Connection: Capitalism Destroys Resraint

Capitalism changes how we see global markets and the world. One of our driving goals in a capitalist market is to maximize profit by almost whatever means possible. Looking at even in the 2008 and crash the financial industry profited largely especially Goldman Sachs. We have lost our restraints from doing immoral tasks to gain enormous profits. Around 500 year ago we made a shift towards this capitalist world.

In this book when they discuss how the Europeans have no restraint compared to the Africans, it is because we are taught we are only supposed to maximize profits. Capitalism really creates a view of a person as an individual and separates himself from everyday society.

This connection drove me to ponder, is having restraint better?

Looking at history, we used to have an economic system in which people had much smaller profits. If it costs $5 to make a product it would be sold for $6 rather than the larger markups in today's economy such that this same product would cost $20 or $30 dollars. But this is not necessarily a bad thing because then companies make more money to pay people more and thus spend more money into the economy. We no longer restrain our selves from charging people absurd prices.

Additionally, we will produce things at almost any means possible. If we have to use slave labor or sweat shops, we would. No matter the immorality we would still try to make more money. This has greatly changed how we live. Without laws people become more likely to steal and plunder because they are still working towards capitalist goals. 

Blogging Around Part 2

My first comment was on Eliana's blog. She talked about cleaning her room and how it impacted her. I wrote this a s a comment:

Eliana, I feel completely agree. My desk is a complete mess and I agree that it is very distracting. When I try to do work I always end up finding something on my desk to do instead. Additionally, you mentioned how your dad said it's like someone's desk who is on hoarders; I get a similar reaction from my parents. I have so much stuff every where and little time to devote to cleaning it up. School and life is too distracting to really clean. I feel that I am partially to lazy to clean it but also I find many things more important. So for people like us that have unclean desks and don't mind, I don't think it's much of an issue.

My second comment was on Toby's blog. She talked about how she saw writing and how it is difficult to write on demand, for a grade with her view of writing as a personal thing.

Toby, I feel that this same thing happens to me. When I am not writing, I will think of great ideas and then when I sit down to begin they all seem to disappear. I will have a topic picked out but it would be hard to find where to begin or even what to discuss. You mention that you "let a story that's been eating away at me spill out." I usually do the same thing. When I think of something I can start typing for hours as long as no one breaks my train of thought. Its always been difficult for me to just think of something on a broad topic instantly. Also, I agree that it would be hard to write a story on something with out experiencing it but i believe it can be done, it just won't be as good as some one that had experienced it. Lastly, I find writing not only as something personal but as a way to voice my ideas. I feel I think more clearly as I write. it helps me formulate and organize my ideas