Is there a conflict between capitalism and democracy?
92923
There may be a conflict here, however  you can not have one with out the other.  True Capitalism will only work in a true democracy.  Whenever the government steps in to control all business you will usually find one type of totalitarian government or the other running things and this takes capitalism out of the equation and make for a very dreary life for those working in that country.  Capitalism is a system of hope, if you are poor in a capitalist society you have hope of climbing out of being poor.  In a non-capitalist society if you are poor that is where you can expect to stay.
190518
Democracy is better in any form or shape and like two sides of a coin has its goods and bad...............but you gotto believe in it, the fundamentals of democracy that is right to the people ..............\n\nand isnt corruption also there in any form of government.........think abt it ....
575623
Yes. A lot of people fail to make this distinction, but socialism is a type of economy, whereas democracy is a type of government.\n\nFrance and Mexico both have Republican democracies, both very similar to the U.S.'s form of government.
582991
There aren't any major differences.  They are two factions of the same business party, representing the interests of the corporate elite.  Both republicans and democrats support increased military spending on an already gargantuan military budget, tax cuts to the wealthy, welfare "reforms" (which means eliminating aid to those in need), privatization of social services generally, opening up the environment for the benefit of corporate leaders (at the expense of humanity's existence), and the overarching concern for the global extension of capitalism (along with favoring "free trade" policies that encroach upon the democratic sovereignty of other nations).\n\nThey might differ on some social issues (e.g., abortion and gun control issues) that do not affect the bottom line, but we might wonder if these differences are really that important.\n\nBy having two parties, it provides the illusion that US citizens have a real choice at the polls and real democracy.  However, democracy is about leaders being accountable to the broad populace, and clearly this does not happen (regardless of political party in power).
585303
Capitalism is the private ownership of the means of production.\n\nOther economic systems, such as socialism (government control of the means of production), communism (government or collective ownership of the means of production).\n\nIt is an interesting question to consider whether capitalism would survive without government.  Certainly, one of the weaknesses of capitalism is that it leads to a highly inequal distribution of wealth, as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  At some time, if the poor were poor enough, they would band together and take away the assets of the rich.\n\nWe've seen revolution after revolution throughout human history, many of which, at their core, arose from inequal distribution of resources (the poor will only tolerate so much before they will commit their lives to fighting the status quo).  At some level, whether from the wealthy in a cpaitalist system, or from a government, there needs to be a mechanism in society to maintain social order.  While this is not part of the core fundamentals of capitalism, this social order is necessary for the capitalist economy to operate.
430635
Revolutions usually have some kind of organized political power behind them (a party or an organized group of people with a political agenda). Events in France can affect the results of elections next year, but I believe there will be no disruption in a democratic process
1141513
It's not only reasonable, it's necessary.  Like all good things, capitalism becomes detrimental when taken to extremes.  Specifically, a completely unfettered market inevitably tends toward a concentration of economic and political power into the hands of fewer and fewer people, until the system becomes undemocratic and oppressive.
333241
This question........I could answer so many ways.....but I will just pick one facet.\n\nI think a democracy with bits of socialism would work very well....just as a previous poster noted with some of the Scandinavian countries. \n\nI think one main issue, if not THE issue is economics.\n\nI'll even break it down....I think we need democracy with a collective revenue sharing.  Those familiar with major sports leagues in the US, specifically the NFL, may know what I'm speaking of.\n\nBetter distribution of funds across the board would help our economic bottomline, especially if the excess money given to the "lower classes" are used specifically for encouragement of small business, health care, better schools and teachers, upkeep in neighborhoods, and find ways to not only fight the drug trade inside of neighborhoods, but also (and more important) stop them from ever reaching these at-risk neighborhoods.\n\nIt would help encourage people that moving up in the world, doesn't mean you need to hit that home run.  For parents to know they have quality backing and support, even kids from the lower class have a good chance at life, that means a lot.\n\nNow the rich would suffer a bit....because in the revenue sharing concept, the top teams are penalized for being over the cap line.  With this you would not have a person whose bank account looks like the gross national product of small countries, i.e. Bill Gates.  They would still be wealthy, but not to the detriment of the lower class.\n\nSo.....you would have a top line and a bottom line....but you would maintain all of the other capitalist prinicples, you find in democracy.  There are so many things that go to this, I won't even pretend my idea is foolproof.....but I do think it would help.
