Hi all,
I’m seeing a lot of hate for capitalism here, and I’m wondering why that is and what the rationale behind it is. I’m pretty pro-capitalism myself, so I want to see the logic on the other side of the fence.
If this isn’t the right forum for a political/economic discussion-- I’m happy to take this somewhere else.
Cheers!
Because? If it’s free market and people actually cared about climate then they’d boycott the businesses which aren’t doing their part. Otherwise it’s not an issue with capitalism. You’re just arguing that you need to police everyone otherwise.
You can’t boycott the businesses that aren’t doing their part given that most businesses aren’t doing their part and the ones that are produce stuff that’s more expensive and/or less convenient.
Supply chains are also super complex these days and even the companies themselves don’t always report on them properly out of either incompetence or simple denial. That’s why every few years we get stories blowing up about tech firms using slave labour to build phones or food corporates ripping off third world farmers.
Working people are tired and worn down and poor and don’t have the mental capacity or even the capital to be able to micro evaluate every single purchase decision they make and think “hmm does this company or one of is hundreds of suppliers do their part for the climate?”
For some people it’s “I can afford to feed my kids if I use this cheap product from a company that does bad things or I can go without dinner this week if I only buy from ethical companies”
Strong top down regulation is the only practical way to make big companies behave.
And your second from the last paragraph is the problem. Clearly there aren’t enough people who care who aren’t in a predicament about whether they can feed their families.
Regardless of what regulations are put in place short of robbing the wealthy, thereby becoming the supposed villains, they’ll always find a way.
Anyway, one thing I’ve learned over the years is there’s no way to change your opinion or mine, not at a deep rooted level anyway. The minute people caring about capitalism falls below the other side, it’ll probably be outlawed.
Well this has been a refreshingly calm and civil exchange of opinions.
10/10 would recommend.
Are you serious? You can’t boycott concrete. It’s not a personal decision. You can’t boycott coal, oil, or natural gas either.
The amount of climate change you mitigate by boycotting single use grocery bags is a joke.