Fintan O'Toole: Russia's 'Feral' Capitalism Is A Threat To Democracy

[@JC-ls9sp]

Capitalism without restraints leans to authoritarianism; capitalism with regulation is well-suited to democracy. IMHO

[@symmetrylove]

Whoever makes the rules, wins.

[@juju-rt8ek]

@@symmetrylove the people are supposed to make the rules.

[@symmetrylove]

@@juju-rt8ek political donors make the rules.

[@gersonhay984]

As long as everyone gets to VOTE!!!!!!!

[@cypressbutane4575]

Money is too tied to politics. Even promoting legitimate government makes you a democratic socialist. The main view is that capitalism IS our government. Democracy is an afterthought. That's why I am a proud democratic socialist.

[@adoatero5129]

Fintan O’Toole put into crystal clear words something that I have had in the back of my head as a blurry thought (if even a thought) for a long time. Thank you for clearing it to me!

[@stephenhicks826]

Western democracies forgot that the wealth needs to be shared pretty evenly not concentrated in an elite class. Trickle down economics doesn't trickle down. Not only is capitalism compatible with autocratic regimes, oligarchs can grow and thrive in democracies where there are lax financial controls. There are plenty in the USA.

[@andydahl181]

The Planet is surely doomed, if the common person continues to enable Billionaire, Oligarch's, Kings, Queens and all other false prophets

[@mollydooker9636]

Absolutely Stephen, social mobility in the US has declined sharply in the 30 years. Nothing is trickling down. Wealth is staying at the top. I also think Americans have been conditioned with this concept of American exceptionalism (or brain washed depending on your pov), which makes it unpatriotic to challenge the status quo.

[@jessestreet2549]

@@mollydooker9636 lefties have been yelling about growing wealth disparity for decades and warning of precisely these conditions. we were ignored as being "communists" and "unamerican". turns out we were/are prescient.

[@jessestreet2549]

@189KansasCity luck and connections might have more to do with your claimed wealth, work ethic and intelligence. "pride goeth before the fall". careful or that flying fickle finger of fate might give you a good, solid flick.

[@jessestreet2549]

@189KansasCity persons seeking more wealth than they need are people i don't trust with anything. children of the wealthy aren't famous for quality of character. tfg and his demon spawn being the most infamous examples. not impressed.

[@SinnedNogara]

2:58 Anyone in the United States who lives paycheck to paycheck already knows this. The fact that these experts think capitalism isn't inherently authoritarian shows their blindness here. Capitalism is a tyrannical system and we shouldn't pretend our oligarchies are much better than the ones in Russia and China. Our poor suffer too.

[@lauralafauve5520]

Without reasonable laws, enforced reasonably, any system can be abused.

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

yes REASONABLE is key.

[@justinbeechey232]

these days people want a law or policy for everything

[@elwynjones763]

Who decides what is reasonable?

[@lauralafauve5520]

@@elwynjones763 in a democracy? We all do.

[@justinbeechey232]

@@elwynjones763 democratically elected officials who act only on the will of the people. If the government is not acting on the will of the people in the majority there should be no government. Just ask George Washington.

[@Gencoil]

They make very good points. The system needs to change to prevent this development from continuing.

[@hamlet1018]

Let's change that title just a little bit. "The GOP's 'Feral' Capitalism Is a Threat to Democracy". But in truth, Russia and the GOP are interchangeable terms.

[@DJWESG1]

Some ppl cant see the conservatives who are behind it all. Beit in russia, uk or usa. Half the tory party are funded by pootinists which isnt a surprise when you consider theyve killed himdreds of thousands of ppl in the last decade with their vile policies. Look up 'the third position' a pact between extreme conservatives thatcher reagan and gorbecev , a far right agenda to keep eachother in power.

[@laserbrain7774]

You are hysterical and you will make a fine nazi someday.

[@elaineburnett5230]

Now they are....GOP and KGB/FSB...are interchangeable.

[@symmetrylove]

Government under Republicans is not made smaller but simply diverted to serve a handful of interests.

[@lauralafauve5520]

The ideals of Republicanism have been twisted. *Fewer laws have become less regulation of businesses and less protections of citizens. *Emphasizing states laws has become a way of isolating and taking advantage of citizens of those states. (The old divide and conquer.)

