Would you choose capitalism or democracy?

Capitalism implies laissez faire. As long as you were guaranteed laissez faire in the market place and ownership of property and means of production, you could probably tolerate most means of selection of political leadership.

I would choose democracy. Because choosing the leadership is the key to economic prosperity.

Generally they go hand in hand.

I would ditch capitalism. I have problems with it anyhow.

I agree with Rarebear. And too much of “capitalism” can hurt.

Check out documentary “Capitalism: A Love Story” – It’s quite manipulative, but still…

DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. And a controlled capitalism… not the one we have right now. That leads into a wrong direction…

I don’t know. Growing up in America, I have never had the chance to experience democracy. But, based on what I have experienced I would probably give the democracy with some other economic system a go.

I’d take democracy and a mixed economy over non-democracy and capitalism any day.

@josie Capitalism does not and cannot guarantee ownership of property, especially not laissez-faire capitalism. The more laissez-faire you go, the less sense it makes to guarantee property because the less sense it makes to prevent you from selling everything you own. Go far enough, and there aren’t even any grounds for stopping you from selling yourself into slavery. Capitalism began in mercantilism, and the history of the industrial revolution shows us that people can be tricked into putting themselves into virtual slavery even when actual slavery isn’t legal. Legalize actual slavery and you’ll see people losing everything they have selling themselves to protect their families. No thanks. I’ll take my economy with a side of inalienable rights.

I like them both.

@Patton
Suit yourself.

All of the things you mentioned would be matters of personal choice. Certainly, people are entitled to be stupid, but laissez faire would eventually breed a culture of people who had little or no incentive to be stupid, so they would not do the stupid things you describe.

Imagine how cool it would be if all you had to do all day was deal with people who had learned that stupidity was a fatal error.

Sounds like a great world to me.

I would like to know, from those who do not choose democracy or capitalism, what country that has an alternate ideology, would you like to live in? As I look around the world, the only place I might consider would be Singapore. But most wouldn’t like that because you actually get punished for breaking the laws of the land and there is very little social welfare. People work for a living and if you don’t find a job worthy of you or that you like, oh well…......

I disagree, laissez faire eventually breeds monopolies, robber barons, rigid class structure and wage slavery which degenerates into totalitarianism or dictatorships that in turn eventually would lead to social unrest, civil war and anarchy. None of which sounds particularly appealing.

@josie I was pointing out that your assumptions are wrong. If you’re okay with that, then stick with your choice. I’m not telling you to change your mind.

Democracy is where everyone gets an equal vote. No matter how much/little money they have.

Capitalism is where people with money can invest it they way they want, and pricing is via Supply/Demand. Sound more Libertarian to me.

The thing with governments is that they’re mainly run by the elites of a certain people. The elites are generally made up of the educated and the wealthy over see the interest of their families neighbors and future family and future neighbors. We’re at the point where capitalism is what fuels our society, this idea of consumerism for the world will only continue to grow because there is a demand and the system is run by these elites who are backed hugely by lobbyists for the continuation of global economy through the political machine that is the people.

I like the set up of the USA. Nearly everyone has the opportunity to be as hard a worker as they want. It’s people’s own demise if they fall victim to drugs, violence anything that stops them from reaching their goals. I left a lot of gaps in my argument but I’m not on my computer and writin an essay on iPhone is not the business

This is sort of like asking “Do you like eating or drinking?”

Do you like steak or ice cream?

Do you prefer to be well fed or well rested?

There’s no relationship here, and no dichotomy.

Unregulated Capitalism leads to global corporate tyranny and the complete subjugation of the working class and finally, to the complete elimination of democracy. Even with regulations, the corporate elite still tries to achieve that goal, and not without success. Look at China, look at the bribery in governments across the globe.
The world is not headed for 1984, it is headed to Jennifer Government.

Democracy, in a heartbeat.

Since democracy and capitalism are mutually exclusive anyway, and I value individual autonomy and positive freedom as two of the most important things for a sane and progressive society—democracy obviously.

I have mentioned this before, but it is worth mentioning again. Worker cooperatives are technically a form of socialism, but can be considered as a hybrid between capitalism and socialism, and can and do operate in democracies. Like capitalistic corporations, worker coops compete on the open market and must show a profit. In addition to sharing dividends, workers are usually paid a wage, and in most cases the wage differential between highest and lowest paid employees is considerably less than in a corporation.

Norway is a democracy, but you all seem to think it is socialist. I take democracy.

Democracy.

Whatever puts bread on the table.

I think it was Benjamin Franklin… Wait, let me consult the Book of Knowledge… Nope, John Adams said that democracy is the tyranny of the majority. Simplified, a decision made by 51% of the population can dictate how the other 49% of the people will be governed. And if a democratic vote was all that was needed, we would quickly discover how miserable democracy can be. That is why constitutions exist to temper abuse of the majority on individuals and minorities. Pure democracy without restrictions is as dangerous as any of the many “dictatorial” forms of government. So if you think that democracy IS the right answer, you need to ask what kind of democracy you were willing to suffer with.

That said, in my opinion, the problem is neither democracy or capitalism, nor is the answer found in one or the other. The problem is corruption. Corrupt governments, even democratic ones, are as much of a problem as a corrupt dictator. And it is corrupt CEO’s and union leaders that give capitalism a black eye, not capitalism itself.

And I think that if you had a family to care for your choice would be much simpler. If your democracy fails to give you an environment to provide for your children a better life than you presently have (denies you the ability to progress), you would be willing to set your democratic idealisms aside so long as you can put bread on the table and gives you the opportunity to put better bread on a nicer table in the future.

I like what Franklin did say about the fledgling United States, though, @prescott_j:

”... a republic, if you can keep it.”

It’s looking more and more doubtful sometimes.

@CWOTUS so is this an example of the democratic process gutting constitutional protections, ie, a corrupted democracy?

Close, it seems to be a more and more “democratic” gutting and corruption of the republican form of government that the Constitution describes.

I also like what Mencken said about Democracy:

“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”

I’m becoming less and less a fan of democracy, especially when it’s coupled with lowering education standards, short attention spans, illiteracy, impatience… and massively growing “bailouts” and handouts of all stripes.

Democracy, because all choices that are made can be reverted later, including getting rid of capitalism. It can be reintroduced.

For me, it would be neither. I think that true Democracy would be unbridled chaos because there would be no checks and balances. The majority position would consistently win, no matter what the consequences. In capitalism, the almighty money is the goal, no matter what. I am optimistic enough to hope that in a democracy of in capitalism people would be moved to care for others, so I think that I would select democratic socialism if that is an option.

I’m torn between capitocracy and demmunism. ;-?