Public VS Private sector discussion

[grossnex]

Originally Posted by smutwerx

Right now, El Salvador is just another constitutional democracy. Its problems stem from extreme concentration of wealth and land in a very few hands, and the corrupt government that causes. There are also after effects from civil war. But what I was getting at before is simply that, like you, I grew up learning that Cuba didn't work because it was communist. So wouldn't it be just as valid to say El Salvador doesn't work because it's capitalist? Even those of us who are skeptical about capitalism avoid blaming problems on the system. There are always mitigating factors cited as excuses, be it drug lords, dictatorship or whatever. But these are still capitalist countries, so why doesn't capitalism itself get the blame? I'm not saying it would be valid. But it would be as valid as blaming Cuba's problems on Communism. Capitalism looks pretty good to us, because the system globally is geared to western advantage. We control the resources, the land, and the dollar is the global reserve currency. But in a place like El Salvador, you work from sunup until sundown picking coffee by hand, carrying a sack that by the end of the day weighs forty pounds, and when you take that to the bin and weigh it, they give you a few dollars. Capitalism doesn't look so good then. It looks a lot more like pure western exploitation. Those societies are always on the verge of exploding because of the deep dissatisfaction with the capitalist model. My years down there taught me more about this than I ever wold have guessed.

Damn, you certainly bring a lot to the table Brother Smutwerx.

Initially, I read your post & wanted to try to distinguish between Capitalism & exploitation. Any argument I can make on behalf of Capitalism can be countered with a defense of Communism or any of the other ism's. It kind of paints a brother right into a corner when you try to apply logic to economic models.

So, to answer your original question my brother, no I don't think it's Capitalism's fault that certain South American countries are being exploited in the name of Capitalism. I'll also take back my claim that Cuba's faults lie at the feet of Communism. Sleep well tonight my brother. You've changed at least 1 guy's perception of South America & the plight of our Cuban neighbors.