[@Upper-cr1kh]

How's that record high inflation under a Democrat president. You know that same president who refuses to drill for oil here in America so we could buy more from Russia

[@Borvo1]

Yes I much prefer the view of the Democrats: > "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." - a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt

[@rowlandlarkham3206]

A person can be influenced by another's rhetoric - BUT - That person is still responsible for their actions legally - The influencer didn't physically make you commit a crime - Words are just words - Physical action requires personal commitment - Only you are responsible for your actions - Only you can override your morals to disregard legality or Patriotism - Morality should be considered first for any action a person can choose to take - Then consider the legality before taking action - Patriotism doesn't mean anything if it is immoral or illegal -

[@timrose3960]

Harvard offers an elective course for it's business graduates that aspires to promote moral responsibility for future CEOs. The vast majority of students say "even though the principal sound fair, they are going to do business as usual like everyone else in the market place" it's our culture that is the problem. Everyone strives to be an oligarch in America and not paying taxes is considered smart. We have no shame because we've concluded that guilt is a useless emotion. There's nothing "exceptional" about that.

[@donaldkasper8346]

The concept of morality is part of religion. Countries with strong religion and discuss ideas of morality tend to be more productive as the alternative is just theft and corruption and evil behavior (harming others). I cannot imagine someone in the US wanting to make Raman noodles out of plaster and plastic, for example, but people did come up with that, make it, and sell it in China. Then a lot of people died so they made more. Someone came up with the idea making Ramen with benzene is cheaper, so they did that, killed a lot of people, didn't care, kept doing it, killing more, until the government found out and had to stop it. That was in Viet Nam.

[@telebubba5527]

@@donaldkasper8346 That's just utter nonsense. Religion is anything but moral. The claim in itself is immoral. As is the rest of you post.

[@woodspriteful]

I have made a similar comment about responsibility and behavior in response to those who are trying to blame the US for "instigating" Putin. People in the US, such as yourself, need to look at the worldwide population and express these ideas on that scale, otherwise there will be (already is) a de-evolution within the US, so that we can re-educate ourselves with the ideas that were lost. See, when we have come to agreement, there is nowhere to go, so for politicians to win, they have to tear something down. We needed to grow. Instead, people in the US attacked their own integrity. This meta level phenomenon was not in full consciousness. It's time to see how our individual decisions flow into creating larger phenomenon that feed our own destruction.

[@marywallace4086]

@@donaldkasper8346 I can. Big food corporations like General Foods and Kellog's raise their prices and then cut back the amount the consumer gets. Fast food restaurants use smaller slices of bread and meat but still charge more for less. So yeah, if American corporations thought the FDA wouldn't be looking over their shoulders, that they could get away with it, they would make and sell fake (dangerous) food like crazy. Chemical companies like Dow and Monsanto have have sold such products for many years. Too many products have lost quality because manufacturers cut back to increase already grand profits. I could go on but you must get the picture. Just as surely as guns are destroying lives, greed is destroying lives AND our economy.

[@joe2mercs]

Fintan O’Toole is correct that democracy is useful for the type of competitive capitalism that requires innovation, laws and truth. When capitalism needs only to exploit natural resources then the need for democracy is diminished. Russia is a case in point where it’s entire economy is characterised as almost void of any indigenous innovative global brands.

[@jstone247]

Unrestrained, unregulated capitalism, without accountability leads enevitability of the failure of democracy. The wealthy, fund, inform and direct the policies and decisions taken by legislators. The is little hope for wider voting populace.

[@nucderpuck]

Exactly. As long as Russia has enough petro-dollar income, they can just import the technological innovations needed to exploit their natural resources from innovative countries. Given the recently introduced sanctions, the situation may be different now, but it will take some time to become noticeable.

[@disturbingdevelopment4308]

Maybe popular capitalism was just the window dressing the oligarchical architects intended all along. Whatever the reason, America has (and maybe always was) just one big corporation rather than a nation. Russia is the Enron equivalent, and China is not far off.

[@woodspriteful]

Yes, yes, yes! Everybody feels this incompatibility between our current capitalism and democracy because there is a devaluation of the individual human within the human community. Feral capitalism doesn't enforce any standards for the human condition, but that is what we need as a sustainable and evolving society. It comes back to taking labors of love for granted - such as caring for children, food creation, education, all our essentials are valued very very low even though they require the greatest investment.

[@ruthdepew7212]

We the people of Earth need Elizabeth Warren and Katie Porter to civilize and democratize capitalism across the planet.

