Democracy = Capitalism?

[Benman]

Assuming a fairly functioning democracy, is there anything wrong with voting for socialism? Put another way, must capitalism necessarily follow from democracy?

[threeonefour]

I think democracy lends itself much easier to socialism.


democracy is all based on majority rule.

market capitalism is all about property rights. individuals ideally have total control over the property they own.


to answer your question directly, the democratic political system (or some variation on it) can operate in conjunction with either a capitalist or socialist economic system.

[edthayer]

Capitalists much prefer a constitutional republic in which their property rights are protected rather than democracy, where their rights are subject to a vote.

[lehighguy]

Democracy is about voting. It can be whatever it wants.

You probably think of Democracy as constitutional democracy which place limits on government and asserts individual rights.

Socialism/Communism are a direct anethma to individual rights. They are predicated on the notion that government is more important then the individual. That they serve the state rather then are served by the state. Thus they are at odds with what we would consider constitutional democracy.

I would submit to you that a democracy unbound by constitutional controls is little more then a different kind of tyranny.

[SheetWise]

I don't think capitalism can survive a democracy.

[theweatherman]

No way, capitalists are much better off under dictators. Here they can get any laws they want passed and have teh government do what every they want (based on bribs etc.)

This is obvious in Latin america where businesses ran un abaited by theus for years. (now they do the same thing but its leagal under CAFTA NAFTA etc.)

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
No way, capitalists are much better off under dictators.

[/ QUOTE ]

The question wasn't what's better for individual plunderers (which you are mislabeling "capitalists"). Obviously a state-dominated system is better for them.

[theweatherman]

capitalism thrives on deregulation and a truely free market. So whatever system that has the least hand in regulating an economy would be the best system for capitalism to thrive under. Democracy doesnt seem too good for this due to the rule of majority (who are hurt by capitalism)

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
capitalism thrives on deregulation and a truely free market. So whatever system that has the least hand in regulating an economy would be the best system for capitalism to thrive under. Democracy doesnt seem too good for this due to the rule of majority (who are hurt by capitalism)

[/ QUOTE ]

This is by far the most correct thing you've ever posted.

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]
Democracy doesnt seem too good for this due to the rule of majority (who are hurt by capitalism)

[/ QUOTE ]

Most people are helped, not hurt, by capitalism.