Capitalism or Socialism?
irishbhoy1967
eIreland is now a country of multiple political parties with many differing views, from the far-right to the far left with the emergence of two new parties- “Labour” and the “Capitalist Party”.
This article includes the views of many citizens, from left to right to in-between, on whether Capitalism or Socialism is the way forward for our country.
Below are the views of the citizens who commented. Anyone else who would like their views heard on the subject, post a reply, that’s what the reply box is there for.
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ImperatorI
“Capitalism is plainly obviously wrong, while socialism is a broad concept with all sorts of ideologies overlapping each other, socialism is simply a Cartesian tool for the human race to recognise what we are, humans, pack animals, we thrive on harmony and freedom and progression, capitalists would argue that socialism places the many before the self, therefore digresses from self-betterment, I disagree, I say that through the betterment of the human race, we become interconnected, we become more able to share ideas and resources, our individual weaknesses become our overall strength and through compassion we are able to find true meaning in ourselves, the quality of life is the basic building block of all civilisation, it is not through frugality, it is through the opening of the mind through education, prolonging the life and our bodies through healthcare and wellbeing, it is through democracy, people power itself that we are able to decide our own future, there is a saying: ''a mind opens, a utopia blossoms''
Biffo3000 PP Saoirse
“Well the main problem I see in socialism is people don't like to share...the idea of sharing the wealth is fine but getting people to be willing to do so is a lot harder than it sounds. The obvious benefits of socialism would be by sharing the wealth around between people. It, in theory, is a fair system. The benefit of capitalism would be that hard work is rewarded and those who are willing to go extra yard generally get further in the competition, it’s drawback would be the over reliance on profit and money being held above anything else”
Dan Murcadh PP Capitalist Party
“Capitalism is based on a Free market, the Game is based off of this principle. Quality of Goods and Competition on the Market drive prices down. Capitalism is the Private ownership of the means of production, and there is more clout in a Non-subsidized company, where a GM can manage his companies far more progressively than a Tax-fed State-run Company can”.
Michael Collins
"Free market encourages newbies, and ensures that only the best, most creative, and most active GMs survive".
Theus Jackus
"Well in my opinion they're both just ideologies. True capitalism would mean that everything from the fire brigade to the police service would be privatised and obviously that wouldn't be a good thing. Socialism would mean everything is nationalised and that's just counter-productive. You need to take elements from both to make a strong system of government, and although both are limited in eRepublik, the same principle applies"
Glorious Connolly
"Socialism is better than capitalism because it insures a very healthy populous and a populous who's views are best represented. Also under a socialist state the military would be much more effective. For instance. in the game eJahan, Austwrya, who was a small communist country defended itself successfully from 3 of the biggest eJahan countries. The military was very well organized and very very very well supplied by the state companies".
Sweet Drinker MoInd
"As a former deputy in the MoNC I quite vocally defended our State newb employment system, while at the same time trying to develop a recruitment system so the best new workers got well paid private employment.
As the current MoInd, I manage the state companies and feel they are essential to ensuring there are always jobs open for newborns. The largest part of my job is managing our state owned offshore companies. It is my goal to maximize the profit from these companies, and hopefully expand the operation in the future.
I guess I'm a supporter of 'Institutionalized Capitalism' lol
🙂"
John Jay Vice-President and MoD
“Capitalism rocks”.
Elusmon
"Socialism is better because it let's society's collective wealth spread out rather than have the majority of wealth confined to a few elite. This makes living better for everyone and allows real equality to prosper. The primary reason Capitalists combat this march forward is because in a proper socialist system, they'd have to share. In Socialism, people get up in the morning, and aren't motivated by possibilities of wealth, but by their love of fellow man. However, despite the inevitability of socialism, selfish capitalists are constantly releasing propaganda to misguise, disillusioned and keep in place the working class. I believe the proletariat of Ireland must truly unite for real change".
Edana Savage PP Independant Voices and MoEd
"I like your style.
🙂
Hmmm. I'm going to have to think about that. I'm somewhere in the middle on that discussion".
Nithraldur
"It is in fact an endless debate, as both sides have a set of pro’s and con’s that can be randomly thrown into one’s face. As I have been asked to keep this short, I will only give one simple example which I think is of utmost importance, but often disregarded. In the capitalism system, it is believed that when the people are motivated to go to work, by receiving a compensation for their labour, in the form of currency which they than can trade for goods which enhance their life or simply sustain their life, will automatically feel a drive to succeed, to continue, maintaining the system and providing a way of existance for the community as a whole. Advocates of the socialism system say, that man can simply be motivated to go work if it means they can take care of their fellow man that way. The impulse to take care of the one next to you, to make sure that he or she has a decent life too, is one of the most ‘pure’ emotions man kind possesses. They claim that ‘advancing’ to this state of mind shows the evolution of mankind, to a more finer and humane state of being.
Believe what you will, but I believe that assuming that all of mankind will simply work together because they get told to, is a fairytale, a pretty but unattainable dream. Keep your feet on the ground like I do, and believe that man is indeed capable of great things, but that it’s also a species that needs to make many errors before it realises there is a better way".
