http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=9781400083312&ourl=How-Capitalism-Saved-America%2FThomas-J-Dilorenzo&cm_mmc=yahoossp-_-plp-_-books3-_-How-Capitalism-Saved-America-9781400083312

The capitalism-bashers in this forum should read this book.

Synopsis

Whether it’s Michael Moore or the New York Times, Hollywood or academia, a growing segment in America is waging a war on capitalism. We hear that greedy plutocrats exploit the American public; that capitalism harms consumers, the working class, and the environment; that the government needs to rein in capitalism; and on and on. Anticapitalist critiques have only grown more fevered in the wake of corporate scandals like Enron and WorldCom. Indeed, the 2004 presidential campaign has brought frequent calls to re-regulate the American economy.

But the anticapitalist arguments are pure bunk, as Thomas J. DiLorenzo reveals in How Capitalism Saved America. DiLorenzo, a professor of economics, shows how capitalism has made America the most prosperous nation on earth—and how the sort of government regulation that politicians and pundits endorse has hindered economic growth, caused higher unemployment, raised prices, and created many other problems. He propels the reader along with a fresh and compelling look at critical events in American history—covering everything from the Pilgrims to Bill Gates.

And just as he did in his last book, The Real Lincoln, DiLorenzo explodes numerous myths that have become conventional wisdom. How Capitalism Saved America reveals:

• How the introduction of a capitalist system saved the Pilgrims from starvation
• How the American Revolution was in large part a revolt against Britain’s stifling economic controls
• How the so-called robber barons actually improved the lives of millions of Americans by providing newer and better products at lower prices
• How the NewDeal made the Great Depression worse
• How deregulation got this country out of the energy crisis of the 1970s—and was not the cause of recent blackouts in California and the Northeast
• And much more

Unfortunately they already have their minds made up and there's nothing that can be said or done that will change it.

Capitalism is no more a savior or curse than socialism. The issues arise with the culture of the INDIVIDUALS running the system. Sooner or later GREED seeps in and things go to hell Then people get sick of it and try to change it around and things look better, than people get comfortable and start feeling entitled and stop trying to do anything or maintain anything and everything falls to crap,,,,

and the cycle repeats and repeats whatever label you give to the government overseeing it

I see you haven't read the book, or even the preview.

Believe it nor not, some of us learned capitalism the hard way-- being in business for ourselves. You know what they say, right?

"Those that can, do. The rest teach."

Because when you learn it the hard way, you find that there all kinds of pressures and scenarios those nice, pat theories don't take into account.

Besides, this guy is just another right-wing nut job. I'll bet you didn't know he was a higher up in League of the South, did you? (Although the Lincoln bashing should have been a HUGE clue.)

From Wikipedia:


Somehow, romanticising the Old South, with its reliance on slavery, doesn't seem all the Capitalistic to me.

-Kerry O.

The richest 1 percent have more financial wealth than the bottom 95 percent combined.

This is a shocking fact.

No. I am posting just on the mainthread topic about capitalism. Judging by your love of reading, I am sure the book is an excellent read and that I would have respect for the authors opinion. My opinion about capitalism though,,,was all I was alluding to. :)

And what does that have to do with capitalism?

What people don't understand is that the world of true capitalism, allows the mathematics to work naturally. In this world it would be nearly impossible for even a monopoly to exploit the people for very long, unless they are providing a good service for a good cost.

Basically capitalism is nature.

Unfortunately we have only seen capitalism for a very brief period of time here in the U.S. And it was rid of long before the turn of the 20th century.

I still say, i find it amusing, all this hype about needing laws to get rid of monopolies so they don't "screw people over". Now, we have laws declaring companies too big to fail, and whenever they stand to lose money, the government gives them billions. This money came from the poor and wealthy alike.

Privitizing profits, socialising losses.

We still have monopolies. They are now just protected by laws.

Greed will be the final fall of mankind...

It very well could be...

I think overindulgence is a form of greed, and it is the underlying danger.

People love alcohol. They drink. All too often they drink too often. (Even people aren't alcoholics)

People love food. All too often, they eat too often.


It becomes more of an "I want" attitude than an "I need" attitude.

We all want everything, but need very little.

I don't agree, as greed can be a virtue (as Ayn Rand showed). Sociopathy, apathy, and ignorance seem to be greater threats.

And it can be, when it leads to drive and motivation.

But the damaging aspect, is when people get greedy, but aren't willing to work for what they want anymore. (Which falls under your apathy, ignorance, and sociopathy.)

This applies to all classes, races, etc.

Would you like your other half to be a greedy person?

Just sayin.

Depends on how the person channels that greed. If he uses his greed to create products/services that benefit others and turn a profit for him (as the typical business person does), this is good.

Ayn Rand is the cause of the current financial crisis.

Greenspan was her biggest fan and now he admits he was wrong, she was wrong, and he is a complete failure because of following her ideology.

Greed, by the definition I grew up with anyhow {An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth} is never a good thing.

When people take more than they deserve at the expense of others needs,, it usually is the decline of the community.

All you Ayn Rand fans and those of you who oppose any sort of government regulation really need to see the recent program on PBS Frontline called "The Warning".

It spells it out very clearly what happened in the unregulated markets and how it caused this current financial crisis.

You can watch it on-line at PBS Frontline....here is the link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/

I have always found PBS Frontline to be very informative and truthful.

More ignorance! Mercy me!

Greenspan was a Randian, but no other Randian Objectivist considered him to have followed Objectivism correctly. (For example, Greenspan abandoned his favor of the Gold standard, which was a core belief of Rand's)