Have a Merry Capitalist Christmas....

[56andre]

Merry Christmas

Buy this, buy that, have a jolly Christmas full of gifts

Let’s all indulge in a Capitalist Christmas & visit the shopping malls

Once it was the thought behind the gift that counts,
but now only the gift that counts!

Your child comes & exclaims he wants that new toy that he saw on TV,
That 42 inch LCD TV that you bought in a sale, advertised in a catalogue you got in the mail.

Can’t you see the cycle of the consumer society,
The kid is compelled by the new toy he saw on the TV
& the TV itself was a toy for the parent.

The child learns by example

Full of possessions, but empty in the soul
We try to fill our void with more material possessions
but still fill impotent.

Santa Claws will come & give you a present, depending on your parents wealth will determine what gifts, & how many you will get.

Governments stress to pull out your credit card, to pull out your cash, & stimulate the economy
That same cash you earned through a job to stimulate the economy.


Everyone wants you to work for your money
& everyone wants you to give them your money

Think about it! Think hard!!!!
What do you do for a life???

For most people it’s like this:

Get up in the morning,

Have breakfast,

Go to work,

Have a break,

Have lunch,

Go back to work,

Go home,

Look after the kids,

Have dinner,

Brush your teeth,

Go to bed.

Get up in the morning,

Have breakfast,

Go to work,

Have a break,

Have lunch,

Go back to work,

Go home,

Look after the kids,

Have dinner,

Brush your teeth,

Go to bed.

Get up in the morning,

Have breakfast,

Go to work,

Have a break,

Have lunch,

Go back to work,

Go home,

Look after the kids,

Have dinner,

Brush your teeth,

Go to bed.

Again & again & again

Repeat, repeat, repeat

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.....

Does that sound repetitive???

There are some additions at particular points in the month, or week, like pay the bills, mortgage, rent, whatever!

If your life does not go by this example, you either:
Have more control over your life than most,
Or
Have no control over your life!

Do you consider that you have control of your life when you bend to the advertisements that manipulate you to purchase this product because it will make you ten years younger, or will make you more admirable, you are convinced that you need that even though you didn’t need it before???

Unless you have complete conviction that you really do need it, like oxygen or water, then that’s ok!

What happen if I don’t share the same Capitalist Christmas that we are all familiar with.

We are full of possessions
But empty in the soul

No wonder a site like this exists
We have lost touch of our natural being

 

[Veridin]

Blah blah, the EVIL capitalists hypnotize you and force you to buy things. They hold a gun to your head. We were all happier in the past when we didn't CONSUME anything. No, we just sat still in the woods without having anything to eat and without clothes to wear - wearing clothes is also consumption, and consumption is EVIL. Never before in history did people enjoy giving each other gifts, before the Western capitalists came along and forced them to do it.

Stuff it, boy. We produce more wealth these days, and naturally we will use it. I'm sure that makes you jealous when you were too lazy to do your homework in school and now you are stuck on minimum wage and need someone to blame for your bitterness. And to capture the moral high ground, you hide your jealousy by pretending that "Consumerism turns you into a soulless immoral swine," etc etc and cue the frenetic posting in the nearest socialist/anarchist/whatever forum together with the rest of your buddies. Sucks to be you.

This Christmas I will eat good food and give Christmas gifts to my relatives, and receive gifts from them as well. And yes, there will even be - dare I say it - decorations. OH, NO! How can I do such evil acts? I am such a hollow CAPITALIST CONSUMERIST ghoul who doesn't understand the TRUE good values in the world, like hating those with a higher income.


The Onion says it best:

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/report_nation_s_wealthy_cruelly

 

[Unbridled_Phoenix]

Here's a roll of toiletpaper.

Have a merry socialist christmas.

 

[teagan]

Here's a roll of toiletpaper.

Have a merry socialist christmas.

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

 

[Warrior74]

Well my parents gave me money to help start my own business as an early christmas present. So yah..I'll have a great capitalist christmas and i begin my journey to self employment. My family gives each other things we need, christmas is a time to help each other. We get the kids in the family things they want. What does your family do OP?

 

[56andre]

Let me get one thing strait

I’m not a socialist, communist, capitalist......

I’m a realist

I can’t really comment on socialism or communism because I don’t know too much about them.

But I can comment & critic the system I’m in, which is capitalism, because I live in it.

But fvck the systems, this is sosuave not CNN!!!

Your all missing the point...

My OP has nothing to do with government systems

There’s an underlying message that none of you got!!!

