Do you consider yourself a capitalist or a socialist?

Speaking broadly... I would say I'm a socialist with a hint of capitalist.

Capitalist. Because America.

I run a painting company and I do it because I get paid. So I guess I'm the definition of a capitalist.

Having said that, I think a gaming forum is a bad place to ask this question because most of the people on here are children and until you get out in the workforce you aren't either.

I'd consider myself a leftist for sure. However, the world isn't as clear cut as being one or the other. It makes me laugh when Americans say that their Democratic Party is socialist when it's simply less right-wing than the Republicans. The spectrum is much broader than what you are making it seem. And any person living in the western world who calls themselves a socialist is a hypocrite.

Capitalist for sure

I am poor and sick so i can't be a capitalist.

Socialist by heart, but the world doesn't really allow me to be one, so I suppose one has to adapt if he is to survive... But the inner Marxist will never die.

@asparagus:

I don't vote, so neither.

A mixture of both.

@Bruce said:

@asparagus:

I don't vote, so neither.

This, but I like the systems held by the British Commonwealth and Europe better, so I'd guess that it falls into the Socialist category.

I'm most definitely a socialist. Just ask ZombiePie about some of the political debates we've had on Formspring.

People with no clue about the subject, using terms they don't truly understand beyond the babble on " news" sites, posting threads.

So whats new? Also you constrict political ideology to a bipolar scheme, yet contradict yourself in the following post. Please pay attention in social studies class, its actually quite important in curbing social political ignorance.

FYI 99% of north americans would be classified under other, even if they say otherwise themselves.

Yes i am a douche bag, good day sir.

@CitizenKane said:

A mixture of both.

This. Exactly this.

@valrog said:

Socialist by heart, but the world doesn't really allow me to be one, so I suppose one has to adapt if he is to survive... But the inner Marxist will never die.

This I guess.

I voted socialist, but would consider myself more of a mixture between both.

"Socialist" has a different meaning in America. Some european countries are led by socialists, and that doesn't mean they're dirty commies.

Also, good thread. I'm sure it will turn into a civil argument. :)

SOVIET COMMUNISM! 

I am an anarchist with a socialist leaning. I like how this thread isn't a flame war yet.

give me free things

I like money.
Give me money?

Socialist.

@PurpleOddity said:

I am an anarchist with a socialist leaning. I like how this thread isn't a flame war yet.

This, pretty much.

nihilist, none of this matters

Socialist Pinko Commienazi Gay Illegal Alien Secret Muslim Antichrist on this end.

I'll let my policies as King do the talking.

Sure.

I'm a capitalist because I believe in the value of hard work. Governments are generally incompetent and wasteful. The private sector is much more sufficient.

I do believe though in government legislation that keeps the private sector in line. For example, anti-trust legislation is important so that monopolies are not formed.

it is laughable what is considered socialism is the US, but then decent public discourse is non existent.

@Wolverine: I run with this to a point. the issue is that people who live in particular areas\situations will always be denied essential services because providing them is unprofitable.

That is why I oppose any private element in healthcare provision.

give me free things

I support feudalism.

Fuck the serfs, bring me my boar stuffed with goose stuffed with spatchcock, peasant!

With how Americans use the word, I'm a total Socialist. In Europe, I'm kind of a Capitalist.

I don't want to start an argument, it's just that the term "Socialism" is used very freely today and it can be misleading.

@Wolverine said:

I'm a capitalist because I believe in the value of hard work.

You know who also said lines like this? Communist leaders.

I believe that we need a government to stop greedy capitalists and other such criminals from hurting other people and the planet. Apart from that, I don't believe the government should be interfering in peoples lives.

Also, I believe that, as the global community come to understand each other better through the internet, individual nations will cease to exist, and we'll be able to be more united as a species.

in the meantime, I have always voted NDP.

so, I chose "other" because I don't believe in capitalism, but I also don't believe in authoritarian government.

Fuck taxes.

Fuck Texas!

I'm pretty sure that no one here is a pure capitalist or a pure socialist.

@damnable_fiend said:

Also, I believe that, as the global community come to understand each other better through the internet, individual nations will cease to exist, and we'll be able to be more united as a species.

Even if this would ever happen, we would still need an economic system. And if it'll be decided by a poll, well, there are alot of Chinese people.

I have a bookmarks folder entitled "reasons that I am a socialist."

Most of the articles are about Apple.

