Is Capitalism A Just System?

[Dedicated Mind]

Are people treated as commodities? Is it just that owners reap almost all of the benefits from the labor of the workers? Who should determine what is a just wage? Is there a better system of remunerating labor than finding the cheapest labor to increase profits for the owner? Is a capitalist system christian? shouldn't christians engage in a critique of capitalism and its' deficiencies to pursue a more equitable arrangement? (questions inspired by the writings of Cornel West, Prophesy Deliverance)

[deacon blues]

Name another system that has been any better. Freedom is Christian.

[Amanah]

Capitalism works well if you work the system, do well in school, work hard, build a career or business using christian principles to succeed. It doesn't work if you fall through the cracks, but that is where the church should step in, to relieve the burden of those who are less fortunate.

Communism, Socialism, dictatorships do less for the people.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Capitalism works well if you work the system, do well in school, work hard, build a career or business using christian principles to succeed. It doesn't work if you fall through the cracks, but that is where the church should step in, to relieve the burden of those who are less fortunate.

Communism, Socialism, dictatorships do less for the people.

Yep.

How much charity and disaster relief and defense of freedom around the world has been funded by socialist nations? Why has China abandoned communism for capitalism? The evidence is overwhelming that capitalism has proven to be the most effective system for wealth creation, job creation, and to provide a free and just society. Even the poor here fare much better than elsewhere.

[Aquila]

Biblically speaking, neither capitalism or socialism is a just system. In fact, the only "humane" system by Christian standards is "distributism". Here's a link on the economic idea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributism

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

Are people treated as commodities? Is it just that owners reap almost all of the benefits from the labor of the workers? Who should determine what is a just wage? Is there a better system of remunerating labor than finding the cheapest labor to increase profits for the owner? Is a capitalist system christian? shouldn't christians engage in a critique of capitalism and its' deficiencies to pursue a more equitable arrangement? (questions inspired by the writings of Cornel West, Prophesy Deliverance)

It seems you are trying to tie Capitalism in with Crony Capitalism. Capitalism came under attack when regulations and the size and scope of the government have greatly expanded, creating the conditions for the spread of crony capitalism, restricting competition in favor of politically well-connected businesses. Crony capitalism is not capitalism at all, but is seen as such by many because it involves businesspeople.

Capitalism is a self-disciplinary system. It is the only organizing principle of human activity that requires us to be of value to the rest of society in order to prosper. Enron didn’t follow the rules, capitalism dismembered the company.

Capitalism has worked to create more jobs than any system since the dawn of civilization. But it works because individuals take risks with their own money or with borrowed money that they are personally liable to repay.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Biblically speaking, neither capitalism or socialism is a just system. In fact, the only "humane" system by Christian standards is "distributism". Here's a link on the economic idea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributism

How do you reconcile "distributism" with this passage of scripture.

1 Timothy 5:8 "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

2 Cor 6:15 asks us what part do we, as believers, have with an infidel if Christ had no accordance with Belial."

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Name another system that has been any better. Freedom is Christian.

i agree that freedom is essential. i also agree that capitalism has been the best so far with the stipulation that reforms were necessary. like labor laws, number of workweek hours, safety, environment, minimum wage, child labor etc.

the question is can we imagine a more just and equitable system or at least more progressive reforms?

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Yep.

How much charity and disaster relief and defense of freedom around the world has been funded by socialist nations? Why has China abandoned communism for capitalism? The evidence is overwhelming that capitalism has proven to be the most effective system for wealth creation, job creation, and to provide a free and just society. Even the poor here fare much better than elsewhere.

just because the poor fare better doesn't mean we should be satisfied, we should continue to strive for improvement.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Biblically speaking, neither capitalism or socialism is a just system. In fact, the only "humane" system by Christian standards is "distributism". Here's a link on the economic idea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributism

interesting, never heard of that before. sounds like a system in between capitalism and socialism. i might add that orthodox marxism (state control) has been totally discredited by ussr but there are forms of progressive marxism. participatory economics is one similar movement with worker councils to self-regulate, equal distribution of tasks in a job, not specialized labor, in order to enrich all and changes in remuneration. here is about a 30 minute speech on parecon.

http://www.zcommunications.org/alter...michael-albert