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The Political Satire/Meme Thread
- Thread starter Danoff
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UKMikey
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VolkswagenX
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Scrolling through that was like tossing and turning my way through a sweaty fever dream.
You don't like big business, I take it?
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A crisp Coca-Cola and a cheap Aldi donut, enjoyed in the shade of an air conditioned Toyota and the comfort of my Nikes will always be more likable than chlamydia.
It's possible to be in big business and be a human being. I'm actually fairly sure that's true in 100% of cases.
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So the moment you have an idea for a product or service with a big unfilled market and put it into practice you stop being human? Or do you get your demon horns when you bank your first bonus? At what tax bracket should I stop referring to myself as human?
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No. I have nothing against people with big ideas, nor wealthy people. I am against multi-billionaires, substandard wages, hazardous working conditions, avoiding taxes, exploitation, slavery in third-world nations, ordinary workers having no say in their company, corruption, greed, pollution, extortion, theft, and buying politicians and propaganda networks. It's that simple. I know it sounds cynical, but the majority, if not all, multi-national corporations, have participated in at least one of these behaviors. Some have even done all of these things *cough cough Koch brothers cough cough*
Danoff
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Gates?
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Bill Gates built his empire mainly through rapacious imperialism and resource extraction. The plastics, rare metals, and other pieces of the physical machines that are used in Microsoft product, not to mention the energy used to power the computers and lights at factories and office, were all extracted from the Earth in terrifying, damaging ways. Slave labor in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America, oil drilling, sweat shop-like factory conditions, the list goes on and on.
It's admirable that his foundation has donated large sums of money to end what he calls "modern slavery", but that doesn't excuse his immoral business practices. Exploiting workers and then throwing money at a good cause doesn't solve the problem; ending corrupt capitalism does.
Danoff
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Uh... so you think the personal computer is a net negative? Holy crap.
Oil drilling?
Ending capitalism? Wow.... you're like... fringe man.
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No. Are you suggesting that the only way the modern computer exists is because of the materials needed were extracted via slave labor? All I'm saying is, the thousands of laborers overseas who have this job should get paid adequately, at least. Would even that be too costly?Uh... so you think the personal computer is a net negative? Holy crap.
Oil drilling?
Ending capitalism? Wow.... you're like... fringe man.
Bill Gates may not have been directly responsible for oil drilling, but he has billions and billions worth of shares in companies that do drill oil, as well as using other fossil fuels. To be fair, it is very admirable that he wants to ban fracking and take action on climate change, but like I said, that doesn't excuse the fact that by owning shares in these corporations, he's complicit in the system.
Ending corrupt capitalism doesn’t mean that a Bolshevik revolution is the only option. Come on, really? I support a market economy and not a planned one, but the exploitative and immoral system we have now in which menial workers are grossly underpaid while CEOs and upper level management are making millions and billions can not exist. We need stronger unions/ workers co’ops, and aspects of syndicalism in the workplace. Upper level management shouldn’t be abolished, but the average worker must have more of a say in their workplace conditions. There would be tighter restrictions on corporations as well, such as higher emission laws, and they can’t continue to donate millions and millions to politicians through super-PACS and fund disinformation outlets like PragerU. The whole system needs a drastic overhaul.
My opinions of capitalism are basically those of Bernie Sanders/AOC/Robert Reich. Market economy is OK, corruption is not, and there would be democratic socialism alongside it. Not quite sure how a progressive movement that millions of Americans support is “fringe”. I hope you have that same energy when it comes to the reactionary right.
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- Bratvegas
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Bill Gates breathes the same air that was once extant during Hitler's lifetime but you can't blame Gates for the Third Reich.
Spoiler Alert: You can't blame e v e r y single bit of minutiae on someone, even if you can chain link them. Some things? Sure. Lots of things? In some cases, yeah. But not everything. At some point the number of degrees of separation becomes too great.
Spoiler Alert: You can't blame e v e r y single bit of minutiae on someone, even if you can chain link them. Some things? Sure. Lots of things? In some cases, yeah. But not everything. At some point the number of degrees of separation becomes too great.
Danoff
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Shares...using fossil fuels... I mean...
So if he owns shares in Tesla that fits your description. There are people on this forum that own shares in Tesla, does that make them lawful evil? I filled up my car the other day, does that make me evil?
I actually have a kickback lease to oil that I apparently own. Am I evil?
I'd think you'd want someone like that owning shares of those companies.
Well it sounded like you were calling capitalism corrupt. But I suppose instead you meant that only the corrupt form of capitalism must be eliminated... which makes me wonder what you think is corrupt and whether it's really capitalism.
I do.
ROAD_DOGG33J
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I find it odd (okay not that odd) that you didn’t include those who purchase products from said evil corporations in your “evil people” list.
Unless of course you go out of your way to only buy local?
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Are you seriously using the "you still do this so you can't criticize it" argument? I've heard many times, "you can't criticize capitalism, you're using an iPhone" or "how can you support climate change while riding in a gasoline powered car and taking 15-minute showers"
The issue with this argument is that it blames the average Joe for complex problems, rather than institutions with higher influence like the richest people on earth, big corporations, government, etc. In our current system, where products from large corporations are almost always better, cheaper, and more convenient than smaller ones, peoples' choices are often limited. You mention how "going out of your way to buy local" is a possible remedy, which I agree with, shopping local is great, but the reality is, it's more expensive than WalMart or Amazon, and if you're someone on a lower income every penny counts. People who hate capitalism still participate in systems which make the billionaires richer, and climate activists still do things which *slightly* add to the global pollution. But our energy should be focused on the big guys, not individual choices. Protest the fossil fuel industry for the planet's temperature increasing, protest big corporations for mistreating their workers, protest politicians for bailing out tax-evading big industries while hardly doing anything for the shoppes on your local main street, not the average Joe for minutia.
There's a massive difference in filling your car up at an Exxon once every two weeks than owning billions worth of Exxon shares. The former has a very minuscule impact on pollution, while in the case of the latter, you have a much larger influence on what the company does and how it affects the planet.
@Danoff to clarify, free market capitalism, like we have in the US, Singapore, and other places, is inevitably corrupt. Without necessary restrictions, the desire for as much profits as possible will always supersede the need to pay your workers well, pay taxes, protect the environment, not hijack the political system, etc. It's no coincidence that the countries in the world with the freest markets have the most corporate influence on their governments, and highest rates of income inequality. So yes, the capitalist system the US currently has is not only corrupt, but rigged and very unsustainable. It's late stage capitalism.
There's no perfect market economy in the world, but I'd say Finland is the closest to it. Big corporations are able to thrive and innovate while the little guy gets fairer wages, a much shorter work week, 8-week annual vacation, free healthcare, and more democratic socialist benefits. I know the Finnish government is very restrictive of corporations when it comes to the environment, as well.
That's what America should strive to be. That's what Bernie and the progressive movement wants it to be like. And the "Finland has a low population and is almost 100% white" argument doesn't work.
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Danoff
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You think I get paid because someone just wants to pay me?
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