People On This Page Are Mocking Capitalism, And Here Are 30 Of Their Best Memes
Like Neo from ‘The Matrix,’ some of you Pandas might sense that there’s just something deeply wrong with the world. You might not be able to put your finger on it, but some online groups like the ‘Late Stage Capitalism’ subreddit, with over 624k members (ironically called ‘consumers’) document what’s wrong with capitalism and highlight some of its hypocrisy.
Below, you’ll find some spot-on, insightful, and even funny memes about capitalism from the online community. Upvote the ones you agree with, share your personal thoughts about the weaknesses of capitalism in the comment section, and let us know how you’d go about improving things, dear Pandas. What economic alternative from the many, many theoretical ones do you think is the best for everyone?
The term itself, late capitalism, is a catchall phrase that refers to all the inequalities and absurdities of contemporary capitalist society. From inequality to the continuously shrinking middle class.
Finance writer and financial independence expert Rick Orford spoke to Bored Panda about the pros and cons of capitalism, socialism, the link between greed and financial crises, as well as about inequality. Rick was very open that extremes—any extremes, whether we're talking about dieting or capitalism—will always be problematic. "And with that, there will always be folks on either side who scream that their ideas are better." You'll find our full interview with Rick, as well as with another expert from the world of finance who explained the importance of accountability, below, dear Pandas.
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Jesus
Upvote If You Would Never Donate Money To Kylie Jenner
According to Rick, extreme capitalism and excessive greed both thrive when a large enough part of the population is willing to take the risks. "Remember though, greed is widely accepted to be the reason for the two largest financial crises in the last century; namely 1929 and 2008. It also creates the income inequality that’s largely seen in the United States. Indeed, while everyone, in theory, has an equal opportunity to flourish, the scales seem to tip to those with the most money," he explained to Bored Panda.
However, Rick points out that capitalism in and of itself isn't dangerous to society. "It allows folks like you and me to succeed by creating or investing in businesses. Indeed, one looking to borrow money from the banks today won’t have to pay much for the loan. As such, it encourages growth. However, extreme capitalism creates a scenario where greed overtakes reason, and it risks the financial system," financial expert Rick said.
Put The Blame Where It Belongs
A citizen gets a fine for littering because he accidentally loses a tissue, a company that discharges 100,000 liters of toxic waste water into the sewer gets a hefty reprimand.
Important Truth
Someone Explain This To Me
At the other end of the scale, we'll find modern socialism or social democracy as it's sometimes known. The way that this system works is by taxing citizens more than capitalistic countries. "However, in return, citizens are given services such as free and (easily) accessible healthcare, child care, social welfare, etc. Conversely, highly capitalistic societies charge for these services, making it incredibly challenging for the poor," Rick noted.
Rick added that capitalism, theoretically, gives everyone the ability to flourish. And even the titans of industry that pretty much everyone knows today aren't always raking in the cash: they've also undertaken big risks and losses before making a profit.
The Economy Is Booming. Jobs Everywhere!
All You Need To Know About American Healthcare
And that's illegal because it's unfair competition with the pharmaceutical industry who are stuck with their legal drugs.
When Making Money Is The Only Moral Compass
"Today, the news is largely distributed by some of the largest American corporations: Google, Facebook, and Twitter," Rick said, drawing attention to the fact that social media sites have the potential to shift people's thinking and even influence elections. "Think Brexit or the 2016 American Presidential election."
What helped these companies flourish is capitalism. However, just the same, capitalism is what helps ordinary people open up a business or sell their products. "And those with the best quality, price, customer service, or combination (of at least two) often do well. Increasingly, however, those who are willing to spend more at the beginning are seeing both extreme gains and losses. Famously, Amazon and Tesla, for example, have spent hundreds of millions of investor’s dollars before ever making a cent," financial independence writer Rick told Bored Panda.
Walmart Welfare
Ooooo Facts
Greed
literally like three billionaires could feed a third-world country...I'm just sayin
Meanwhile, a banking expert and independent investor who preferred to stay anonymous due to the sensitive nature of his work, told Bored Panda that capitalism disproportionately rewards individual incentive and punishes the lack of it. Especially when compared to socialism.
"As someone acquires more capital, it—on average—becomes exponentially easier to acquire even more of it, which adds to extreme wealth inequality," he said. "It really bothers me when trillions in pension funds are wiped out only for a couple of bankers to get slapped on the wrist. Making sure that the costs of financial crises are borne by financial institutions that manufactured them (even if unintentionally), as opposed to transferring the burden to other members of society, would increase accountability."
Socialism Not Socialism
The "Radical" Idea Of Universal Healthcare
Beyoncé, The Idol Of Bourgeois Liberal Feminists, Pays 64 Cents/Hour To Female Workers Who Make Clothes Of Her Brand Ivypark In Sweatshops In Sri Lanka While Preaching Female Empowerment.
In the expert's opinion, free markets are responsible for standards of living that are "unparalleled in human history," and he personally believes that it's the best system. However, he's an advocate of capitalism with "effective social programs," not pure capitalism. "Honing in on how social the capitalism should be is the path with most future rewards," he shared.
