Why is it that Americans support an economic system that makes 10% them rich and the rest relatively poor?

[Anonymous]

Not to mention an economic system that is rife with corruption, encourages crime, and pits them against each other economically. What is the attraction here?

[OneViewpoint]

The problem isn't attraction. The problem is stupidity. Most US citizens are poorly educated and too lazy to read and understand basic simple information that is readily available to them. They have almost zero understanding of economic models like Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism. They confuse the economic system with systems of government.

Example, they argue that the Nazis were socialists because they named their party the National Socialist Party. LOL, that was just marketing. The Nazis were straight up fascists. They cared about power not the people.

Another example. Stalin took over in Russia in a party named the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics. Therefore they were Socialists and Communists. No they weren't. They were barely an unwilling Union. Stalin was a brutal Fascist dictator who didn't give a shit about any esoteric economic theory or the people. Stalin just wanted blind obedience and total control.

And there has been a ruling Oligarchy in the USA since before it became a country. They learned early on that the uneducated masses could be easily controlled by using their natural stupidity, hate, and fears to pit them against each other and prevent them from ever gaining any power. And that strategy has worked really well. Stupid people have been fed propaganda that keeps them poor and powerless for more than 20 generations.

So our population have been kept uneducated, poor, divided, and full of hate for the "others". And the "others" has included any hint of an economic system that would be a threat to the Capitalist system that keeps the ruling class rich, powerful, and in charge. The 1% work hard to bury any dissent in propaganda that appears to be common sense to morons. So the morons keep believing that their only path to a better life is giving the rich everything they want and hoping to catch the crumbs from and Oligarch's table. We have a huge class of submissive stupid people by design.

[DrPepper12]

Our constitution. It's a suicide pact

Our history. It's mythologized.

Our religion. It's Christo-fascism.

Our racism. It's baked in everything.

Our ignorance. It's celebrated.

Our hubris. It's force fed lifelong.

Our violence. It's Hobbesian.

[OneViewpoint]

@DrPepper12,

It's what makes us "exceptional".

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Technically, americans didn’t create capitalism as we know it today. The dutch did, I think? Americans just became really good at it and a select few were able to recognize the pyramid scheme for what it was and keep it going for generations upon generations so that their descendants reaped the most benefits as they do now.

[NordicInScandinavia]

Because they've been fooled into thinking that if they just work hard enough then they too will become a part of the 10%.

[DrPepper12]

Fools indeed. Morons

[Anonymous]

When you keep the population dumb, feed them with propaganda that convinces them being poor or stuck where they are is their own fault, it's easy to manipulate them. Americans read at a 6th grade level and at least half the population can't critically analyze much of anything.

[Asker]

That is sadly correct.

[Opinion Owner]

It is correct, and what's even more sad is that you can't convince them they're uneducated - they'll tell you "it's you"!

[dustybiker2]

Empty promises and deluded belief they will be fulfilled.

[slatyb]

Basically racism. Working class whites vote against their own interests and vote for people who hate the same people they do.

[DrPepper12]

BINGO

[Anonymous]

for the same reason the dating market favors the top 10% and leaves the bottom 90% alone

if you believe we should have government-distributed wealth then you should also believe we should have government-distributed spouses

[Asker]

That actually might not be a bad idea.

[beefcakebradybatson]

B-R-A-I-N-W-A-S-H-I-N-G !!!(As Dr. Martin L. King was observed, America touts rugged individualism for the 99.99999% and Socialism for the overlords.)

[BarryLiverstone]

Capitalism motivates people to work hard and innovate. The competition allows for invention and creates a sense of winning culture. It’s a better system than others.


Which system does anon support?

[contentious]

What a pussy commie.

[BarryLiverstone]

Commenting like that on a free web app doesn’t seem constructive.

[WindAtMyBack]

It doesn't.

You obviously have no clue whatsoever how things work.

[exitseven]

Capitalism has reduced poverty more than any other system. Socialism has failed every time it has been tried. Communism is just Socialism with a gun pointed at you. Anarchy doesn't do what governments are supposed to do

[Asker]

You are confusing economic and political systems - again. 40% of the US lives in poverty, yet you somehow think Capitalism is great...

[exitseven]

in 2024 the percentage of people living below the poverty level was %11.1 . The poverty level is some arbitrary figure. When I was younger I lived a mere $500 above the poverty level for a family of four. We all ate 3 meals a day and had a roof over our heads. it was not great but it did not seem like the poverty thsat you see on TV with the kids with swollen bellies.

[Asker]

@exitseven I don't know where you get your data, but as usual, you can't support it.

[exitseven]

Google percentage of poverty in 2024 ans see what it says. It will say 11.1 percent. Where did you get 40 percent, ,? Was it CNN?

[Asker]

You are just repeating the propaganda you've heard and not looking at the reality of this at all.

[exitseven]

It is not propaganda. Where do you get the 40%?

[seeyounexttuesday]

You mean capitalism? The one economic system that has brought the most wealth to the most people in the history of humanity? The economic system that built the computer and the internet you're using to whine on the internet about?

[DrPepper12]

It's great & powerful - that's why it needs a leash.

[seeyounexttuesday]

@DrPepper12 a leash? By the people who are paid off by corporations to write laws?

[Asker]

Most wealth, sure. But the most wealth to the FEWEST people.

[seeyounexttuesday]

Objectively untrue.

[Asker]

Prove it.

[DrPepper12]

No. Election reforms are necessary just to get the collar on at this point

[Dargil]

Is there a better alternative?

[Asker]

Yes Democratic socialism is obviously a much better alternative. But then again, you would not want to deprive the one percent of all their wealth would you?

[Dargil]

No, I wouldn't. They earned it.
We do have that, to a certain extent. But do you want government to regulate everything?

[Asker]

No, I just went the government to regulate the damned economy instead of rigging it so that wealthy people get everything and the rest of us get practically nothing.