1143401
no.  was never a democracy.  it was intended to be a republic, but we all got sold to the highest bidder.  now its a corporate run capitalistic prison state.
1133616
No to the theocracy in the US - but, in the same sense, I don't think we should push democracy on countries that will seriously be thrown into chaos as soon as it is introduced (USSR, China, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.). I think it's very arrogant of us Americans to think our way is the best way for everyone - the only way democracy truly works is if it evolves on its own when people get tired of the way things are being run.
204252
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.\n\nGeorge Bernard Shaw
335672
History has proven pure communism or socialism doesn’t work. Humans are free thinkers and eventually demand access to individual freedoms and rights. History has also proven pure democracy and capitalism doesn’t work either.\n\nThe answer is a balance between the two. In a perfect society there would be enough social programs to support the poor, sick, and needy while providing opportunity for those “go getters” who wish to pursues wealth and success.
906267
Communism is an economic system and Socialism is a political system (a form of government)  that can be adopted under a capitalist system (Examples: Spain, France).\n\nCommunism is opposed to Capitalism.\nIn Capitalism businesses are owned by private businessmen. This is a system of free enterprise, where anyone can start their own business and sell what they want to whom ever they want. \n\nCommunism is a "command economy." This economic system has only public ownership of businesses, where the national government has complete control of all industries. People are told what to produce, how much is needed and the price to sell it at. \n\nWhile there is wide variation between socialist groups, nearly all would agree that they opperate according to principles of solidarity and advocating an egalitarian society, that would serve the broad populace rather than a favored few.
800427
Welcome to the world of political philosophy vs political propoganda.  Okay a couple of things socialism means that the government has more control over business.  MAking sure there is money for healthcare, welfare, education, etc.  There are many socailistic countries in Europe that are democratic and doing fine.  Communism is further left.  Communism is an economic model and not a political one.  You could have a democratic communism.  What has happenned is a lot of solcialistic dictatorships.  There is yet to be a true communist country.  Unfortunately human greed always ruins communism as it will do with capitalism (according to marx) and there is examples of it starting to happen now (outsourcing jobs for penny wages).  Captilism will expand until it cannot expand any further and then collapse upon itself (basically once the rich have starved the poor whats left?).  It is a very confusing issue.   Anarchy is a political model and I would say is the opposite of socialism...which is no governemnt at all.  However I have been an anarchist for awhile, not because of punk, but because I have no faith in the politcal process today.  Too much business influence and lobbyists to really help most individuals.  But the pistols do rock.
280924
Well, for one thing, communism is an economic system while democracy is a political system.  They are not, as most people seem to believe, opposites of each other.  It is completely feasible to have a democratically elected government that pushes a communist agenda.\n\nCommunism refers the the economic system proposed by Karl Marx in "The Communist Mannifesto".  In this system, the state controls the means of production with an equal share going to each member of society.  In theory, it's not really all that bad, but it is unworkable and forgets the people are inherantly greedy.  Communism should be compared to Capitalism, not democracy.\n\nDemocracy refers to the method of governing whereby the people choose their leaders directly.  Democracy should be compared to totalitarianism, theocracy, or other governments not chosen by the people.
865490
No ... How can someone force democracy on someone else? If it's forced, then is it really a democracy? If there is ever to be democracy or peace over there, then they will have to resolve it themselves.
264609
What's great about democracy? is there really one? are we really free? freedom is total utopia... in a democracy, the capitalists rule, the politicians desecrate the laws they themselves constructed, the state swings to whomever holds the ball, and the people are taken in for a ride. thats the pitiful scenario everyday, the poison pill we take each day. why?, we will never be free coz, laws should be taken into consideration and if their are laws to govern us, there is no freedom... and without freedom, there is no true democracy.