Human-Centered Capitalism

[Sherman A1]

Capitalism as an economic system has led to unparalleled innovation and improvement in the human condition. Many consider it to have “won” the war of ideas against socialism, but that simplistic view ignores that there is no such thing as a pure Capitalist system. And our current version of institutional capitalism and corporatism is a relatively recent development.

Our current emphasis on corporate profits isn’t working for the vast majority of Americans. This will only be made worse by the development of automation technology and AI.

We need to move to a new form of capitalism – Human Capitalism – that’s geared towards maximizing human well-being and fulfillment. The central tenets of Human Capitalism are:

Humans are more important than money
The unit of a Human Capitalism economy is each person, not each dollar
Markets exist to serve our common goals and values

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/human-capitalism/

[forklift]

1. Capitalism is already human centered

The products that corporations sell are for human consumption , tested with human focus groups, made so humans would want to purchase them, fulfill some human need and would die without humans buying them.

An overwhelming majority of Americans work for corporations as well.

Repackaging socialism as something else won't fly.

[Sherman A1]

4. Products are indeed for human consumption

and have a value set by a manufacturer which is either agreeable or not to the consumer.

But fo we not as a society seem to undervalue such intangible work as child care, teaching, social work, counseling, elderly care?

[forklift]

8. Those are not the responsibilities of capitalism

Nor can you force such things on a business.

[Sherman A1]

9. Not forcing anything onto a business

However, we can as a society choose to change how we value the contributions of different aspects of the our society.

[forklift]

10. We can but when government starts dictating to corporations

it is no longer capitalism. There are chores that government has to do and there are different chores that businesses have to do.

[floppyboo]

14. I believe capitalism can evolve for the better

Capitalism has always relied on a very basic ground level ideal of wealth(money) as a force for good, but initially, at least in a democracy, it assumed that everyone has an equal chance at making that model work. Democracy demands that old 'one-person, one-vote' thing, and has had to update the rules as it plays along. Look at anti-trust laws, for instance. Otherwise, you rush headlong into unbridled oligarchy. The rules are made by the biggest bully, and capitalism fails.

Regulation is a good lesson. Also, putting a monetary value on real work - let's not call this work intangible any longer - especially work done by women deemed 'woman's work/woman's place' during the embryonic stage of capitalism - is not only necessary, but absolutely undeniably the only just thing to do.

[forklift]

15. I support anti-trust laws and almost all Americans do

But .... the marketplace works for profits and creating consumer demand to serve the consumer at the lowest price, reducing the cost of providing goods and services and making the largest profit possible for the shareholders/investors who are also humans whose retirement depends upon their investments paying off in their old age.

This is why we don't see political scientists and philosophers creating businesses or running them. They generally have no clue and are full of idealistic "pie-in-the-sky" platitudes.

[floppyboo]

16. creating a business is one thing

then you need all the political scientists and philosophers to help you milk it, or, as is more often the case, to give you the idea that it was your idea to create it in the first place and then you absorb all the risk. We drink all the wine. Voila

edited for claret - oops - clarity

[floppyboo]

17. but more seriously

That kind of capitalist theory that you write about only works if there is a healthy consumer population. By driving prices down to help the consumer, the first and last to be on the chopping block is often the employee/consumer. So you shoot yourself in the foot.
There are some fun videos that explain the basic differences between Keynsian (think FDR-demand side) and Freidman (think Regan-supply side) economics.
They're both imperfect, but seems Keynes has the better track record for real (ie non-deficit) economic growth.

also - supply economics assumes fair competition. Fair competition requires regulation. It also assumes longevity (resource management/climate regulation) This is far from the label of socialism - but you're going to hear it over and over again as government takeover for the next 20 some months. Ugh!

[forklift]

18. What Bernie is proposing

IS control of corporate policy by the government. Manifestly so although Bernie has not yet published his socialist manifesto.

Americans will never go for socialism -- except the angry ones who are ready with their pitchforks and their torches.

