Profit or People?

Well, because the whole free market system has been bastardized and twisted by the government, I can see why people believe this. First of all, capitalism doesn't demand any level of price. It it based on the market the provider chooses. In other words, capitalism allows for doctors or anyone else to provide their services to any income level. It also doesn't preclude setting up, or donating to "free clinics". There is also nothing about capitalism that is anti charity. Under capitalism, people are free to give private donations to private organizations or just to people who could use it. Capitalism is about freedom of choice. It doesn't tell anyone what they have to do with their means. I'll put it this way. In a capitalist country, people are free to create their own, private socialist, communist, or even anarchist societies. However, there is no freedom to set up private capitalist societies in socialist, communist or anarchist nations. So which one is about freedom?

No profit is not more important than people's needs. The pharmacy is a very good example of making so much profit so are doctors. We had these discussions about all the profit the pharmacys are making over here years ago (perhaps it's even there every year). Doctors tell you what you have to take and earn extra money with that, the pharmacy gives you the low budget med that is nearly the same, not exactly so it doesn't always work and charge the same or more. Also very interesting: if I ask the vet for exactly the same meds as my doctor subcribes to me they are suddenly so much cheaper. For example for my allergies: doctor 25 pills: 15 euro, vet same pills 250 13 euro. Exactly the same pills, same brand, how can this be? And I can pick them up at the same pharmacy!

I tend to think the trouble with all things is human nature.. To me, of course free market is a better thing than government running things.. but of course free market has gone waay extreme.. but that's the danger also of socialism or government run, is humans aLways run to the extreme(s), so even if something starts out as good and is good for a while, just give it time, and we are sure to create a monster with it.. Here in the u.s. the founding fathers had the greatest idea of setting up strong checks on government and strong balances of power.. It's too bad they also couldn't foresee some sort of checks or balance upon commerce! Of course in the u.s. we do have somewhat of socialism in our government as we do have lots of government programs, which many if not most are very necessary. We're facing budget crunches and all, which could likely be easily remedied by cutting out waste and fraud, both in programs and by the government for the government, but all government seems interested in doing, imho, is to increase what they collect (thus their reach and power). And how far can this go? Being a lowly taxpayer, will I lose my home in elder years because the property tax has gone so high? Even after my mortgage has been completely paid off? (Then I become a person in need.) - I very much don't like the extreme capitalism (mass production and waste, consumerism, etc run amok til all we do is work to pay for this, that, and the other thing, even if one lives a very simple lifestyle). What the answers are I have no idea, except a change in human nature, which I do not see happening at all. Companies are too big.. yet government that is too big with too long a reach and thus control I fear even more. If there comes to be shortages I know government will not be doing a whole lot of sharing with the little folks. Neither will companies, but companies, thus far(?) are not as (all) powerful as government. Basically and personally, I'd like to be self sufficient living in the wilderness, but I'm afraid government would still reach me with all their fees, taxes, penalties, waste and ever more and more regulations (and fees) over my life. Or maybe I'd like to rent a room and wash dishes for a living, although I'd likely have to work two jobs to fulfill requirements for life, health and renter's insurance! I'm not entirely sure those who support capitalism think profit is more important than people, I think perhaps what they think is jobs for all the people will provide for people's needs longer than increasing government dependence where demand can become greater than realistically able to support. I'm a cynic. I don't think anything will work!

When you put it so bluntly, of course it isn't. Perhaps there could be a situation where capitalism could be tempered with common sense and social responsibility, but as the two don't naturally go hand in hand I can't see it ever happening. Unfortunately, as your previous post pointed out, politicians tend to be very firmly in one ideological camp or the other.

I don't think that profit should be more important than people's needs at all but the unfortunate thing is that is what it seems to be most of the time. I think about the pharmaceutical companies especially where this is concerned. I saw a show once explaining that if these companies actually found cures...they would lose a lot of money therefore their time and resources are spent on temporary/longterm and comfort type medications.

I don't think so but unfortunately profit are practiced everywhere and in excess. The importance given to profit is excesive and is wrong. Besides the opression is wrong too, that is people who doesn't get right wages for their job. Men are treated like as commodity, 'as a tool of production and not as a creator of the work done by himself.' The last is a quotation of John Paul II.