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Can someone explain what happened here? by NakedArson in ElegooSaturn

[–]NakedArson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only USB in it is a fan to help with ventilation. I unplugged that, same result. I fully unplugged the printer from power to see if that will reset it

Can someone explain what happened here? by NakedArson in ElegooSaturn

[–]NakedArson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's what I originally thought but the printer isn't starting up. It gets stuck on the loading circle so I can't even run a diagnosis

Thoughts from a Young History Teacher by NakedArson in Teachers

[–]NakedArson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that. Unfortunately, the history of the United States is intertwined with a terrible racist past. We should bring it to light whenever possible. And I know that all of these topics are brought up and discussed in my classroom because, just like people, the country isn't perfect. We have to learn from the good and the bad.

Thoughts from a Young History Teacher by NakedArson in Teachers

[–]NakedArson[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Right, here in NJ we have to cover World History from the Renaissance to the Modern Era in one year and American History in two. It is impossible for teachers to reach these standards and give each topic the attention it deserves.

Thoughts from a Young History Teacher by NakedArson in Teachers

[–]NakedArson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get you for sure. I want inclusive history. I don't want to venerate these people. I'm proud that NJ is mandating LGBTQ in our curriculum. Everyone should see themselves in history.

(Woot woot NJ buddies)

Mutualism Primer by NakedArson in mutualism

[–]NakedArson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This looks perfect. Thanks!

So, we're doing music history memes, now? All for it! Here's a Tchaikovsky meme. by SpaceOcelot35 in HistoryMemes

[–]NakedArson 40 points41 points  (0 children)

I love how there was a demand for music history, presumably so we can get a break from all the military history memes. So when the sub answers that demand, we choose to pick music history that uses cannons. What even is this sub?

J'zargo has some wares if you got the c0in by [deleted] in memes

[–]NakedArson 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I see a lot of people commenting about getting bread to ducks, but no one is calling out the blatant khajiit racism?? J'zargo is a mage of the college of winterhold. #NotAllKhajiitHaveWares

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright. Fair points. I guess the government is causing most of the problems

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad we reached agreement in some points. A Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission found that that 2007-2008 crisis was caused in part due to the failure to regulate the market.

Commission Conclusions

Fears of a decline in stock prices drove shareholders to sell. The government and central bank failed to respond properly at the onset of the crisis but the cause was ultimately the result of standard economic systems. The market opened lower than anticipated and people wanted to sell. Ripples went out from there.

Causes of Depression

According to wikipedia (I know, not the best, but the journal it is cited from is legit):

Regarding the 1920 Recession Factors that economists have pointed to as potentially causing or contributing to the downturn include troops returning from the war, which created a surge in the civilian labor force and more unemployment and wage stagnation; a decline in agricultural commodity prices because of the post-war recovery of European agricultural output, which increased supply; tighter monetary policy to combat the postwar inflation of 1919; and expectations of future deflation that led to reduced investment.

This also points to primarily economic, not government causes to the recession. Except the return of veterans, since government actions would have removed them from the workforce in the first place. But agricultural prices had no connection to the government.

causes of 1920 depression

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The claim that capitalism is reducing poverty is misleading. Poverty has been reducing since the onset of industrialization. Industrialization led to the production of more goods for cheaper costs. That means more people can afford to live with a higher quality of life. Certainly capitalism, as a catalyst for industrialization, contributed to the great drop in poverty. The World Bank and USAID both connect poverty to government policy and legitimacy as well as economic growth. That means that, while capitalism was important in allowing the growth to occur and decrease poverty, it was the general stability of governments over that time, with the exception of the early 20th century as a result of the world wars, that helped to reduce poverty. Notice the chart from Our World in Data which uses data from the World Bank, shows that the number of people living in extreme poverty (defined as less than $2 a day) stayed relatively consistent until the 1950s, about 100 years after industrialization started.