@mnzy said:

@damnable_fiend said:

Also, I believe that, as the global community come to understand each other better through the internet, individual nations will cease to exist, and we'll be able to be more united as a species.

Even if this would ever happen, we would still need an economic system. And if it'll be decided by a poll, well, there are alot of Chinese people.

I'm pretty sure that, given the choice, the vast majority of Chinese people would not want to live under their current system of government, if a better viable option presented itself.

Socialist by heart, but the world doesn't really allow me to be one, so I suppose one has to adapt if he is to survive... But the inner Marxist will never die.

@MooseyMcMan said:

Capitalist. Because America.

I haven't been in the working force long enough to say one way or the other for sure. I lean towards socialist at the moment though.

I'm broadly capitalist, but I'm not one of those "Free-Market-Solves-EVERYTHING" type of people. I recognize that capitalism is not perfect, and actually has a lot of flaws (such as an inevitable boom-bust cycle). I recognize that capitalism offers more freedom and far more competition than socialism or hard-line communism, but I am also aware that companies do not do what is in our best interests and thus have to be watched and regulated. I'm a moderate - I support government health-care for the poor and other government safety nets, but I also want the government to only provide the bare minimum as an incentive for people to try to make money and buy private health care (this is the system we have in Australia, and believe me it works). I want a middle-ground between taxing and spending (the rich DO benefit from public spending in the form of infrastructure, increased social stability and better-educated employees. They'll never, EVER admit it, but they benefit from government spending, even if indirectly. Then again, taxes can hurt if they are too high. I want a middle-ground).

So while I have issues with the current system, I don't think capitalism has "failed" or is "doomed" (they said the same sort of stuff in the 1930's). I wish to retain capitalism, broadly, while introducing a few more regulations to ensure ethical behaviour and taxing just a bit more to ensure that government safety nets are in place for those the system inevitably screw over.

Capitalism is a grim system, but I for one, sure as hell would rather live in a capitalist country than any country that has even attempted communism. As for socialism - I like some parts of it. Not all of it, but some parts of it. So broadly capitalist with a hint of socialism is how I'd describe me, if I were a coffee flavour.

@Korolev said:

I'm broadly capitalist, but I'm not one of those "Free-Market-Solves-EVERYTHING" type of people. I recognize that capitalism is not perfect, and actually has a lot of flaws (such as an inevitable boom-bust cycle). I recognize that capitalism offers more freedom and far more competition than socialism or hard-line communism, but I am also aware that companies do not do what is in our best interests and thus have to be watched and regulated. I'm a moderate - I support government health-care for the poor and other government safety nets, but I also want the government to only provide the bare minimum as an incentive for people to try to make money and buy private health care (this is the system we have in Australia, and believe me it works). I want a middle-ground between taxing and spending (the rich DO benefit from public spending in the form of infrastructure, increased social stability and better-educated employees. They'll never, EVER admit it, but they benefit from government spending, even if indirectly. Then again, taxes can hurt if they are too high. I want a middle-ground).

So while I have issues with the current system, I don't think capitalism has "failed" or is "doomed" (they said the same sort of stuff in the 1930's). I wish to retain capitalism, broadly, while introducing a few more regulations to ensure ethical behaviour and taxing just a bit more to ensure that government safety nets are in place for those the system inevitably screw over.

Capitalism is a grim system, but I for one, sure as hell would rather live in a capitalist country than any country that has even attempted communism. As for socialism - I like some parts of it. Not all of it, but some parts of it. So broadly capitalist with a hint of socialism is how I'd describe me, if I were a coffee flavour.

This.

Also Money Money Money Money Money.

Capitalist...?

I don't know. Which one likes making lot's of money?

If corporations cared about the people that buy their products instead of only caring about the people that buy their stocks I would say Capitalists but over the past decade watching corporations announce record profits and then in the same meeting announce massive layoffs to improve productivity and the bottom line for investors I have really started leaning socialist. I understand the need to layoff people in order to survive because at the end of the day it is better for 500 people to keep their job than for all 1000 to lose them but any more it doesn't have anything to do with that it is all about outperforming last quarter so their stock prices continue to rise. The problem is when they lay everybody off nobody can afford to buy any of the products they sell. I can fix it though vote for me for President and all your wildest dreams will come true.

Kinda depends. Shit like the cost of education, textbooks, healthcare should totally be socialist IMO. I mean when you make a profit off what it means to live, inflation only goes up.

But then, shit like video games, clothing, cars, and stuff like that, totally go capitalist.