Does modern capitalism make us slaves of our wallets?

[wildWolverine]

It is not like believing in reincarnation. As tacky as it sounds, it is believing in the American Dream. And to some extent, it is true. Bill Gates dropped out of college, and love him or hate him, he is one of the wealthiest, most successful people in the world. There are no castes in America. While it may be more difficult for some than it is for others, truly, ANYONE can succeed.

Per the "if it isn't rewarded, it isn't done" argument: Life is all about balances. If Joe busts his ass for 7 years and gets a medical degree, and becomes the best heart surgeon in the world, he should be rewarded (and is, by a large salary). If there was no hope for a reward, why should Joe go to school for 7 years, and rack up a huge debt? Why should he try to be the best in the world, if there was no reward? Note that the medical society in Canada was socialized some time back. In the nineties, when the Prime Minister needed surgery performed, he came to the United States (note: this is not a Canada slam, just an argument against socializing medicine) to have it done. To continue to advance, there must be a reason to. In the real world, people won't just do it "because they can."

 

[knowltok2]

Originally posted by Tassadar
I will clear up something for you guy if my experience can profite to someone.

I worked 12 year in 3 different buisness as laboratory chemist.

First buisness is polymer chemistry, the syndicated worker earn 28 000 $ after 3 month, non-syndicated specialized worker ( like me), 22 000 $ after 2 year and my boss said to me never expect to reach 30 000 $, i had to solve production problem, devloping new product, chemical analisis and so on. A lonesome non-syndicated specialize worker was less valuable for those capitalism then a strong syndicate. Gratification for very good work is totaly absent. I quite.

Does syndicated mean union? Why not become syndicated?

Second buisness, printed circuit board buisness,electroplating,photochemistry,ect.., i worked 8 year there, end up with a major depression after beeing obligated to do over time behond my capacity, they have the right to force you to do over time, if you refuse, then you are fired with a bad reputation. so they have power and the right to make you sick by overworking.

Eight years? Why not quit? Find another job? Out of curiousity, what was the number of hours that was beyond your capacity?

third buisness, metal purification buiness, near 1000 employee, metal dust everywhere,toxic fume, acid fume, mercury vapor, crazy co-worker and so on, 2 year and another depression.

Were you assigned this job, or did you accept the offer?

When i had my diploma in chemistry at age 20, i receive an excellence prize for beeing a top gun.

Two year degree or four?

I am on medical compensation since then.

Does this mean the goverment is taking care of you because you are depressed?

I know a lots of poeple who got burned out like me because of the capitalism environement factory.

Did you ever consider not working in a factory? Or that perhaps the chemistry game just wasn't for you? Were you assigned by the state to be a chemist?

 

[Suki]

I'm canadina, my x-girlfriend was from the states we boath sat down once and calculated how much we'd each have to work to pay just for rent and touition if we were making minimum wage with her in New York and me in Quebec in total she would have had to do 4 times as much. and I still think i was getting a better education
does anyone else see a problem with that?
education needs to be accessable.

 

[andrewgprv]

Originally posted by Suki

education needs to be accessable.

did u look into student loans, grants, scholarships at the very least the US Gov. will give you student loans that you don't have to pay back till your out of college.

 

[Archer 007]

Originally posted by andrewgprv


did u look into student loans, grants, scholarships at the very least the US Gov. will give you student loans that you don't have to pay back till your out of college.

I have a friend who got a scholarship that covered all his tuition except $3000 per year. You wanna know how much of a loan he has? Try 80,000 bucks.

 

[Tassadar]

Knowltok2

1.- yes i mean union, staff worker cant be unionize and in some place if you talk about union then you start a war against your employer. Some close door when they hear the word union.


2.- by staying at same place you got adventages over time, like a third week vacation after 5 year. You want to keep those adventages but sometime at health risk. Overtime was done in the last 2 year, about each weekend. so it mean about 60-70 hour a week in a stressful environement.

3.- You need money to survive so i accept the job.

4.- 3 year degree, analytical chemistry technologist.

5.- Insurance from the buisness pay me.

6.- i loved to study chemistry and science but for sure working in factory for capitalism is not for me. i am fed up with this crazy world. i am fed up with stupid boss autority. i am a free spirit not a slave.

 

[wildWolverine]

Originally posted by Tassadar

1.- yes i mean union, staff worker cant be unionize and in some place if you talk about union then you start a war against your employer. Some close door when they hear the word union.

That's illegal, at least in the U.S.

2.- by staying at same place you got adventages over time, like a third week vacation after 5 year. You want to keep those adventages but sometime at health risk. Overtime was done in the last 2 year, about each weekend. so it mean about 60-70 hour a week in a stressful environement.

Business executives often work up to 80 hours a week making decisions on which the fate of their company rests... I'd say that having 5000 employees counting on you to make the right choice is pretty stressful.

6.- i loved to study chemistry and science but for sure working in factory for capitalism is not for me. i am fed up with this crazy world. i am fed up with stupid boss autority. i am a free spirit not a slave.

I'm sorry, but your first sentence is illogical. "working in factory for capitalism is not for me." First, you are not working "for capitalism" -- you are working for whomever your employer is. Secondly, the alternatives to capitalism, socialisn and communism result in even more government control -- so in what way does your "free spirit not slave" comment become relevant to this conversation?

edit: grammar

 

[thestonesfan]

In his socialist utopia, he wouldn't have to work. Other people can do that.

 

[knowltok2]

Originally posted by Tassadar
1.- yes i mean union, staff worker cant be unionize and in some place if you talk about union then you start a war against your employer. Some close door when they hear the word union.

Where is it that you live?

2.- by staying at same place you got adventages over time, like a third week vacation after 5 year. You want to keep those adventages but sometime at health risk. Overtime was done in the last 2 year, about each weekend. so it mean about 60-70 hour a week in a stressful environement.

That is an economic trade-off you make. It sounds like you chose the extra vacation over your own health. In a capitalistic society, you are free to make those choices, and to change jobs.

3.- You need money to survive so i accept the job.

Hence the importance of making yourself more employable and desirable to multiple companies. That self improvement allows greater options, and through them, greater security.

4.- 3 year degree, analytical chemistry technologist.

What improvements to your education have you made since receiving this degree? If you stagnate, you will have fewer and fewer options.

5.- Insurance from the buisness pay me.

So you get to sit at home, paid by your company, right? Why not use the time to search for another job?

6.- i loved to study chemistry and science but for sure working in factory for capitalism is not for me. i am fed up with this crazy world. i am fed up with stupid boss autority. i am a free spirit not a slave.

So go into another line of work. Work part-time jobs, or something else. It may come with a bit of a trade-off in quality of lifestyle, but again, that is your choice to make. It is going to be had to avoid the boss thing, but you can start your own business. Of course, they say you never work harder than when you work for yourself...

 

[insurgent]

wW and knowltok, well said!

Tassadar, you should be pleased that you even had the right to make the choices you have made. They might have been wrong in retrospect, but they are choices, and you have taken the consequences of them. Now, sitting at home, being upheld by others doesn't help it. Of course you can choose to do that, but that's not very solidaric either, is it now?

edit: Grammar.