Free Market Capitalism (Pro) vs Statist Communism (Con)

Individualism That being said, he uses Switzerland as an example of Individualism, however in the context of America, they are more collectivist. However, what really kills this argument is that Communism doesn't necessarily have to kill individual rights. In fact, I'd argue that Communism increases individual rights Oscar Wilde's The Soul of Man under Socialism """It is immoral to use private property in order to alleviate the horrible evils that result from the institution of private property. It is both immoral and unfair. Under Socialism all this will, of course, be altered. There will be no people living in fetid dens and fetid rags, and bringing up unhealthy, hunger-pinched children in the midst of impossible and absolutely repulsive surroundings. The security of society will not depend, as it does now, on the state of the weather. If a frost comes we shall not have a hundred thousand men out of work, tramping about the streets in a state of disgusting misery, or whining to their neighbours for alms, or crowding round the doors of loathsome shelters to try and secure a hunch of bread and a night"s unclean lodging. Each member of the society will share in the general prosperity and happiness of the society, and if a frost comes no one will practically be anything the worse. Upon the other hand, Socialism itself will be of value simply because it will lead to Individualism. Socialism, Communism, or whatever one chooses to call it, by converting private property into public wealth, and substituting co-operation for competition, will restore society to its proper condition of a thoroughly healthy organism, and insure the material well-being of each member of the community. It will, in fact, give Life its proper basis and its proper environment. But for the full development of Life to its highest mode of perfection, something more is needed. What is needed is Individualism. If the Socialism is Authoritarian; if there are Governments armed with economic power as they are now with political power; if, in a word, we are to have Industrial Tyrannies, then the last state of man will be worse than the first. At present, in consequence of the existence of private property, a great many people are enabled to develop a certain very limited amount of Individualism. They are either under no necessity to work for their living, or are enabled to choose the sphere of activity that is really congenial to them, and gives them pleasure. These are the poets, the philosophers, the men of science, the men of culture " in a word, the real men, the men who have realised themselves, and in whom all Humanity gains a partial realisation. Upon the other hand, there are a great many people who, having no private property of their own, and being always on the brink of sheer starvation, are compelled to do the work of beasts of burden, to do work that is quite uncongenial to them, and to which they are forced by the peremptory, unreasonable, degrading Tyranny of want. These are the poor, and amongst them there is no grace of manner, or charm of speech, or civilisation, or culture, or refinement in pleasures, or joy of life. From their collective force Humanity gains much in material prosperity. But it is only the material result that it gains, and the man who is poor is in himself absolutely of no importance. He is merely the infinitesimal atom of a force that, so far from regarding him, crushes him: indeed, prefers him crushed, as in that case he is far more obedient. """ It basically says that Capitalism forces one to prostitute one's labor, in order to receive of that which one needs to live. I understand one might disregard this because it says Socialism, however I point you to the 1st sentence of the Final paragraph """Socialism, Communism, or whatever one chooses to call it""" Marx also wrote about this in his book The German Ideology """For as soon as the distribution of labour comes into being, each man has a particular, exclusive sphere of activity, which is forced upon him and from which he cannot escape. He is a hunter, a fisherman, a herdsman, or a critical critic, and must remain so if he does not want to lose his means of livelihood; while in communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic. """{2} Additionally, in a Study by Pew Charitable Trust, 70% of all people who are born into the lowest bracket of income, will never move up a bracket. {3} Therefore, the very idea of Capitalism is flawed, in that not everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Employment I'll concede, you do have a choice between employers, but it is tantamount to a slave choosing which plantation. You still need Money to survive, and without it, you will eventually starve, freeze or die from disease, none of which would happen in a Communist Society as resources are shared equally. Environment On the subject of the Environment, Governments are clearly better for regulating than Corporations. Corporations are logical entities. If the Government doesn't say they can't dump toxins into the river, they will save money by dumping toxins into the River. In addition, companies won't advertise that they pollute, therefore the argument that pollution doesn't get business is true, but for the incorrect reason. My opponent also says " no corporation makes mooney off of poisoning people. " However this is incorrect. Corporations save much money if they don't have to transport the waste they produce, don't have to store it in specific containers and don't have to find a proper location to safely dispose of the waste. He also says " They make money off of things like fracking and don't care when it poisons the water supply. "" This is partly true, however it can be tied to corporate donations and filibustering Politicians. " Conservative politicians love to talk about how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only issues "job-killing regulations," especially if they're taking campaign contributions from fossil fuel billionaires like the Koch brothers or from agrochemical giants like Monsanto. Republican Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee Lamar Smith, for example, has spent years trying to stop the EPA from conducting any real research about climate change or passing any real regulations in general. ""{4} In such cases, a sufficient response is simply to dissolve the concept of Corporations. Thereby, destroying their influence in the government. Then, if a government wants clean energy or clean disposal of waste, they get it. Therefore, Government is better for regulation the Environmental Activities of Corporations. Automation Another point my opponent failed to answer for is the automation of jobs. Under a Capitalist system, companies are incentivized to automate jobs, therefore running people out of their jobs. Granted, under a Communist system, automation would occur. However, as money isn't a thing in true communism, people could be Writers, Actors, Musicians, Photographers or code programming in their spare time. Scientists would also be more in demand, as the Government would be interested in increasing the productivity of these machines. However, in the capitalist system, you take the only jobs these people are qualified for, and send them home without a source of income. According to The Atlantic; automation would cut 50% of all middle-class jobs. {5} This, in our society, is essentially a death sentence, as people starve, freeze or die of disease. Failed to Refute Notice my opponent also failed to refute my point that Communism benefits more people than Capitalism does, thereby reducing this "Class Inequality" as redistribution of Wealth is wont to do. {1}:. https://www.marxists.org... {2}:. https://www.marxists.org... {3}:. http://economy.money.cnn.com... {4}:. http://www.truth-out.org... {5}:. http://www.theatlantic.com...