[@bertnijhof5413]

Let them concentrate on the USA, the USA needs it more that the EU.

[@LoireValleyChateaux]

@@bertnijhof5413 Lizzy still needs to figure out how to drink a beer comfortably with her so called husband! Hahaha! ❤️🙏

[@dickmojica6830]

Nope,, world need astroboy

[@ragingmonk6080]

@@bertnijhof5413 " USA needs it more that the EU." You are dependent on Russian gas and oil. Your tax rate is sky high? Yeah, you don't need help.

[@juju-rt8ek]

@@LoireValleyChateaux funny!! She is so happy to exercise her right to drink a beer! What else is she so naive about.

[@AudiTTQuattro2003]

This guy is dead on. Too bad, absolutely no one in a position of power will listen. The money is too great and the greed is too strong.

[@davidclarke8750]

It’s a pity he doesn’t call out the corruption here in Ireland. All his buddy in power feathering their own nest. He’s a bullshitter he’s part of the elite here in Ireland

[@brendatenorio5721]

Interesting panel and concept-feral capitalism.

[@tolrem]

They've gone from a feral monarchy/feudalism to feral socialism to feral capitalism.If you read Dostoyevsky's novels you come to realise that nothing much has changed in the Russian psyche in 150 years.

[@virginiacorcoran1326]

Fintan is one of the best actual journalists out there. His pieces in the Irish Times are right on point.

[@hoopalou1784]

Well said Fintan.

[@pmathews109]

O Donnell and O Toole, thank you to these two Irishmen for bringing this rare truth to us. Please Lawrence, more O’Toole!

[@discgolflife]

He's right! Corporate greed is killing every on planet earth!!!

[@willmiddleton9199]

This man nailed it on the head completely ! Huge disparity in income/wealth between the very rich and everyone else (especially the middle class) is completely counter to Adam Smith's "invisible hand" of motivation... There has to be an incentive to be productive *on a personal level* for capitalism (and thus democracy) to work !

[@tolrem]

Even Adam Smith changed his view in the end.He ended up advocating a mixed economy with strong unions and the government owning critical infrastructure.He has been selectively quoted to suit free marketeers' agendas.

[@CeartGoLeor86]

Adam Smith was also for high inheritance taxes. It seems crazy to me that people pay less tax on fortunes inherited from rich relatives than on money they earn for work.

[@elwynjones763]

Fine analysis..... so do we evolve a more autocratic democracy by governments excercising more controls on capitalists freedoms. e.g limiting foreign ownership of land and properties, or making it impossible to disguise ownership. As a Welshman and a lover of Cornwall I think second home ownership should be severely restricted, with more powers to requisition empty properties. Elected governments should govern in the interests of all citizens and the future well-being of the nation.

[@coraltown1]

We live in the post morality era, where brutality and war crimes are rewarded with big fat business deals.

[@6Haunted-Days]

O my….I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news BUT….. This is a new thing! This has been going on CENTURIES!! Obviously not just in America.

[@ts1931]

Absolutely right! Capitalism needs some updates to be sure!!

[@stevenwilgus5422]

Insightful analysis, intuitive and eloquent.

[@cypressbutane4575]

Money is too tied to politics. Even promoting legitimate government makes you a democratic socialist. The main view is that capitalism IS our government. Democracy is an afterthought. That's why I am a proud democratic socialist.

[@stellashepherd3229]

I am too. Unfortunately most of the politicians we have who claim to be as well are not good, IMHO. I’m not impressed with the tactics of Bernie and the squad.

[@cypressbutane4575]

@@stellashepherd3229 I have an issue believing you, what's it called, sealioning?

[@cypressbutane4575]

@@stellashepherd3229 What's your opinion on Joe Manchin?

[@alexseioo610]

Of course capitalism is compatible with autocracy. Corporations are often organized like a dictatorship or oligarchy.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Even NON-profits and other organizations can be like that--'ruled' by people who deem themselves to be 'professional' 'leaders'. Really, it's just a sick need to tell others what to do.

[@thisbushnell4824]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver karens abound in humanity.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@thisbushnell4824 It's this thing called 'leadership' we keep encouraging and rewarding--when we should be encouraging self-governance, self-improvement, self-restraint, and collaboration

[@thisbushnell4824]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver mankind needs to find the middle ground between what is styled as 'rugged individualism' and 'the nail that sticks up gets hammered down.' Both, to my mind are anti-social and destructive to humanity as a whole and individually.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@thisbushnell4824 We have to let go the notion of 'natural leaders'--because nobody needs to be led. Except maybe natural leaders and young children.