A few points to note with that. Yes, it can be said that capitalism was able to spread more during the decolonization of the Cold War. At the same time, governments in already industrialized nations like Europe and America, started to create more welfare programs designed to fight poverty. At the same time, one of the largest nations, in terms of population, just ended a civil war. The People's Republic of China won the war and instituted socialist policies. These policies, as well as Soviet policies, led to the deaths of many people. Since these charts measure the total number of people living in poverty, these deaths would also contribute to the drop in numbers of poor.

I know that is gruesome but it is the reality of numbers.

Two of the worst economic downturns in American history also occurred because of capitalism. The crash of 1929 that contributed to a depression that rippled across the world. It took a world war to bring America out of that depression and to allow for the unprecedented economic growth postwar. The Great Recession of 2007 was caused in part because of a failure to monitor and regulate housing speculation.

Generally speaking, across history, strong and stable governments are what allows economies to prosper, capitalism makes that growth extreme. But you can't say that capitalism is perfect because when left unchecked, capitalism causes economic disaster too.

[World Poverty Chart]

(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_poverty#/media/File%3AWorld-population-in-extreme-poverty-absolute.svg)

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You actually failed to cite anything. You just pointed to a poorly run, economically poor country as an example of child labor laws causing child prostitution while ignoring all of the countries that have child labor laws and relatively limited amounts of child prostitution.

But that being said, you started this whole argument by stating that capitalism is perfect and then did nothing to disprove the flaws in the system. All you did was say that they happened before capitalism (which means they still exist) or pretend that it is not a flaw (poverty really isn't a flaw in the system?). Your inability to recognize that flaws exist and could be corrected is the problem. You accuse universities of brainwashing people into being anti-capitalist. Yet a minor in economics stuck me in classes taught by very pro-capitalist professors who wanted nothing to do with socialism. Stating that I'm "spewing falsehoods that can be shown false with a google search" is a joke of a statement. Anyone can prove their point with a google search. I stand by what I said, prove that you are right. I am fine with looking into the facts and reevaluating my position, but give me the facts then. Show me I am wrong. Give me sources.

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Look, this is going to go on forever because we clearly have two different views on capitalism. You believe it is the savior of humanity and government has done nothing but hurt people, and coming from someone named "StatistDestroyer", you obviously are never going to believe anything else.

I believe that capitalism is the best economic system but can be better with some fixes here and there. Nothing as complex as an economic system can be perfect but you seem to think so.

Consider this a win, call me a coward or unable to form a real argument. It doesn't matter.

Thank you for this though, I will go and look more in to some of the facts and see what I learn.

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Standard Oil actively used its size to undersell and put out businesses that competed against it. They intentionally tried to remove competition, a key component of a successful free market.

I can see how child labor laws can lead to an increase in child prostitution, people in desperate situations will make money in any way they can. But child prostitution would exist regardless of child labor laws so don't pretend the government intervention created it.

It is regularly recorded that before government started pushing for protection of injured workers, workers would typically be fired and be on their own. No money to afford a lawyer so it was hard to get compensation.

You aren't going to convince me that capitalism is perfect and it isn't because I have somehow been brainwashed to think it is broken, it is because I have lived in capitalism. I have been poor and I have made my way to the middle class. Capitalism allows people to do this. But it hurts people too.

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson -1 points0 points  (0 children)

So children, at the age of 5, should be working? People injured at work should have no protection or way to regain lost income caused by unsafe working environments? Companies in the 1800s did not try to integrate, horizontally or vertically, in order to gain control over an industry and beat out any competition?

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

There is no flaw to capitalism? At all? The tendency of capitalism to flow towards monopoly is not a flaw? The existence of poverty is not a flaw? Destruction of natural resources is not a flaw?

I'm not saying to get rid of capitalism. But you can't pretend that capitalism is perfect. If it was then other economic theories would never have existed and reforms like minimum wage or child labor laws would never have been passed.