Americans by and large believe in the American dream and aspire to be mega rich one day with hard work and a bit of luck. They don't want to tear down the businesses or suffocate them with a stranglehold of socialist policies.

Regulation to keep everyone honest and play by the rules, yes ... government takeover of corporations - a resounding HELL NO.

Bernie will not be treated with kid gloves this time. He will be pinned down and he WILL stumble - he won't be able to package his socialist dreams into something palatable to the American people.

[Mr Tibbs]

5. Capitalism as presently practiced is a cancer

IT is destroying the planet because it is unchecked. Capitalism is a threat to humanity.

In 2007 "Capitalism" collapsed the economy and stole 40% of the middle classes collective wealth.

Heavily regulated Capitalism is what we need.

[forklift]

12. Cure for the perceived cancer

Several airlines offer daily or weekly flights to Pyongyang or one can take a train from China.

Cost of living is low and the government takes care of EVERYTHING.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. Capitalism is flawed at its core because it is all about money.

Money trumps all other values. Money can buy you a ticket to happiness and heavy. Money can insulate you against the loss which is an inevitable part of life. Money drives a big wedge between you and the rest of humanity. Money becomes the yardstick by which we judge human value.

The only "human-centered" capitalism is the slave trade--which still exists all over the world including the US where babies are bought and sold and women are forced into prostitution.

If people are valued over capital, then it is not capitalism, by definition--unless you are a slave owner.

[Sherman A1]

3. So we cannot rebalance the equation without it

being slavery?

I have a more optimistic viewpoint than that. We can and we should rebalance the value of people over money. They system now in use is not working for the majority and needs to be changed to respect the work of the many who are marginalized by it such as care givers, social workers, artists, teachers, child care workers for just a few examples.

[Mr Tibbs]

6. I agree, it has to be massively regulated

At which point it can be sustainable.

[MineralMan]

7. This thread really belongs in General Discussion.

It's not about the primaries.

[Blue_true]

11. Respectfully disagree MM.

One of the major underlying themes of our primary is whether as a party we embrace the current capitalistic system or embrace some type of reform of it. A discussion on the merits and drawbacks of your current system and what could replace it is exactly one of the policy discussions that we should be having here in this forum.

[Garrett78]

13. Capitalism or socialism is a false choice. There are alternatives.

Cooperation Jackson (Jackson, MS) presents an alternative: https://cooperationjackson.org/intro.

Centralized/government control of the means of production is a non-starter. But so is a system that depends on infinite growth on a finite planet, a system that actually thinks GDP is a worthwhile metric--it isn't.

Also, fighting classism isn't sufficient. Doing away with systemic racism and systemic sexism requires more than a jobs program or a plan to end income inequality.The "rising tide lifts all boats" message is deeply flawed.

[floppyboo]

19. what does it require?

I see small victories which are changing inherited values regarding women, - small and slow. I can't really speak to the others. (Well, I see very little change with regard to native americans, and much of the change feels like guilt-relief without systemic change)

We've seen the right wing get impatient, and all around the world, these small changes are being ridiculed and erased. I see some basic economic policy improvements (Capitalism 3.0?) as a possible way to change that tide.

What is the answer?

[floppyboo]

20. I've been following cooperationjackson

And maybe that IS capitalism 3.0? I also like the term 'Economic Democracy' - perhaps it can take the place of the tainted 'democratic socialism' which is an unfortunate label. Big problems with using that term.

Economic democracy provides economic empowerment for all workers, distributors, suppliers, consumers, communities and the general public by promoting universal access to common resources, democratizing the ownership of the means of production, and democratizing all the essential processes of production and distribution through worker self-management and sustainable consumption.

Solidarity economy includes a wide array of economic practices and initiatives that share common values – cooperation and sharing, social responsibility, sustainability, equity and justice. Instead of enforcing a culture of cutthroat competition, it builds cultures and communities of cooperation.