Brian Boru PP Labour
"eRepublik is a game driven by war. The idea of having a free market in this game is simply untenable, as the countries that can call on the greatest resources will be the countries that succeed. Private industry has only one thing in min
😛Profit. Production is not the main emphasis of capitalism. A country with a highly centralised economy based on military needs is going to be able to call upon more than a country with a free market, where the prices are decided by a number of unelected GMs. There are other arguments to be made, and I have made them before, but looking to the future, I think this one is most appropriate".
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Comments
agree with BB 😃
Hate commies.
Also disagree with Imp's comment in, we are naturally competitive with each other. Genes are selfish.
socialism is a recipe for failure, hell even Che Guevara knew that, his socialist reforms in Cuba had very little success
"Also disagree with Imp's comment in, we are naturally competitive with each other. Genes are selfish."
Social Darwinism is silly.
"socialism is a recipe for failure, hell even Che Guevara knew that, his socialist reforms in Cuba had very little success"
This isn't reality Dylan.
Socialism doesn't work in Erep.
Of all the comments, I personally agree most with Theus. Brian, in theory you are mainly correct but you forget that private companies will always be more efficient than bulky institutionalised ones.
Voted
Was very interesting to read some other ppl's standpoints
The main issue is and will continue to be the 5 Top Party rule. You can hear anything you want and agree upon it, but the Top Five Parties will control the discussion in the Congress, until the system changes.
Military State does not recognise these concepts
The Military State will consume all
The Military State will bring order to this nation.
"Brian, in theory you are mainly correct but you forget that private companies will always be more efficient than bulky institutionalised ones."
This is only true in reality, state efficiency is possible as the process of using companies is the exact same for private and public companies in eRepublik. In fact, it can be argued that state enterprise is more efficient in eRepublik, as private profit can be considered an inefficiency over break-even-only state benefit.
lol @ Teut ♥
You're always so snarky 🙂
Why don't we just make eIreland a Dictatorship, everything will be some much easier, you would not have to listen to any whiny citizens, or anyone really.....that's the life. haha
People try to further themselves it is a fact of life. Moral obligation can be bred into people. Indoctrinated to provide a safety net and set of rules that allow for the security of knowing more consequences of a wider range of actions. That is what society tends to. The individualism tend to self promoting stances. Altruism does affect us but so does narcissism the balance of these is what determines our individual stances. Pure altruism and pure narcissism are both undesireable because to further the whole the component parts can contribute to experimenation and innovation in a much less structured and so progressive and creative way than a group. There is a balance that needs to be struck that is why what is needed is a mix of the two approaches. Individuals should be allowed to pursue whatever methods they want but the state should also be free to compete in all markets as long as it does not abuse its power in them (individuals shouldn't either but we can't police that effectivbely in eRep).
Ps prices are determined by the markets
"prices are determined by the markets"
Therein is the inefficiency.
Yeah, got a problem with that your highness?
@Teut We like your snarkiness. It's what makes you lovable. 😉
I like Sweetie's answer.
Capitalism and Socialism in the purist sense won't work. But a blending of the two would. It's just finding the right blend.
As the MoNC, I am a pretty big fan of the Capitalism, the state noob companies are one of the most vital things we have in our country.
And I also have to agree with Sweet, Pure Capitalism wont work neither will Socialism, but a mix of the two can get it just right.
Great, I make the most beautiful speech about socialism yet, and the only recognition I get is ''I disagree''. You wankers.
I thought it was really nice imp
Lets keep RL topics out of erep
kkthxbai
Is this article about what works in real life or in erepublik? If its about real life, why don't we just take a look at some historical models and see which system works best? How did pure socialism work out in Russia? or China? both countries had to dump pure ideology because they were not productive enough.
The fact of the matter is, economics can be summed up in 2 words: incentives work
If people do not have an incentive to act, they will not act. Its pure and simple human nature. If you have a factory where everyone is paid the same and no one is rewarded for being more productive, the trend will be for individual productivity to fall towards the productivity of the least productive worker.
For erepublik, this does not work simply due to game mechanics. I don't work, I don't get paid. If I don't get paid more than the player with >1 skills, I move. Trying to initiate state control over these matters will kill the country
i went for the dummies guide to both!! without really saying anything of any use!
good work on the article tho!
@Teut
Thank you, sweety.
Capitalism is most organic and human of ideological systems. The stresses of socialism, make it unnatural and restrictive, something that people are bound to rail against where possible. I once heard it said that people act not on greed but on a need for self satisfaction or utility. After they have satisfied needs and some wants, human kind is essentially generous and I don't think thats necessarily a bad picture to paint of our kind.
Sorry I didnt get you my comment in time Irishboy. Heres my two cents
In the game some level of socialized industry has to occur, otherwise new players would pretty much be screwed by inconsistent employment offers. So long as the government pools the goods produced by this industry and doesn't attempt to meddle with the market then it's all good to me. Leave the private industry be in every regard other than training new players for them.
Interesting, not once did I see the point brought up of worker control though. I saw socialism represented as state control and redistribution of wealth. Is this really the debate in Ireland between socialism and capitalism.
When I say that prices are determined by markets I mean they aren't determined by GM's. GM's are subject to the environment they deal in and as such don't singularly have much of an impact. Collectively there is no cartel system so it simply comes down to once costs are covered demand sets the price. Increased circulation and higher production per capita should be the goals in this society. Everyone has the same opportunity in this game so it is choices not circumstances that affect who gets the gold.