Instruction:
Can you write me a page long essay on whether capitalism needs to be reexamined and amended?  Is such a reexamination one of incremental or transformational change?  If so, why?  If not, why not?

Response:
How can I fully participate in a capitalistic society without examining it in the first place? That is 
the necessary first step to then “re-examine” capitalism, which I unequivocally support. Blindly 
following a belief, even an economic one, without critically assessing it can run the danger of 
making me complicit in contributing to the consequences of that belief even without any intent.
I can only fully speak from my experience, so that is the lens through which I approach this 
class; on the larger scale, however, a re-examination is also called for to discern whether 
capitalism is the best course of action in the long term. 
Upon this re-examination, I conclude that capitalism is not broken: it is functioning as intended, 
to create economic value for the majority groups who popularized it.

Capitalism in the United States has achieved such fast-paced progress because Black slaves, minority immigrants, and unpaid domestic laborers have assumed the lion’s share of building the 
system, and the legacies of these systems result in the inequities of race, class, and gender as 
discussed in class. Such inequities are not only shameful, but plainly unnecessary to continue making such strides in industry, health, longevity, and sharing of ideas. Therefore, capitalism should be amended so that workers more equitably reap the fruits of their labor. Exorbitant CEO pay and the 
distribution of the majority of profits towards shareholders; global factories which exploit 
children while imposing unclean and unsafe working conditions on many; unfettered 
production decimating the planet – should all be amended. Capitalism has grown automation, 
technology, and AI as well as the development and sharing of thought to remarkable levels. Such progress can be leveraged to address these issues and more. This isn’t idealistic or wishful thinking; though economic situations can seem like “given”
circumstances, they are not to be taken for granted; capitalism is a human institution which 
requires human participation to uphold them. Therefore, capitalism also can be amended. 
Introducing another consideration is not a limitation on profits; rather, considering additional 
parameters inspires innovation, as embraced by many leading organizations. 
But at what pace shall capitalism be amended? The modern United States has necessary checks 
and balances in the legal systems to uphold the laws and enforce the regulations, which makes 
me believe that change should be incremental as to learn from our past and carefully curate a 
new future. It takes time to engage the partners vital to change – academics, politicians, social 
leaders, business leaders – and transformative change may leave some key stakeholders 
behind. Over time, incremental change is transformative and can achieve the changes imagined above.