Capitalism versus Idealism: The Reality of the World

Thinking about where the world is going with so much technology and so many advances today is a good thing. Because we begin to realize the undeniable role that we all play in this game of progress. And even more so, the role that capitalism plays in this dynamic.

Capitalism is the cornerstone of progress

We can like or dislike many things about capitalism, and it's true it is not a perfect system. But no matter how much we analyze it, we fully realize that it is the economic system that is closest to perfection. And even more important, it is the best system to choose among all the existing alternatives.

And I say this because it is something very obvious. And it is that although the detractors of capitalism criticize and question it. It is enough to think about it for only one minute to realize that all the progress of humanity lies on capitalism. And not on any system that proclaims scarcity and the limitation.

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Because pure and hard capitalism promotes free trade, plenty and, thus, economic growth. And that is precisely its greatest strength in all aspects.

Capitalism breaks through

And capitalism is free like the wind, and that is how it must be to continue being what it is. Thus, it promotes freedom and will. So, in capitalism, the value of private property is something sacred and important. And also freedom of action with our money. Well, after all, who's to deny that this is the best way things can work?

The fact is in this world too many people seem to think that capitalism is a bad thing. And also, they think that it is preferable to have the government as a kind of censorer. With this a scene from a movie what I saw sometime ago comes to mind. In that movie someone mentioned that life makes its way. And the truth is that this is exactly what happens with capitalism. And it does not matter how much some states and people want to boycott, criticize and obstruct it. The way as I see, capitalism is life, and as such, it makes its way even in the most complex scenarios.

Let's take the example of countries like China, Cuba and Venezuela. Many say that China is a communist country that is rivaling the US as the world's leading economic power. And that is all very well, and it is true. But what they seem to forget is the fact that the very big China growth occur by a simple fact. The fact that they opened to the economy of the Free Market, that is, to capitalism.

In the case of Cuba and Venezuela, capitalism is what is helping them to survive. And all this in the midst of difficult blockade situations. But in the case of these two Latin American countries, it is a capitalism that works against winds and tides. Because neither Cuba nor Venezuela receive dollars from the federal reserve. Because they both are blocked by the US. And yet, we see how in both countries the dollar is the rather currency to carry out transactions of all kinds.

Capitalism defeats altruism

I know it sounds very ugly to say it like that, so raw, but it's the truth of things. Since although they are not two things discordant and separate by need. It is very true that most of the time it's the case.

I mean, would you go to work every day at your job by mere altruism? Really? Would you go to work every day without the promise of earning a salary for your work? No, right? Due you know your work and time are valuable.

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Some people would answer yes, but they are idealists people. I mean, they have a sense of vocation that overcome their need to seek their own well-being. But, there are many more people who do only want to get a better quality of life. That is pragmatism instead idealisms.

Now, do you want to know whether you are idealist or capitalist? It is very easy to know it. Only imagine you have all the money you want to... So, would you still do to what you currently do? If the answer is yes, then you are an idealist. But, if you answer is no, then you are a capitalist.

Of course, if you answer no, that would also show that what you are doing is not done out of vocation. But out of necessity. But that is precisely why you are a capitalist and not idealist. Because you're not doing something that would fill you up more. Instead, you're doing what you think is more profitable. Due you think it have a greater chance of generating profit for you at the moment. That's why you're practical, and you're a capitalist.

Facts of capitalism

Many people can't understand the fight of capitalism against all other economic systems. I mean, they think it is all about a merely political and ideological thing. But it is not like that, capitalism is not an ideology, but the facts speaking for themselves. It is reality slapping the face of the idealistic dumb to exhaustion.

That is why capitalism does not need to make propaganda to propagate itself, because it does not need it. Because capitalism are the facts speaking clearly. Capitalism speak to all those who are able to see and understand all the simple facts. And those who do not understand the facts are blind by their believes. Due they prefer to live submerged in utopian idealisms that have no place in the reality of the world.

I recognize that I am a capitalist. I am a faithful believer in the free market and progress. I don't like interventionism of any kind, much less from the state. And production is my goal, due I'm not interested in nothing else than earn money and being able to manage my own time. Of course that does not mean that I am not altruistic with my money. Because I maintain economicly my family and also because every time I can donate to good causes. But my money is my money and my time is my time, and I don't like censors or controllers, that's my vision of things.

And one might think that this is a very mercenary and not recommended approach to view life. But as I already said, capitalism is the basis of all the progress of humanity. And you cannot cover the sun with a finger. Due, when each honest individual seeks its own economic well-being, it need to be better every day. So, it increases its efficiency and productivity in whatever it does. Which ends up benefiting society. And in this process the individual also ends up reaching it to success.

Because we can think that if the goal in capitalism is to produce for the sake of producing is all an empty process. Due in such a case the quality of what is produced would it be bad. But therein lies the beauty of capitalism as a system. And it is the fact that the consumers of goods and services are not fools. Thus, only those who strive to create quality products and services will have success. I mean, they are the ones who can achieve success within the capitalist system.

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Because what the detractors of capitalism do not seem to understand about it is one fact. And that fact is although capitalism may appear selfish, it is not. Due, in the end, capitalism promotes the best effort of the masses. And thanks to this people strive to create something of quality. Something that can interest and benefit other people. And all this to market their services and products and make them attractive and get money in the process. All this maintain the wheel in move.

It is an interest that, although it is sound selfish at heart, is what really works in real life. And by the way, whether we like to accept it or not, most people in this world are selfish. So, most people lack altruism and that is another fact. Thus, we cannot expect the world work with people acting consciously. Because there will be many more unconscious ones and then the world would fall apart.

Also, if we analyze it, even wanting to be idealistic, all will be difficult. I mean, it would not be functional or practical to be altruistic to the extreme either. Because if you always spend your time on activities without economic benefit of any kind, what do you get? What are you doing? I mean, maybe you get a feeling of internal well-being thanks to that. But, how would you cover your basic needs and those of your family? That is, how would you buy food, medicine and clothing. And how would you pay for transportation, public services and so on? Perhaps with good feelings?? Hardly.

So when you, for example, quit your job because you got another that pays better, then you are being a capitalist. But you know why you do it, that is, you know that you are doing it to get more income. More money to maintain and increase the quality of life for you and your family. So the virtue of capitalism is to make people strive to achieve better and greater things. All this for the incentive of getting more and more money. A very practical approach, which although it may seem selfish. It will always contribute to the development of humanity.

What do you think about the topic discussed? Please comment.

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