Zeitgeist Addendum - This is for you wuf :)

[CoccoBill]

If anyone is able to come up with some new type of system that produces a better outcome for all at the expense of none, they deserve 100 years' worth of nobel prizes in economics.

If the narrowing of the income gap and more just distribution of resources does not come at the expense of the top 2% of the planet's population, how do you suggest it would come? Why is it that this magnificent free market hasn't pulled all of the 3rd world out of poverty, why are the rich getting richer than ever and why is even the middle class getting smaller? Where is the so called trickle down effect? IMO even a less effective but more just system would be much better overall. I truly find it magnificent that the majority of americans think they are the ones who benefit from the system and are even willing to fight for and support the rights of the top 1-2% at their own expense. Talk about the con of the century.

I can tell you that of all the research that has been, or is being done in universities world-wide, there is precious little to suggest that there exists anything better than what we've got to work with right now. What are the alternatives? State-controlled economies? The old-school barter system? All signs point to "fuck that shit".

So even the clusterfuck yesteryear that was solely created by lack of regulation is not proof enough that there's something wrong with the system? If state control drops the profit margins of large corporations by a few per cent but disables or at least limits corruption, how is that bad? Even Alan Greenspan had to admit he was wrong with his ideas of bank self-regulation, but I guess that doesn't mean anything.

Anyhow, I feel like all this has gone at least somewhat off-topic. I've noticed that there is some discussion about suppression of technology and such, as a means to maximize profits, etc. To relate my argument to this; it is essentially a form of corruption. Corruption has and always will exist in some form whether we take measures to prevent it or not... This isn't the fault of capitalism.

Yes, it really makes no difference what the policy or the economic system is if there is corruption, and trust me there will be as long as there are human self interests involved. What's the best way to fight corruption and illegal activities? Well, we can either have more strict control (laws and regulations) or make the illegal activities legal. Just hoping that people won't try to find loopholes or exploit the system hasn't and will not work.