Why the Phrase 'Late Capitalism' Is Suddenly Everywhere

Well no, not exactly. It's just I've come across arguments (really memes) about "late stage capitalism" that are fueled with snark but really nothing substantive to convince me of what their individual argument is against 'late stage capitalism' (like the completely valid argument you've just made) and it's left me with a bit of fatigue on the face of it being preached at regarding the topic.

I'll own that this isn't a perfect position to be in and I'm not portending it is.

Right, so you're advising the "if you don't like it get out" method... which is completely useless.

Whether or not someone likes capitalism, it's our current system and you have to make a living or some asshole is going to tell you that you can't get healthcare.

I think the fundamental reason people latch onto it as "Late Stage" is because they see the future of this way of building a society as very grim. And I am inclined to agree with them.

Capitalism is one thing, but fundamentalist capitalism, which is preached in the US (not followed, mind you, we have lots of monopolies and very closed markets), is something of a horror show of awful virtues. The trick is, capitalism in the US has ALWAYS been a horror show. This country was literally founded on the ideals of slavery and not paying taxes. England wasn't cool with slavery when we founded this nation, but we sure were. If this country wasn't founded on slavery, then the 3/5ths compromise would never have taken place, and we'd have ended the practice at inception.

It is a good thing that we now no longer have an actual price tag on the heads of human beings in this country, but is it really so difficult to see such a thing coming about again, with corporations as the "owners," and individuals as the investment properties? Apple was colluding to keep employee pay down, a few years back, showing this type of behavior already fomenting again.

"Late Stage Capitalism" refers, really, to early stage capitalism as it existed in the US: that view that money is more important than human life. That the only reasonable pursuit of humans is money. It beacons to the hollowness of the American life, where your job defines you more than any other single attribute.

Yes, there is no real alternative in our modern world. The term "Late Stage Capitalism," however, insinuates that there is a solution out there, and we'll be moving on to it sometime in the next couple of decades. What will that be? I personally feel as though we'll splinter into border less societies with their own crypto currencies, populated by people who live in the real world societies as ghosts, without tax-paying jobs or rent paying housing. Some sort of reputation-based world like a Doctorow novel, but with the real government still in place, but being ignored and circumvented by people in a million ways.

Think of this like a game of Civilization. You start as a dictatorship, but you can research better forms of government. Civ always stopped at Democracy, like that was the be all and end all. But that's just because humanity hasn't yet discovered the next good way of organizing large groups for mutual protections. We will, some day.

Perhaps they feel that the hand that's feeding them is feeding them feces instead of the promised food.

Or perhaps they feel that the hand that's feeding them while siphoning off their wallet is not actually doing them much good.

Capitalism isn't bad in and of itself, but neither is it good. When combined with proper regulation, it can lead to a lot of growth, while raising the tide for everyone. But when deregulated, or subverted with poor (or hostile) regulation, it results in... well... what we have today. Very few rich people building their fortunes on the backs of everyone else.

Criticizing something for lacking substance with an alternative viewpoint... lacking substance.