[@raphaelabotticelli1501]

The study of values clarification explains this. Sociology 101!!!! How could you not possibly know this?

[@illuvatar5923]

Lol - "feral capitalism" and the "corruptions of capitalism" , also known as capitalism.

[@ice9snowflake187]

Capitalism is, in itself authoritarian. Authoritarianism works in a certain form in the military, and in business to a certain extent, but it's no way to run the world.

[@symmetrylove]

Can't we do better than a profit-driven society?

[@juju-rt8ek]

We should improve what we have.

[@humanonearth1]

Perhaps, but it's not the free market I think that creates this. It's the unfettered market that allows for rampant gaming and exploitation of the system. The game doesn't work when people find ways to bend the rules and eventually break them.

[@al-bot1094]

Not immediately.

[@kukulroukul4698]

@@al-bot1094 Lorentz transformations :)

[@johnwattdotca]

When I'm sitting in Niagara Falls looking over the river at America, I think about my apartment rent not going up in over two years, and I get free hot water. Housing in the States have become criminal rates.

[@malkie638]

"never under estimate, the Other Guy's Greed" Frank Lopez

[@debrasmith4675]

That man is a wordsmith! Feral is a perfect word!

[@andrewrobinson2565]

O'Toole always gets to the root of a problem in a couple of phrases. 👍

[@benedictcowell6547]

The problem originates in the confusion of 'Freedom' and 'Liberty' . The one is a spectrum from License to Slaver, the other is reciprocity

[@nenaaa1444]

Very true!

[@AmySorrellMusic]

Unregulated capitalism comes down to legislation. Citizens United is exceedingly deceptive in its name. This is on Congress. Feral 🙄...UNREGULATED is what it ACTUALLY is.

[@CB-wq9wp]

Great point!

[@bjrnhjortshjandersen1286]

Russia and China have been able to live from the weakness of capitalism by giving good business opportunities to the corporations of the developed nations. They have grown because of our greed and worked like parasites, it has never been necessary to reform anything. Money and investments made it possible for their systems to grow without change and also feed the illusions in those countries about being stronger than they really are. ..If the developed nations leave and restrict their interactions such systems would be in deep trouble and may regress to former economic levels or collapse. .

[@susanhonegger9987]

I agree. I'd give your post 10 👍 if it were possible

[@rursus8354]

Uhh, yeah. It took a long time to understand what the point of this video was: that *you* finally realized that capitalism doesn't equal democracy. I already knew this 30 years ago, so it took me a long time to realize that this is new to you.

[@christinequinn5355]

Great Comment. My brother, who is a Sociologist and Economist, always reminds me that "Capitalism" is an economic system, and "Democracy" is a Political system. What we have now in the West is neither true Adam Smith "risk taking", Market Capitalism or true Representative Democracy. Fintan is a very bright man but the word "capitalism" needs to be removed as a descriptor of modern world financial systems. Fiat money, and global "no loss" Corporate and Banking systems are what control both our Governments and our economic systems. It is indeed a sort of socialism for the wealthy - it is exploitative, feral, predatory and totally unregulated. The banking system in London is one of the the most favored places for Russian Oligarchs to launder their money, and has been for about 30 years. Unregulated, opaque undeclared capital is a toxic rot that has infested all aspects of global business and commerce. Global Capitalism - whatever that really means - is totally broken, and has been kept afloat by decadent, corporate controlled "Governments", the endless printing of FIAT money and Central Banks. As you seem to already know, we are in very dangerous, unsustainable unchartered waters.

[@annusa3682]

The U.S. form of capitalism is not that different. The main difference is that the oligarchs serve at the behest of Putin (Russian government), whereas in the U.S. the government serves the interests of the oligarchs (big banks, big business and.billionaires). .

[@keithmorrison2514]

Russia has a small ability to understand the new world around them with Putin's application to the west's free and open civil rights.

[@cantsay8894]

He’s right

[@rogercoziol2768]

True statement! We always come back to the failure of capitalism at the end!

[@rolandivankovic1438]

That’s scary

[@laserbrain7774]

Wealth does not trickle down, But lawlessness does.