Morons!

 

[(JJ)]

Let me get one thing strait

you mean "straight"

But I can comment & critic the system I’m in, which is capitalism, because I live in it.

you mean "critique"

Your all missing the point...

you mean "you're"

Morons!

I'm sure that makes you jealous when you were too lazy to do your homework in school

we have a winner.

 

[prairiedog24]

This thread is awesome.


--------------

On a serious note though, it just occurred to me that our "anti-capitalist" pals (although I doubt capitalism has anything to do with it) are giving us a great life lesson on how not to be THE MAN as pook would say. They're blaming "the system" for the blandness and unhappiness in their life. The fact that they have to produce if they want to consume really bothers them. They have to get a job? Provide something valuable to society? Be disciplined and not sit on their lazy asses all day? BUMMER.

How about instead of whining, you take pride, PRIDE, in doing the best job you can do at whatever it is you do every day. Do you do brain surgery? THAN BE THE BEST BRAIN SURGEON YOU CAN BE. Do you map floors? THEN MAKE 'EM SPARKLE. What is self-esteem and confidence if not taking pride in your work, and yourself, as A MAN and deriving humor, satisfaction, and personal growth from even mundane tasks?

I'm going to work 10 minutes earlier tomorrow in honor of this thread. And I'll like it. =)

 

[56andre]

prairiedog24
On a serious note though, it just occurred to me that our "anti-capitalist" pals

Once again.....I'm not anti-capitalist, I'm anti-bull$hit!!!!!

are giving us a great life lesson on how not to be THE MAN

How is it that standing up for yourself beliefs is not THE MAN thing to do????

fvcker!!!

How about instead of whining, you take pride, PRIDE, in doing the best job you can do at whatever it is you do every day. Do you do brain surgery? THAN BE THE BEST BRAIN SURGEON YOU CAN BE. Do you map floors? THEN MAKE 'EM SPARKLE. What is self-esteem and confidence if not taking pride in your work, and yourself, as A MAN and deriving humor, satisfaction, and personal growth from even mundane tasks?

I'm going to work 10 minutes earlier tomorrow in honor of this thread. And I'll like it. =)

Some people are happy with that, like you for instants, & that’s fine

but

Some people have aspirations to make it to the top, & then people like you will be willing to work for them

but

Most people are in the first category, the one your in, and whine about how $hit their life is & aspire to be at the top & do nothing about it!!!

The first two are completely fine!

But the third is ****ed!!!

That makes most people ****ed!!!

Your advice can either be the worst advice or the best advice.

Worst - as in you let people accept the $hit their in

Best - as in you let people be happy in the $hit their in

 

[56andre]

OK (JJ)

I did some elimentry spelling mistakes in an internet discussion forum blog that requires a Harvard degree

Oh, sorry, I mean "elementary"!!!!

fvcker!!!

Yea, I know, I spelt fvcker wrong with no uppercase!!!

 

[Da Realist]

I’m a realist

Um...no. I am.


But for real, if you feel as though the system's messed up, why are you just sitting here complaining about it? Get a farm and produce for yourself. Better yet, work the system and make something better.

I'm about as anti-greed as the next man, but I hate complaining just as much. There is no excuse for being a grown man and not learning a skill so that you can make more and break the cycle. What you want is out there, so go get it.

Life is better spent living than complaining about poeple who either have enough money to get the things they want along with taking care of business or the fools who will spend themselves in to the poor house.

 

[Warrior74]

Let me get one thing strait

I’m not a socialist, communist, capitalist......

I’m a realist

I can’t really comment on socialism or communism because I don’t know too much about them.

But I can comment & critic the system I’m in, which is capitalism, because I live in it.

But fvck the systems, this is sosuave not CNN!!!

Your all missing the point...

My OP has nothing to do with government systems

There’s an underlying message that none of you got!!!

Morons!

Who's the moron, the guy who didn't the underlying message, or the dumbass who just wouldn't say what he had to say. We got your message, we reject your tone. Moron. You don't win people over to your point of view by berating them, idiot. You don't diss things people hold dear and expect them to love you, Fool. See how that works? See what I did there? Stupidhead! lol. your a joke.

 

[Bringing.the.Truth]

56andre,

You present some very valid points in your post. You understand a basic knowledge that many people, especially those in North America, fail to realize their entire lives. I imagine something significant in your life has lead you to uncover this truth.