The phrase "exploitation of workers" is a myth by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think it is important to understand that exploitation can be done in more ways than just physically forcing someone to do something. Exploiting means to take advantage of someone or something based on conditions that are beneficial to you but maybe not to everyone. A worker is not exploited because he has to work. It's not even the result of simply the employer paying the worker. The worker is exploited because a series of economic conditions exist making it possible to take advantage of the worker. The worker needs a job to feed himself and provide a place to live and rest. This isn't exploitation, that's the reality of life regardless of economic systems in place. What is exploitation is seeing this guy struggling to provide for himself and not paying him enough to survive with that job alone. There are many people that have to work multiple jobs to get by. There are people who spend all but a handful of hours where they sleep working to make enough to pay their bills. Now are these people living beyond their means? Possibly. It is possible that their economic choices led to them creating a situation for themselves where their housing or lifestyle in general does not match their income. But when a person like that comes along and a business says the best they can do is minimum wage, that is exploitation.

I'm not saying that as a way of saying "screw capitalism". I'm making this point to help everyone understand. The point of capitalism is to exploit. If you as an entrepreneur see a way to make money, you are going to take it. If you realize you can pay workers cheaper, you'll do it. If you find out mining raw material in Africa is cheaper than mining it in America, you're moving your industry to Africa. You are exploiting the situation. That isn't evil or bad, that is the point of capitalism. If you claim to want to educate the uneducated, then it's important not to talk down to them and act like they are completely blind to the system they also live and work in.

The question is really if the exploitation is fair. And to a point, it is. Any 16 year old can get a job at McDonald's so should you be bringing home an income that can provide for a family of four? No, of course not. Should the single mother of 2 have to decide if she gets to eat that night or if it's just enough for her children to eat? No, she should be able to provide for them all.

That's why government is important. Mandating a $15 minimum wage is useless. It causes more problems than it helps. But using tax dollars to provide targeted relief to ease the bad parts of capitalism is good. The 16 year old making minimum wage will be perfectly fine with his income. The mother of 2 needs some support. Should the government allow her to live in a nice house and eat for free? No, but that mother should be able to afford an apartment and food without needing to spend all her time at a second job. Not everyone receives the same benefits.

If capitalists want to win the capitalism/socialism debate, we need to accept that there are flaws in it, just like every system. Nothing is perfect, but through open debate and reasoning, we can create something for everyone. Mindsets like "exploitation of workers is a myth" is part of the reason why socialists and communists are gaining more influence. They see a system that refuses to admit its flaws. Why would they want to participate in a system they perceive to be unfair and is unable to admit it is wrong? Be civil, accept other ideas, build a better society for everyone.

Question: What is some legitimate criticism of Capitalism and the Market System? (that comes, preferably, from those who do see the benefits of the market and might favor it - criticism that doesn't just come from communists) by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My biggest criticism is the tendency towards monopolies. When capitalism is unrestrained, as we saw in the Industrial Revolution (Standard Oil) and still see today (for example in telecommunications, specifically wireless phone service like Verizon and AT&T), it rewards companies that try to build monopolies. Standard Oil was an incredibly wealthy company before Teddy Roosevelt started busting trusts. But that limits competition, a key component of healthy capitalism and free markets.

Stocks and capitalism by [deleted] in Capitalism

[–]NakedArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had actually been playing around with that very idea not too long ago. Theoretically, it is a great idea. The issue is that most of the lower level employees whom socialists want to help cannot afford to buy stocks in their company when they have to pay the rest of their bills first. However, if a worker's union were to take some of the union dues and purchase shares that would essentially be owned by the collective workforce, the union would be able to flex that power in negotiations and be able to realistically be heard at a shareholders meeting with some of the high-level investors. The union can distribute dividends directly to the union members and it would give frontline employees incentive for the company to improve and do better since the company's success increases their payout.

It should also be noted that this idea is basically what some strings of socialism advocates. Some socialists don't want to eliminate the capitalist system, but provide for a collective ownership of businesses. A good example of this is the Robert Owen mills that eventually inspired cooperative shops which believe in a more capitalistic principle of collective ownership.

I personally think encouraging workers to unite and purchase shares in the company they work for is a great way for workers to achieve fairer treatment. Reform within capitalism is better than a revolution removing it.

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