist system as it provides the very social order that capitalism needs to exist.
Sorry for the rant, but it seems people sometimes miss the fundamentals.
http:///forum/post/3165964
I.e. at what point is Capitalism at odds with the Constitution?
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3165995
Never. A better question is at what point is government regulation of capitalism at odds with the constitution.
This brings up a good question.
On one hand, you could argue that the American constitution was created BECAUSE of capitalism. After all, the settling of North America was b/c of British Capitalists need for cheap goods. In Britain, land is in short supply, thus the need for the a large supply of land on which to grow cotton and other goods. If land is less expensive it costs less to utilize it, thus increasing profit margins. Because of the capitalist system, the producers were paid a price, dictated by the market, to the "home" country. The home country, Britain, wanted to tax American producers as citizens taking part in English capitalism the same as those at "home", but without political representation. So, in some ways, Capitalism created the American Revolution. The workers, which in 13 colonies terms could losely be call a "union", revolted against the owners in order to gain a greater share of the profits. So you might conclude that capitalism was always at odds with the constitution.
On another hand, contrary to popular belief, government regulation is exactly what ALLOWS capitalism to happen. Government regulation, also called laws, ensure personal property rights. If property rights, tangible or intangible, are not protected by a governmental unit, capitalism can not exist (hence socialism, and also why it is ludicrous to call any American politician a socialist). So, in a way, government can not be in the way of capitalism, as it allows and fosters it. However, it is possible for gov't to dampen "capitalistic growth." Regardless, you could conclude that it is impossible for the government to be at odds with the capitalist system as it provides the very social order that capitalism needs to exist.
Sorry for the rant, but it seems people sometimes miss the fundamentals.
