Friday, December 04, 2009

Capitalism vs Communism

Which way do we take our country? Do we stick to free-market principles and all the greedy folk who use the poor for their own profit? Or do we punch the greedy people in the face and resort to a classless society where the poor stand up and the rich fall down? Should we let men choose how to provide for themselves or create a society where all men have everything in life provided for them?

What's the difference between capitalism and communism? No really, is there anything different about them? Is one better than the other? Historically, I guess there is, but I'm asking in principle.

In reality, capitalism and communism are both merely different means to the same ends: having things. Capitalism allows men to create the things for themselves, and communism is a way to create the things for the use of all. Regardless of where the things end up, it's all about the things. The ends are the same, it's only on the means that we disagree. We all want the things, we just don't know the best way to get them.

Are the things really the ends for which society is born? Is the man who dies with the most toys really the man who wins? I would hope not.

What is the point of society? What does it work towards? What's the end goal? What is the sommum bonum?

That question appears to be of a moral nature and not one of business, but it's never addressed because we live in a postmodern culture that no longer believes in absolutes. And if there are no absolutes, then there can be no absolute ends, and therefore society cannot be based in anything but relative means working towards unknown ends. You can't examine the means without knowing the ends. How can you determine if capitalism or communism is better without knowing what you're trying to work for?

Perhaps we should step back and ask what the end goal is that society should work towards.

I'll give you a hint: it ain't the things.

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