The expert also added that a lack of proper education about communism leads some individuals to have an unrealistic and even romantic understanding of such regimes. What's more, he believes that such beliefs are further propagated by "the belief that unlimited compassion is a virtue" and by certain university professors who have worked hard all their lives on research that isn't valued much by the market and other people. He said there's an easy way to figure out where you stand: "Ask yourself—do you really want to help the poor, or do you simply hate people richer than you?"
Meanwhile
The Simpsons Did It
A Copy Of The Bill We Got When Our Daughter Was Born In Canada
Canadian here as well. What an amazing coincidence! That’s exactly what we paid when my husband had a massive heart attack, went to hospital by ambulance, spent 5 days in intensive care, then was flown 300 kilometres by medical air ambulance to a larger cardiac centre, had a quintuple bypass, spent 5 days in that intensive care, and then came home to recuperate with the cardiologist calling us 3 times a week to check his recovery, and then spent 12 weeks in a formal cardiac rehab program including consults with a dietician and a behavioural therapist.
Some of the main criticisms that academics throw capitalism’s way include the accusations that it’s exploitative, alienates people, it’s unsustainable, and deepens economic inequality.
What’s more, critics point out that capitalism essentially turns people into commodities and slowly erodes away human rights while also putting a large emphasis on expansionism and warfare. By this point, these criticisms sound almost like a stereotype of capitalism. One that everyone knows but something that’s more akin to a caricature.
Like all things in life, however, things aren’t always so black and white. There’s plenty of nuances even when talking about capitalism which people seem to have a Marmite-like relationship with (i.e. they either hate it with the fiery passion of a hundred burning suns or they think it’s the best thing since sliced bread).
Lets Ask The Real Question
This astonishes me. In the UK the current £9.35 per item ($13). Thats the maximum you'd pay for each item on your prescription. However, if you have a life dependent condition like type 1 diabetes then a) your insulin is free and b) everything else on your prescription is also free because we don't want you to get ill and make your diabetes unstable and cost the NHS more money. Free insulin/$750 insulin. Why are people so opposed to nationalised healthcare in the USA?!
Maybe He Should Just Stop Being Poor!
No Words Describe This
While there are some theoretical alternatives to capitalism, far from every one of them is practical or even attractive. For instance, anarchism might sound attractive on paper, but actually abolishing the State and potentially even private ownership would lead to outright chaos. And it’s well worth pondering whether this sort of system could survive for long.
A more practical alternative could be a very soft form of socialism where public ownership would replace private ownership in some form and give workers greater rights and input in how the economy is planned out. However, one of the biggest fears there is that this sort of system might, in turn, evolve into communism. And history shows us that this is something that many countries who lived under such a regime would want to avoid repeating.
Anyone who’s opened up a history book knows that communism has led to the deaths of around 100 million people worldwide in a century. To put it bluntly, if history is anything to go by, it’s not a valid alternative to capitalism, no matter how exploitative the latter might be.
How True
Actually a couple people got arrested, and a very old man went to jail. Not “nothing”, but yes, very little.
Hits A Little Too Close To Home
Just Got My Bill From The Hospital... Being Charged $426 For This $8 Can Of Pain Relieving Spray.
So what else are we left with? Economic democracy could potentially be the answer. It’s a model where firms are democratically controlled by their employees. Meanwhile, a network of public banks takes charge of investments that affect the entire society. In other words, it’s a way to extend people’s democratic rights to more areas of their lives. In a way, it’s a point between capitalism and socialism without truly being either.
Climate Change Meets Mass Incarceration
That's... that's not the right way to hold a chainsaw. But yes, that whole deal majorly blows.
The Evil Of Bezos
Cool
Every so often I think about the fact that before that article and the resultant backlash, I (a New Zealander) didn’t know what Applebee’s was. I now know that it’s a chain of restaurants that has bad food. Was that the PR Applebee’s was hoping for?
But what do you think, Pandas? Do the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to capitalism? What alternative to capitalism could work out the best? Should we aim to completely reorganize the system? Or should we focus on keeping the current one while making small changes that would improve things for everyone?
Remember: The Royal Wedding Cost £32 Million, Nearly All On Security. Last Year 71 People Burned To Death In The Grenfell Fire In London, UK Because Tory Govt Refused To Spend £5,000 On Fireproof Cladding And £200,000 On A Sprinkler System.
That's not capitalism. To be more on point I think it might have been appropriate to mention the capitalist manufacturers of the cladding that caught fire; Arconic, or the capitalist contractors that installed it; Rydon, despite the fact that it had consistently failed fire safety tests for 12 consecutive years before installation. 72 people died on 14th June 2017 and not a single person or company has faced charges. That's capitalism.
Not sure how the government supporting and propping up a monarchy has anything to do with capitalism.
Nothing to do with Capitalism, but with stupid politicians. Because of socialist politicians we had the nice fireworks at Tchernobyl, in 1986.
