11–20 of 20 posts
This is a pathetic article and I'm ashamed to see it on a news site I respect. This leftist ideology is HN's Achilles heel.
True, that guy is so far out. The poor aren't responsible for production, they can afford more than a needle and a hammer. When was the last time a poor person build a railroad, a factory or a library? Edit: cleaned up.
This is a pathetic article and I'm ashamed to see it on a news site I respect. This leftist ideology is HN's Achilles heel.
Just like communism, capitalism is mainly a lofty idea which breaks down as soon as it is confronted with reality. This is true for every sociological model, including capitalism. Just like "real socialism" there is the de facto "real capitalism" which clashes with the theoretical model proposed by the theoreticians and its proponents.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just like communism, capitalism is mainly a lofty idea which breaks down as soon as it is confronted with reality. This is true for every sociological model, including capitalism. Just like "real socialism" there is the de facto "real capitalism" which clashes with the theoretical model proposed by the theoreticians and its proponents.
Communism is a terrible idea, not a lofty one. Capitalism is a lofty idea that is misunderstood both in theory and practice.
"Capitalism is a lofty idea that is misunderstood both in theory and practice." - what does that even mean? It definitely doesn't say much in my opinion.
Capitalism can be defined in many ways. If you attack capitalism you first have to define which definition of capitalism you mean.
Now, there certainly exists a public discourse about what capitalism is and means. Certain definitions are loudly being trumpeted from the roof tops. As someone with an advertisement background, I can assure you that the form of delivery and the presentation of a message usually clash with its intentended meaning. This is not about conspiracies, it's the modus operandi of people. How often are you truly open and honest in your daily interactions with other people? How often do you lie?
In this regard, a-Joon Chang’s talk would probably have been pretty interesting, because it seems to analyse certain assumptions and notions that inevitably come up when people talk about capitalism, especially in a western context.
For example, Hazlitt shows how inflation, even if not too high, is harmful for the economy and basically his arguments did not seem weaker - which confuses me even more. One thing Ha-Joon Chang does really good when arguing is showing a lot of statistics. That is definitely a very strong point of this book which even the most ingenious free-market economists would find difficult to stand.
Can someone please explain to me why a site that is primarily preoccupied with entrepreneurship is filled with socialists? People start ventures to make money. To create disproportionate wealth. Are you people just compensating for your internal selfish desires that you can't come to terms with? Genuinely curious.
Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism. Just because you want to start a business and earn buckets of money yourself, doesn't mean that you must be against a social safety net. Why would it?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just like communism, capitalism is mainly a lofty idea which breaks down as soon as it is confronted with reality. This is true for every sociological model, including capitalism. Just like "real socialism" there is the de facto "real capitalism" which clashes with the theoretical model proposed by the theoreticians and its proponents.
Communism is a terrible idea, not a lofty one. Capitalism is a lofty idea that is misunderstood both in theory and practice.
Can someone please explain to me why a site that is primarily preoccupied with entrepreneurship is filled with socialists? People start ventures to make money. To create disproportionate wealth. Are you people just compensating for your internal selfish desires that you can't come to terms with? Genuinely curious.
Having a healthy skepticism towards capitalism and the "free market" does not make you a socialist. I'm equally skeptical about rampant socialism. The answer is in the middle somewhere. An ideologically impure position perhaps, but a pragmatic one none the less. Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism. Just because you want to start a business and earn buckets of money yourself, doesn't mean t…
You're right, it isn't. And, of course, nothing is stopping a pacifist from joining the military. After all, he can get a desk job. What I want to know is why.
Certain personality types are attracted to specific ideologies and in turn, specific careers. Why is somebody who is fascinated with wealth redistribution and income equality spend his time on a site which is devoted to the exact opposite on a personal level?
Simply drawing a dividing line between society and the self is not an answer. Most people have a congruent perspective when it comes social policy and their personal policy.
Why are these people different?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having a healthy skepticism towards capitalism and the "free market" does not make you a socialist. I'm equally skeptical about rampant socialism. The answer is in the middle somewhere. An ideologically impure position perhaps, but a pragmatic one none the less. Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism. Just because you want to start a business and earn buckets of money yourself, doesn't mean t…
Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism. You're right, it isn't. And, of course, nothing is stopping a pacifist from joining the military. After all, he can get a desk job. What I want to know is why . Certain personality types are attracted to specific ideologies and in turn, specific careers. Why is somebody who is fascinated with wealth redistribution and income equality spend his time on a…
Life isn't black and white and ideologies don't need to be either.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism. You're right, it isn't. And, of course, nothing is stopping a pacifist from joining the military. After all, he can get a desk job. What I want to know is why . Certain personality types are attracted to specific ideologies and in turn, specific careers. Why is somebody who is fascinated with wealth redistribution and income equality spend his time on a…
My guess is that the people who frequent Hacker News are mostly not attached to one extreme ideology or the other. They like the creative freedom and empowerment that a capitalist society brings, but also the knowledge that if they fall on hard times then there is a safety net that keeps them off the streets. Remember, we can't all be winners all of the time, sometimes bad stuff happens to good people. Smart people k…
I understand now. That's the key.
Just my two cents, but it looks to me like there are two types of entrepreneurs. Those who believe in themselves completely and those who believe in luck to some extent.
If you believe in yourself completely, any failure stems from yourself and can be corrected. No need for a safety net, just correct the error and keep going.
Luck, on the other hand, is not something that can be controlled. It just happens or it doesn't, requiring a safety net in case it doesn't happen.
Makes sense to me now. Thank you.