Why Capitalism is Bad: It's Undemocratic

This is the first video in a series dedicated to exploring why capitalism doesn't work, and is bad. I start by questioning the relationship between capitalism and democracy, arguing that capitalism is a barrier to meaningful democracy

[wvu]

I think that Pinochet pretty much proved that democracy isn't required for capitalism.

[deenanthekemoni]

My grandmother lived in a small town in Maine, and she always used to point out the Evils of capitalism to us as youngsters. This town 20 years ago was stock full of Ma n' Pa shops, small grocery stores, privately ran/owned barber shops, and much more. Well in 1999 a WalMart was constructed dead center of the town, it was built and opened in less than a year's time. As a result of the super giant moving in, literally every single barber, grocer, pawnshop, even small banks, were slowly but surely closed, permanently. Now in 2020, the population has been significantly reduced, the local economy has all but collapsed, and welfare in the area reigns supreme. As for the WalMart? It closed as well, it sucked the suburban neighborhood dry, packed up and moved on. Nothing but an empty monument of evil and greed stands in the center of town, covered in graffiti and abandoned.
That Pissed my Grandmother off til the day she died, and she would deliberately drive 20 minutes to another town to do any shopping of any kind until she passed (years ago). RIP Nanny, you were always right not to trust them. One smart Lady, who's values were heavily instilled upon me as a child. In other words; *Fuck WalMart* they are Evil, and are destroying the very Nation which we call home, one small town at a time.

[DancingSoldiersOfRa]

Capitalism is one of the less democratic approaches to the market, with its emphasis on a small cabal of private owners. I think we can win over a lot of people who think they are capitalists by exposing them to market socialism.

1:15 "The reason why slavery is immoral, or rape or murder is immoral, is because it violates private property."
Anything else to say?

[gb]

This has to be one of your best posts, Christo. Channeling some Richard Wolff there ... nice!

[milayara]

This channel is severely underrated. Immediate subscribe!

[zoomdaddyo]

A perfect example of the differences between Sanders and Warren. I'll take Bernie's FDR style of economic democracy/democratic socialism for the 99% working class, over Warren's "I'm a capitalist from my head to my toes" for the corporation, any day. We've had enough of that Reagan style trickle-down capitalism for the 1% over the last 40 years. BERNIE 2020!

If the working people actually USED the system they wouldn't need to be given pity handouts.

[kosm]

if we can make an app to casually vote yes or no on a potential mate, we can make one to swipe left or right on a political measure, along with a plethora of built in videos and literature to educate anyone who needs further explanation on what that measure will accomplish. Never before in history has true universal democracy been this possible and easy to implement.

[derpmeow]

The reason capitalism is so good is because the consumer votes if they spend money on a product or not, it is democratic.

[emilyrln]

Really excellent and straightforward explanation. Thank you!

Universal healthcare is not Capitalist, it's the opposite. It has nothing at all to do with Capitalism aside from the fact you can't run it without the revenue afforded by the market.

[johnchristian]

Even though I have been a socialist for most of my life, you keep opening areas of my mind up to new and even more progressive thinking than I thought I had. Great item.

[steventaylorgroom]

i work in film behind the scenes, i work 84 hrs a week on standard dont have health insurance because i cant get into the union and get paid a low day rate ($150-$200 a day) meaning no overtime. days are defined by time off set and no time working, so i can be on set for however long they want and it still being paid as if i was working in one day (worst case for me i worked 36hrs with not break and made $180). it isnt one or two jobs either, what im doing is standard... if you demand more you get black balled, there are so many people trying to get into film that you can be replaced in an hour (someone i worked with got kicked lff set and they had a replacement for them on site an 1 hr and 30 mins later. it isnt a free market for my field its entirely controlled by the producers and they are making life worse and worse by the day. my skillset is so specific that it cant be applied to any other field and since im "contract" my work history looks sporadic and it looks like ive been unemployed for long periods of time so i dont even make it to the interview stage when to get out. getting schooling isnt an option either because i dont make enough to take any considerable time off. this is an extreme situation BUT is a perfect example of what happens when those at the top get the power to control things without government interference. my career is the outcome of capitalism

[guyoflife]

Mutualism is also an improvement over capitalism although it has problems of markets and risks devolving back into capitalism.

[JimmyRochester]

Hi Christo. I'm sure you have to cover current events in Canada, and the United States, to get views, and for your audience, to keep your channel going. I've hoped for a while you would upload more generally content. While there is a lot of awful, liberal nonsense and right-wing threats in the world to push back on, I think the only way we'll get to socialism is if more people learn about socialism in new ways. I've thought you have a lot of potential to get socialism across as well as any BreadTuber, so I hope it's something that helps you find success in the future. I would also like to encourage you to make more videos about socialism more often :)

[davidcr]

Oh, the irony of hating capitalism while having a patreon and a youtube channel. Just precious.

[wvu]

While I tend to go more toward something akin to the Populist movement (i.e., Bryan rather than Debs in terms of preferred turn of the 20th century political figures) than the Socialist movement, although there is some overlap, you are so right about the problems with unfettered capitalism. Something else that has happened here in the US is confusing capitalism with work (even though capitalism at its core is having enough that you no longer have to work) so much that at one point, I said in exasperation to someone on the right, "We don't have laborism in America, we have capitalism."

[mitchclark]

Cristo, you should absolutely go back to doing this kind of content :)

Capitalism isn't run by anyone.. It's an ECONOMIC MODEL.