You know, you could actually learn about what happened at Greenfell and why it happened, or you should just take those notions of yours, shove them up your äss and go fück yourself. No point arguing with pigs, as I only get dirty and they enjoy it. Really, go fück yourself. And then fück off and keep fücking off.
Load More Replies...The thing is, the cladding was installed to improve the building for the residence. It would have saved the tax payer money. The government didn't refuse to spend £5000 as you say, as it was for to a more complex series of bad decisions. People died and those responsible should be held accountable, but no one person is to blame. I'm not a royalist, but the royal wedding made the country far more money than it cost. To put things into perspective, UK spend 18.5 billion in social housing last year. Many of the 15 million people claiming universal credit live in social housing. Where should all this money that the government should spend come from? Should that extra money come from higher rent which is already subsidised, or should it come from income tax; while those on low incomes and benefits literally pay no income tax?
Not quite true. It was not the government but local council who have no money to care for social housing. IF 32 million had not been spent of Harry and Meg's wedding she would have had another racism sword for stabbing the Queen and her dying husband with, which you Americans say are true
Profit motive, ahead of welfare. Too cheap to put people first.
Load More Replies...Accurate
A corrupt political system giving subsidizes and tax relief to major companies is not capitalism. Making higher education in-affordable and hinder social advancement is not capitalism. It's a feudal system. Democratic capitalism is the best system we ever had. Now we no longer have real democracy or real capitalism.
Reminder That Corporations Only Care About Diversity When It Benefits Them
Note: this post originally had 98 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
While I don't believe that any economic/political structure is ever truly perfect, I do 1000% think that the version of capitalism described here has some major flaws that can definitely be fixed and should be fixed.
Oh your poor person, Capitalism can never run a country successfully for the benefit of all
Load More Replies...I duly believe that no one person/family should be allowed to amass the kinds of wealth the 1% have been permitted to. They should all be stripped of their wealth and have it redistributed for the "common good" or at the very least increase the pay of the ground-level employees to have a decent income and to pay out profits to them and not to a small number of investors.
capitalism noun an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
Some are dishonest and petty, others have nothing to do with capitalism... But some are sadly accurate.
Ken Cheshire: yes the people barely living off of food stamps while working 3 different jobs are ungrateful little shits.
I figure we'd do better with a basically capitalist economy overseen and limited to some extent by a democratic-socialist government that guaranteed basic living needs/education/infrastructure... But hey, I'm just some rando on the interwebs.
People seriously need to read Mistborn. Or it needs to be made into a movie. Point is, poor people aren't people, only rich people are people, and only because the richest man says they're allowed to be. World is saved by poor people eating the rich, wouldn't ya know it?
What I find funny is that people are still going to call Americans lazy after this
Okay I'll bite. How is it a good thing people die because they are $50 short for life saving medication? Also, I'm sure it's excellent that a person working a full time job isn't paid enough to cover their rent, but I'm missing how. Can you explain? Thank you.
Load More Replies...Romania wasn’t socialism or communism, it was a kleptocracy, run by a selfish elite. The eastern bloc collapsed in 1989 because it wasn’t ‘socialism’ at all, but the same kind of kleptocracy. Socialism built things like the wonderful National Health Service in Britain, which Boris Johnson and co. are busy trying to destroy and sell to unscrupulous American companies.
Load More Replies...While I don't believe that any economic/political structure is ever truly perfect, I do 1000% think that the version of capitalism described here has some major flaws that can definitely be fixed and should be fixed.
Oh your poor person, Capitalism can never run a country successfully for the benefit of all
Load More Replies...I duly believe that no one person/family should be allowed to amass the kinds of wealth the 1% have been permitted to. They should all be stripped of their wealth and have it redistributed for the "common good" or at the very least increase the pay of the ground-level employees to have a decent income and to pay out profits to them and not to a small number of investors.
capitalism noun an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
Some are dishonest and petty, others have nothing to do with capitalism... But some are sadly accurate.
Ken Cheshire: yes the people barely living off of food stamps while working 3 different jobs are ungrateful little shits.
I figure we'd do better with a basically capitalist economy overseen and limited to some extent by a democratic-socialist government that guaranteed basic living needs/education/infrastructure... But hey, I'm just some rando on the interwebs.
People seriously need to read Mistborn. Or it needs to be made into a movie. Point is, poor people aren't people, only rich people are people, and only because the richest man says they're allowed to be. World is saved by poor people eating the rich, wouldn't ya know it?
What I find funny is that people are still going to call Americans lazy after this
Okay I'll bite. How is it a good thing people die because they are $50 short for life saving medication? Also, I'm sure it's excellent that a person working a full time job isn't paid enough to cover their rent, but I'm missing how. Can you explain? Thank you.
Load More Replies...Romania wasn’t socialism or communism, it was a kleptocracy, run by a selfish elite. The eastern bloc collapsed in 1989 because it wasn’t ‘socialism’ at all, but the same kind of kleptocracy. Socialism built things like the wonderful National Health Service in Britain, which Boris Johnson and co. are busy trying to destroy and sell to unscrupulous American companies.
Load More Replies...