You must understand that not everyone is capable of understanding your thinking. Some people have become so comfortable in this life that they will aggressively attack ideas that differ from their beliefs. This is something that has gone on since the beginning of time. The fact is that some people don't want to know the truth, they want to spend their entire lives in comfort. They do not wish to challenge the beliefs that have been forced upon them since birth.

You must learn to accept this.

Spread your message through love. Ranting and telling people what to think is not the way to spread enlightenment. You cannot force someone to see the truth, they must seek the answer on their own. The only thing that matters is that YOU get it.

I'd like to take this time to give a 30 second recap of what I think of capitalism.

Capitalism is a force that cannot be destroyed. It is a system that has been historically used to take from the middle-class and give to the rich. The same people have been in charge for centuries and will continue to rule over the working class.

Capitalism is great in theory. Everyone contributes, everyone consumes and everyone gains wealth. The problem with this thinking is that a small percentage of people own these businesses that we work for and thus own the profits. Therefore the harder the working class works, the wider the gap between rich and poor gets.

The biggest issues arise when the people with the money are the same people calling the shots in office. When these people work their way into government, capitalisms validity goes out the door. This is where we can see a few questionable policies passed here and there yet we as the people stand by and watch. Think this is a ridiculous idea?

See Timothy Geichner.
See Bail-out Package.
See Goldman Sachs.
See Housing Crisis
See New Orleans
See Post 9/11
See Iraq War.
See Afghanistan War.
See 2000 US Federal Election.

I couldn't be bothered to get into a long argument over capitalism, or go further back into history to show how oblivious the American people are to whats going on around them. I'm just asking people to be informed before they mindlessly attack someone for questioning the current system.

 

[Bringing.the.Truth]

Just decided that I would like to respond to Prairiedogs one point in particular.

"They're blaming "the system" for the blandness and unhappiness in their life."

First, you assume that not readily accepting capitalism automatically means unhappiness. Think about the last 3 times that you were truly stressed out.

I would be willing to bet that if you really think about it, you can either relate it back to money (your job, your rent, your mortgage, your car, your promotion), your ego (what others think, saw, know, did) or your family. Now I have managed to completely rid myself of any worries of money or ego.

Whose unhappy?

As for assuming life without capitalism is bland, I would argue that the most bland life a person can have is getting up at the same time every single day, making the same drive and performing the same job.

The only thing that I think could be more bland than that is coming home and watching television so you can be told what to think, what to like, whats acceptable and who you should give your money to.

I think THAT is bland.

 

[Deadly_Ripped]

I've got to agree about the increasing gap between the rich and middle class in this country. It exists because our version of capitalism isn't a true capitalism. In a true capitalism, the cost of goods reflects the cost of production plus enough profit for the business to grow and maintain viability. Also, those business ownders and investors who profit are supposed to spend their money in the same way that the middle class does. In our society, many wealthy people horde their money, and it does not therefore end up benefitting the workers who enabled the profits... it merely accumulates at the top.

As far as the problems with Christmas and consumerism... that is ENTIRELY different from methods of governance. Consumerism is a value system based on the acquisition of material goods. It is a phenomenon of highly effective advertising. People, when innundated with specific messages, are susceptible to the suggestions contained therein. As a result, I am surrounded by otherwise intelligent people who are highly posessed by the notion that the key to personal satisfaction is to own prodigally sized televisions and over-powered cars.

He's not hating on capitalism, but our way of applying capitalism.
He's definitely hating on consumerism, and I agree with that hate. I hate any culture that knowingly convinces people, who are barely able to pay their rent, that the newest pair of Kanye West Nikes are worth waiting in line for 2 days and paying an entire week's pay to get them. When their kids don't have fitting clothing, but they have the newest Kanye's on their feet, you will see the true devil.

 

[Bringing.the.Truth]

Deadly_ripped, I enjoyed your post thoroughly and believe that we have many of the same beliefs.

I believe the key to freedom in this life is to separate yourself from material possessions. The idea of amassing as many 'valuable' (valuable in the eyes of society at that time) possessions before we die has been a flawed human obsession since the beginning of time (think Egyptian Pharoahs).

This obsession with amassing wealth (whether through money or possessions) has caused men to commit terrifying crimes throughout human existence. As we look back through time, we can see that every great human atrocity had some form of wealth associated with it. Today it is money or oil, in the past it has been land or commodities.

Funny that the advice echoed on these boards is to get a good job and make a lot of money so that the women will follow.

 

[prairiedog24]

Just decided that I would like to respond to Prairiedogs one point in particular.

