Yes, it is a decadent system. And the proof of it is the abhorrations it produces, such as Paris Hilton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Hilton) and the Olsen "Coke-head" Twins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olsen_twins). :D :D :D

I agree.

You have a problem with decadence?
I don't consider a civilization to be doing its job until there is potential for decadence.

How?

You are confusing capitalism with consumerism and mercantilism.

The true definition of capitalism is two individuals producing a trade for the mutual profit of both parties.

In true capitalism (unregulated, unrestricted and decriminalized), no one would trade with anyone else unless both parties profited from the transaction.

Consumerism such as Paris Hilton is a side effect of regulated capitalism, or what I call mercantilism or State-capitalism.

You are confusing capitalism with consumerism and mercantilism. Oh really? And here I was thinking capitalism was about consumerism and merchantilism. Apart from food and shelter what else does a man really need? According to capitalism if there is no need the producer will even create the need. According to Abraham Maslow Self realization is the highest form of human need, even this form can be created, distributed, quantisized, packaged and sold by capitalism. Capitalism has its ups and downs but the real problem with it is that it easily breeds inequality and centralizes socio-political power. Capitalism creates a sort of socio-status vicious cycle that only the true grit and determined can break out of, and even then nothing is excatly guaranteed. One thing you can't take away from the system is that it is an exmaplification of nature; survival of the fittest and influencial.

In short, any competition has winners and losers.

'America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between'.

-Oscar Wilde.

CAPATILISM..... didnt make paris hilton... her dad and mommie did.

the only reason we know who she is...

is because she spent 30,000 a week on a pr firm, to make her a household name.

period... thats how it works....


go and get yourself a pr firm ... pay them 10's of 1000'S of dollars a week...

and you... can be as well known...



this may seem decadent...

but the only alternative is to allow the gov't.. or speciall interest groups to put their people forward as worthy of being known...
THATS TOTALITARIANISM...


it also works in reverse...

news media outlets.. and the gov't... all gave the name of some guy.. who they accused of spying for china.... it was a wrong...

and they all have had to pay him big bucks....

it can be expensive to get fame.. when you want it..

it can be very profitable.. to get fame.. when you dont want it.

id say its still better than a regulated mass media.

-MT

'America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between'.

-Oscar Wilde.
I love some of Oscar Wilde's quotes... :p

Boo hoo Truthseeker, boo hoo.

O...k......

I GUESS you dont have 30,000 a week to compete with paris???

who cares.... shes a stupid slut... and no amount of money can change the public perception of her as such... she must accept it...

such is the price she paid for fame... it was a big price...

i wouldnt pay it.... but she did... maybe to her, it was worth it.

i dont know.

-MT

Its the price of freedom. If you let everyone do what they want, there is little doubt that some of them will do things which you do not like. In fact, I would put it down as a likelyhood that most, if not all, will do things you loathe down to the center of your being. And that is generally their right.

The only other option is slavery; the destruction of free will.