[@progfuprogfu7813]

Exactly ,

[@elizabethr4107]

so tragic

[@SorbusAucubaria]

i completely agree with this. I've been saying that the same issues we see in russia and china, we see in Europe and America. it is exploitative capitalism, where people on top are basically defrauding people and are not willing to take care of the society. In past decade or so Europe and America innovation and hard work seems to be rewarded with someone at the top stealing your wealth and getting away with it. 2008 financial crisis, the drug companies, politicians enriching themselves in the stock market, wall street bets, etc. Those are the famous examples, but there are jus more and more companies and individuals that are just basically defrauding hard working people from their wealth through these complex financial instruments and shell companies etc.

[@zekethetank]

How can capitalism in Russia not mirror America's?

[@jamiebrotherston2241]

Democracy relies on it's citizens. Corporations exist in law with the same legal obligations as a person.

[@ld3511]

If covid taught me One thing, it was that people in general do not take personal responsibility , and too many to not care about others! There must be laws as people will no longer do what is moral!! Please take care!

[@minzhouabct240]

People often imagine the environment as a colosseum. The environment chooses those who suit them, not the strong. It is the weak (the simple-minded) who suit their environment (and become part of the war machine). War is not that great at all. In order to adapt to the various war machines and try to be part of them, people are losing the ability to remain independent (especially to think independently) and their talents are diminishing generation after generation. War does not make us better. People are divided into different prisons of the mind. Not only are they used to these walls, but they are born into them, a brick in the wall, and they even enjoy it so much that they are willing to sacrifice everything for words like "glory" (or, ironically, "freedom"). Modern finance is based on credit (trust in one's own system or government), so these wars of ideas are extremely important. Money can generate money and it is not necessarily the elite. The one who born with power is not the smartest either. The 1% is not necessarily capable of conspiracy, but it is easy to reach a tacit agreement. 10% often mistake themselves as 1%. If people keep ignoring their inner loss of themselves and unconsciously clinging to various images (e.g. the body) or concepts (e.g. the Holy Name), World War III and the end of the world is inevitable, and it may have already begun in Europe Water does not know that she is water, and darkness does not know that he is darkness. When a man is seeking the light, he is blinded by dreams of various lights. Most serious or intense busy people are dreaming, while the awakened are at peace because they are comfortable with the darkness that does not know the ultimate truth. All we need to do is to have faith in ourselves (our unknown true self), whatever it is, it is always there. (If there is an "author", some kind of ultimate power, it must always be there for us too). Yet within every yang is always a yin, and every belief/hope is based on doubt/fear. If you are already 100% sure of something, there is no need of a belief. So the real ultimate war between light and darkness is within us, not outside. Mind yourself first, talk, even argue, don’t curse ,fight, even war. (If necessary, for some kind of emergency, we can bet on a sports match. Every life is unique, not just a statistic.)

[@cindychurch335]

I’m reading a lot of comments against capitalism. I’m a single American woman, 65 years and by no means wealthy. I live pay check to paycheck partly because of my circumstances and partly my failure to invest and save. But I had/have the freedom and choice to do anything I put my mind to and work hard enough for. There are many pros and cons to capitalism. We have a lot of things wrong. But any good thing can become corrupt with the human stain of greed and hunger for power over others. We have the freedom to vote and make change happen. People living in autocracies do not.

[@laserbrain7774]

What we have here is not adam smith style social contract capitalism as much as it is neofeudal crony capitalism.

[@surplusking2425]

War...war never changes

[@Ifyoucanreadthisgooglebroke]

Lest anyone forget that, despite being ostensibly more left leaning among such media, MSNBC is still corporate media: note how the title and video description here attempt to reframe the interviewee's assertion about capitalism becoming more compatible with oligarchy than with democracy as a Russia specific thing.

[@johnvandommelen6998]

It will continue to worsen, not improve....profit before principle in modern eternity....not long ago, principles were sacred, now profit is, with no regard for basic human decency...irreversible greed will result in plenty more conflicts to come.

[@patriciastuart8079]

True. And what also bears exposure is the adoption of fascist principles and operations in capitalist companies. I work for such a company. At one point, after we were sent to work from home, the company sent each employee a camera in order to surveil employees in real time throughout the workday. That is only one small example of the fascism in company operations.

[@mikesprague252]

This is a surprise? We've already seen this with, for example, the city states of the Renaissance.