"They're blaming "the system" for the blandness and unhappiness in their life."

First, you assume that not readily accepting capitalism automatically means unhappiness. Think about the last 3 times that you were truly stressed out.

All three have to deal with school. Always.

Whose unhappy?

Generally the guys sitting around whining about the system. Not always. Generally.

As for assuming life without capitalism is bland, I would argue that the most bland life a person can have is getting up at the same time every single day, making the same drive and performing the same job.

How does doing the same job = capitalism? You can be a socialist, a communist, or nothingist, and still do the same thing every day.

Capitalism is a man's system. It's about risk and reward, not security. Personal responsibility, not safety.

You guys also are attacking me because you assume I'm pro-consumption. Guess what, I'm not. I'm pro-production. Whining about having to work is being anti-production. Consumption is neither here nor there. Heck, I have a Mennonite background. If you guys want to meet simple, non-consuming, but incredibly hard working people, meet my grandparents. They're also hardcore capitalists.

The only thing that I think could be more bland than that is coming home and watching television so you can be told what to think, what to like, whats acceptable and who you should give your money to.

I think THAT is bland.

I wonder if the daily TV viewing of Americans is going up or down based on our "capitalist" vs "socialist" leanings. I bet I can guess...

 

[56andre]

Hahahahahahahah!!!!!!

Still going on about capitalism & political systems.....

 

[56andre]

We got your message

Ah, no you didn’t

These guys got close....

The only thing that I think could be more bland than that is coming home and watching television so you can be told what to think, what to like, whats acceptable and who you should give your money to.

I think THAT is bland.

I am surrounded by otherwise intelligent people who are highly posessed by the notion that the key to personal satisfaction is to own prodigally sized televisions and over-powered cars.

 

[Cure]

56andre, The VERY valid point you are trying to make, is undermined significantly by your attitude and spelling/grammar.
You remind me a great deal of myself a few years back when I was young, naive, hot headed and thought communism was the best thing ever invented, so I wont judge you.

There is nothing wrong with production unless it is done in a manner which is environmentally unsustainable (and will thus leave future generations with a scorched earth.

There is nothing wrong with possessions and wealth, unless said wealth has been generated through the exploitation of others.

I have nothing against the principle of market capitalism as the most efficient method of generating and exchanging wealth.

Addressing the OP's point, I do have a massive problem with the "consumerist" ethic which pervades modern western society.

Westerners today are no happier than we were 50 years ago, yet the gap between the wealthiest and poorest nations has grown massively.
Billions of people live in absolute poverty because the capitalist system is abused to pool wealth at the top.

The vast increase in wealth has not been accompanied by any additional happiness or well being largely because of consumerism. In order for the VERY wealthy people to remain wealthy, it is necessary for the economy to be driven ever upward. As we all have the necessary things to live in the west, the only way to do this has been to persuade us that we need ever more and more possessions. This leaves us constantly feeling unhappy, as every time we achieve a certain level of wealth, the bar is moved higher.

We tend to work ridiculously long hours to earn as much money as possible, to purchase items which we are convinced to desire by advertising. The net result is ever increasing wealth, a faster and ever more unsustainable rate of resource exploitation and wide spread poverty for billions left outside the "consumer bubble".

To use a simple example from that onion "news" clip that was posted.
"Me and my wife are both lawyers". They earn an enormous amount, but the trade off is long hours, which means their kids will spend hardly any time with them. Parental attention is worth more than any amount of expensive gifts, yet in this case, the pursuit of money over takes that.

There is nothing wrong with working to earn a living and providing for your family, taking pride in what you do, but when advertising has taken over every possible aspect of human life, to the extent it has today, our ability to function as happy, well adjusted human beings is seriously compromised.

This Christmas, don’t worry about money, don’t buy numerous expensive gifts, just take time off to spend it doing stuff that really matters, with people who matter to you. Don’t buy into the hype that says you need to max out your credit card in order to enjoy the festive season. Everyone wants you to spend every penny you’ve got and then some. Our society is geared up to make us work as hard as possible to consume as much as possible. Only we as individuals can choose to work less often, spend less money on wasteful items we don’t need. And as a result have more time to really live life as its meant to be lived.

I have not asked for any gifts this year, nor will I, this is because I already have everything I need, and the week I'm going to spend in a house in the mountains with my family is worth more to me than any thing money could buy.

Oh yeah and... SMASH CAPITALISM etc etc..

Cure.