[kitsune_]

Just like communism, capitalism is mainly a lofty idea which breaks down as soon as it is confronted with reality. This is true for every sociological model, including capitalism. Just like "real socialism" there is the de facto "real capitalism" which clashes with the theoretical model proposed by the theoreticians and its proponents.

[EarthLaunch]

Communism is a terrible idea, not a lofty one. Capitalism is a lofty idea that is misunderstood both in theory and practice.

[kitsune_]

I didn't use "lofty" with a qualititative judgement about the morality of communism. "lofty" has a Germanic origin, "luft", which means "air". It can be used to describe idealistic but unrealistic endevaours or ideas. One man's idealist is another man's tyrant.

"Capitalism is a lofty idea that is misunderstood both in theory and practice." - what does that even mean? It definitely doesn't say much in my opinion.

Capitalism can be defined in many ways. If you attack capitalism you first have to define which definition of capitalism you mean.

Now, there certainly exists a public discourse about what capitalism is and means. Certain definitions are loudly being trumpeted from the roof tops. As someone with an advertisement background, I can assure you that the form of delivery and the presentation of a message usually clash with its intentended meaning. This is not about conspiracies, it's the modus operandi of people. How often are you truly open and honest in your daily interactions with other people? How often do you lie?

In this regard, a-Joon Chang’s talk would probably have been pretty interesting, because it seems to analyse certain assumptions and notions that inevitably come up when people talk about capitalism, especially in a western context.

[RuadhanMc]

A true believer in communism would also say that it is misunderstood in both theory and practice.