[@patcleaver3081]

Free markets are economic freedom Democracy is political freedom You can have one without the other.

[@xyzxxx33]

you can't have economic freedom without deomcracy

[@bobekirsch6427]

Sadly people don’t get it , capitalism is about making money, getting rich and greedy, no matter how. Using every tools and resources, including low payed workers (China), long working hours and horrible conditions. Cheating and fraud is basically acceptable as “business dealings”, that’s why we have so many super rich and so many starving people

[@lavienestpasunlongfleuvetr2559]

Not necessarily. The Nordic countries are capitalist, and yet they have great social services like healthcare and education. France is also capitalist, but they still have a decent healthcare system, free university education and generous financial assistance for students (the French government pays almost 1/3 of students' accommodation costs, which can be very low anyway, and they also give most students a grant to pay for additional expenses. The result is that pretty much no one can say they missed out on college because they couldn't afford it. All capitalist societies could be better, but European capitalism tends to have more of a social conscience than the American kind, where it's pretty much everyone for themselves.

[@grandaddyc]

You are learning well Grasshopper. But the mindset and power of "Greed is good" is well and long ingrained.

[@sammavitae114]

Well there is the rule of law but then there are the accounting firms, lawyers and people who happily create systems to get around the law and on top of that politicians who do not want government to have any ability to go after offshore hideaways.

[@patriayvida6850]

LOL! That awkward moment when you realize all propaganda points have been used & you invent the phrase "feral capitalism."

[@lindahope8849]

God bless Humanity Amen 🙏 Much love and prayers Brethren Amen 🙏

[@willysbest9242]

Let them eat cake.

[@christophorfaust2457]

What we need to ask is who can live freely within a capitalist society? …and the answer is, “ nobody”

[@christine2ehgtinyhouse893]

There's two kinds of capitalism there is good beneficial capitalism which creates products that are an absolute need and beneficial, such as medical equipment, Safe products for children and babies, products that help people, and then you have bad capitalism which over consumes resources to create more products without thought of the consequences to the environment.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

To add to this: China politicos making soft noises about "adjusting the west's notions of personal liberty and freedom."

[@angelikalindenau943]

Facts required

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@angelikalindenau943 Personal liberty and freedom are big problems for the rulers of China and Russia. They'd rather see it ended everywhere.

[@JimWilliams]

The Smart Phone Army will bury all autocrats. Disintermediation forever!

[@p.j.882]

Feral capitalism a form of cronyism.

[@daviddunne4737]

FINTAN O'Toole always very observant and direct ............capitalism has many faces and a lot of them are very ugly . The newer countries who ' embrace' a form of capitalism become more autocratic and the 'rewards' of the system always seem to find their way to the top RUSSIA and CHINA being good examples but western society is at time no better . Wealth seems to find its way to the top at the expense of the workers who do a lot to create it on a daily basis . Capitalism needs to be totally reassessed , but who can or will do the almost impossible . And in many countries a good portion of the masses seem to support the very wealthy elite ....................all very strange .

[@HandleGF]

Ireland's national pseud :-D

[@brendatenorio5721]

Though program should be longer. Equal time ro both guests

[@al-bot1094]

This is just a clip.

[@nathanhastings8293]

Intrinsic to true capitalism (in other words Capitalism not masquerading as something else) must be the Human right to all created wealth in the world. as soon as wealth accumulates , privilege pools and gluts, and the propensity to gain wealth increases exponentially. Wealth cannot be concentrated on a large scale without infringing on the human rights to the same wealth that has accumulated.

[@harveypost7799]

DUH !!!!!

[@PeterAcrat]

🤔Does not the greatest power have but the lightest touch? Have we succumbed to some 'absolute' of finite thinking? What has become of _Abundance?_ Have we all become fixated instead on an _'Abundance of LACK'_ rather than the abundance of Possibilities? What has become of the once 'Unlimited Potential' on our world? Have we grown so narrow-minded and materialistic in our view of the physical world that we have lost 'view' of the enormous potential and value in the digital and vibrational layers of existence? IMO, There is great strength in a fabric of unity, integrity and cohesion when woven from the threads of our highest and most liberating values.

