Does Capitalism threaten democracy?

Before I answer this question I would like to address two things. First off, yes I went with the Seattle Seahawks color scheme. Big deal. Secondly, if you enjoy the work of Ayn Rand, stop reading my blog and proceed to the nearest...bah..it wouldn't work. Her followers are too narcissistic to do us all non-Randroids a favor and rid us of their self-centered drivel. And warning: I wrote this as I went, it probably doesn't flow. :-)

To the topic at hand, in a way, yes...but I think people are more of a threat to democracy than anything. It is a growing trend in the United States to hate on capitalism and then simultaneously enjoy the fruits of it. People will blame corporations for the negative side effects that come with the free market, but haven't we all made a compact with ourselves? Don't we all know the source of the economic deals we are getting? The minimum wages and crappy benefits forced upon the workers, the hazardous effects on the environment, the businesses that ditch the local communities they thrived in to turn their allegiance to the global supply chains, and the CEOs who take their paycheck home in a Maserati. Yes, we do...and nothing is done about it. It's partially not our fault and it is not capitalism's fault. Capitalism's only role is to "increase the economic pie" and nothing more. It is democracy's role to act upon the public goods and achieve both equity and growth. There is not one democratic nation that can cope with the negative side effects of capitalism. This is not a failing of capitalism, it is a blurring of capitalism's and democracy's responsibilities, to the disservice of our democratic duties. The big corporations, in order to intensify their competitiveness on the global scale, have rendered the general population powerless by investing greater sums in activities such as lobbying, public relations, and many times even bribery. They preoccupy Congress with concours between competing industries or companies for weeks or months, incapacitating the government's ability to act upon citizen's needs or concerns.


However, people need to realize there is more to a democracy than just fair and free elections. Citizens need to join together and decide on a common good. Unfortunately the public is divided into two extremist groups: those who believe the market should rule and those that believe in preserving the communities as they are and protecting jobs. Instead of coming together and figuring out how to softening the blows of globalization, compensating for the losers, or slowing the pace of change. We'd rather get at each other's throats even though we all share a common distress. The problem comes down to the people either being too ignorant, too arrogant, and/or too lazy. Both democracy and capitalism have been on the rise for the past few decades. The majority of countries in the world are a part of a individual, integrated, and turbocharged global market. Nearly two-thirds of the nations hold free elections, just a thirty years ago only one-third. It is up to us as citizens to figure out a way to keep corporations buoyed by runaway economic success from undermining the government's ability to respond to our needs and interests. I open the floor. :-)

A survey about me?

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Unanimous
Birthday:	June 30, 13 (the year 13)
Birthplace:	A small hat
Current Location:	Here
Eye Color:	Blown
Hair Color:	Beautiful
Height:	8
Right Handed or Left Handed:	No
Your Heritage:	Soviet, preferably Tajik
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Are pretty cool
Your Weakness:	Too awesome
Your Fears:	Gremlins 1
Your Perfect Pizza:	Spherical
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Soccer goal
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	"Watch out for that ghost, it has 3 guns all in the same hand!"
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Yessss! Still me!
Your Best Physical Feature:	My arm ankle (is that what you call that thing?)
Your Bedtime:	65
Your Most Missed Memory:	I don't miss my memories because I still have them... If I didn't they wouldn't be memories
Pepsi or Coke:	Milkshakes
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Taco Bell
Single or Group Dates:	Either
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	How ridiculous
Chocolate or Vanilla:	No
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Duh
Do you Smoke:	I smoke fools at Madden. And weed.
Do you Swear:	Yes
Do you Sing:	Horribly
Do you Shower Daily:	Obsessively
Have you Been in Love:	With a person?
Do you want to go to College:	Attending
Do you want to get Married:	Probs
Do you belive in yourself:	no, I'm a figment of my imagination. And since I'm not real, my imagination is not real, so I must not exist.
Do you get Motion Sickness:	I get stupid sickness from stupid questions
Do you think you are Attractive:	No...I know I am
Are you a Health Freak:	I am a healthy freak
Do you get along with your Parents:	Sure
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Stupid question 2, I think I am getting a fever
Do you play an Instrument:	Yes
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	Yes
In the past month have you Smoked:	Maybe
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	How long is a month?
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	Yes
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	No WTF?
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	Yes
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No
In the past month have you been Dumped:	No
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	No, obviously YOU don't understand the climate. Bitch.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	No
Ever been Drunk:	Who hasn't?
Ever been called a Tease:	No, but I have never been accused of being a verb
Ever been Beaten up:	No
Ever Shoplifted:	No
How do you want to Die:	Of being too alive
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	Old
What country would you most like to Visit:	Amsterdam
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Wait, what do I want a guy's favorite eye color to be? Umm...blue
Favourite Hair Color:	Blonde?
Short or Long Hair:	Medium
Height:	8
Weight:	9
Best Clothing Style:	What does this even mean?
Number of Drugs I have taken:	Number of drugs I have taken in a guy? 12
Number of CDs I own:	This quiz needs fixed
Number of Piercings:	5
Number of Tattoos:	0
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	How many questions make up this quiz?
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