Friday, February 10, 2012

Devil's Dilemma: Socialism vs. Capitalism


I think there are more than two general choices (unbridled capitalism on the one side and forced redistribution of wealth and government ownership of key industries on the other side).  What is the third and fourth choice?  Putting that aside, I agree that teaching children something different is the answer.  But, that is based on the choice society makes.  Right now we teach children(mostly through our modeling but by instruction) that they are on their own, if you can compete well you, individually will win,  the greater the  genius, the greater individual financial rewards, the greater personal management, the greater individual financial rewards, the more strength and physical skill, the greater individual rewards, etc., etc.  If we could teach the children(as a new choice) that each person's individual prosperity (based on his or her talents) should be used to benefit the village or society as a whole, a collaborative yet hard working society could be created.  But, I haven't decide if the lure of self-interest can be replaced by good desires for one's fellowman.  That is the question.  But, if it was taught and modeled from a child's youth could it work?

Dad

-----Original Message-----
From: JAMES NEPHI NELSON [mailto:j.n.nelson@utah.edu]
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 3:07 PM
To: Nelson, Scott R.
Subject: RE: Interesting Article

Yeah, I have been seeing a lot of statistics about the distance between the classes is increasing.  CEOs are making more money while the normal grunt employees are making less and less.   I think this is going to become a bigger and bigger problem if it continues.  Distribution of wealth problem should be solved by the wealthy trickling down their money but in this day they are keeping it to themselves, probably because they are scared of losing it in this economy. 

The solution I think can go either way, which would either be head towards socialism or keep to the capitalism roots.  The in between our country is currently in isn't working.   I am not sure what is better, and I personally would rather go for the more capitalism approach, with small government and minimum regulation to the private sector.  But I do not think this will work for the future.  The problem comes down to as one of my professors put it, "being born in the cage of capitalism."  So socialism may be the escape for the next generation but this transition has to happen slowly starting with shaping children with how socialism works.

The answer to your original question is that people are willing to pay more.  Price=how much the customer is willing to pay

James
________________________________________
From: Nelson, Scott R. [srnelson@visionbankcard.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 3:54 PM
To: JAMES NEPHI NELSON
Subject: RE: Interesting Article

Isn't it interesting that a high priced car in 1963 was only $47,000 in 2010 dollars.  But now a high priced car is in the 70's or higher.  Have cars gotten more expensive or are we just willing to pay more?

Dad

-----Original Message-----
From: JAMES NEPHI NELSON [mailto:j.n.nelson@utah.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 12:34 PM
To: Nelson, Scott R.
Subject: RE: Interesting Article

Interesting, but what is the actual cause.  The article is making a correlation between if you have morals then you have money.  Could is be that if you have money then you have morals.  Or even morals and money are caused by a third unknown variable.  I expect the third variable to be education, which the article did briefly mentioned.

James
________________________________________
From: Nelson, Scott R. [srnelson@visionbankcard.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 10:08 AM
Subject: Interesting Article

It seems like a good set of values is found in the upper 20% of society.  A very interesting article.

Scott


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