[@qr46654]

Negotiations with Putin are a waste of invaluable time. Therefore, Ukraine urgently needs to provide heavy types of offensive weapons (combat aircraft and attack helicopters, tanks, armored personnel carriers, anti-ship missiles, long-range howitzers, radars against artillery batteries) so that Ukrainians can defeat the Russian occupation forces as soon as possible and expel their remnants back to Russia. Ukrainians are now defending not only themselves and their homeland, but also the whole of Europe, since the seizure of Ukraine is only the first stage of Russia's plans to seize all European countries!

[@MichaelBrueckner]

Is he talking about Bezos, Musk, Trump & the AppleGuy? Making money without paying their fair share of taxes?

[@JessieEdlen]

"...a Capitalism that's kind of rooted in the Common Good..." ... ..... ....... ...Fintan, buddy, *pats on back*, we need to have a little talk. Steel yourself friend, for I fear that you'll walk away feeling deeply disappointed, and that you may find yourself the unwitting lifelong companion of a fresh but unshakable sense of impending doom.

[@JohnBrown-dq6nh]

LAW AND ORDER

[@jvcyt298]

The belief that democracy and capitalism are compatible is naive at best, deluded at worst.

[@jamesferguson4026]

The quasi-capitalism may be better described as mercantilism, where the power of the State is deployed to assist private profit for the rulers and their supporters. THe World Trade Organisation could be empowered to identify instances and institute countervailing duties on goods, services and governments engaging in this kind of behaviour. It is not just Russia and China, India is a leading exponent of this dark art, justifying market interventions as being in India,s best interests but actually benefitting only a few. France is another classic example. The US has also engaged in such practices from time to time, Sugar tariffs and quotas, just one example.

[@petertrott5107]

Bikini Island, George Town Cayman Islands

[@theindoitalianvibes2012]

If every nation bow to dollar, then it's democrazyyyy 😂😂😂😂😂.according by western experts 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mikejeffreys1059]

Give the oligarch wealth to the Russian citizens

[@u2mister17]

"Russia" "Capitalism" "Threat" "Democracy" You Fantasy Script Writers are overloading your cartoon character commenters.

[@Kingfisher1215]

Yup, Putin is really quaking in his boots with Brandon. That turn around to nothing followed by the air handshake he did yesterday had to really earn a lot of respect. 😂

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

PUTLER .and PRES BIDEN you mean .

[@nenaaa1444]

Yes he fears our great President Biden unlike your sell out bootlicker tRump. 😂😂😂😂

[@thisbushnell4824]

Always complaining about form without addressing substance.

[@gersonhay984]

It's about the rich wanting to rule society..

[@thisbushnell4824]

Yearning of the days not-so-distant of owning servants.

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

Russian jeans 👖 and Cola are now trending in USSR

[@truthhurtssomtimes8213]

6 days ago - Zelensky's Net Worth is $596 Million US Dollars.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

Who'd have thought it.....our own greed being our downfall. Well quite a few, actually. We've discovered that there is no limit to wealth. The rich don't say, that's enough. Or very few of them do, to be fair. It corrupts them. They hire lawyers to look for the loopholes they can exploit. They who can best afford it, look for a hundred ways to avoid paying tax, or declaring income. Would I be the same? Can I hand on heart say j wouldn't keep wanting more and pay less? I will never find out, like most people. It obviously has a powerful effect on you. I just never craved wealth. I always had enough to get by. The rich have created their own world, membership of which requires only wealth. Governments lkke our tories here in uk and particularly republicans in the US reward them for it. Greed.

[@pvttj8572]

G. O. P. Seditionist. On nose 👃. Candy 🍭. V. T. O.

[@Toekneepowers]

So there's this guy that was an energy expert with Zero experience who now just became a painter overnight. He has paintings on sale for $500k👈 But you had better hurry because the paintings are going super fast. Just ask his dad!

[@ivataiwan2068]

Evil America is falling..

[@u2mister17]

You MSNBC commenters are all the same.

[@LoireValleyChateaux]

BRANDON'S one CRAZY dude! This GERIATRIC is something else when he's in front of the OLD POLAROID! ❤️🙏

[@tapatioguadaljara2650]

The living crop laterally influence because worm endoscopically judge outside a pushy weasel. second-hand, succinct match

[@letsgorandall9848]

Bernie Sanders is upset

[@johnwattdotca]

I feel the Bern.

[@kukulroukul4698]

Ted Cruz is cruising

[@Weemadaggie]

Duh, Boomer

[@KELLYLOCKHART777]

Money is addictive, power is addictive, and objects are addictive...............