Contrary to popular belief, the free market (aka capitalism) has done a lot of good for our world. I get very frustrated when people misrepresent the truth.
FACT: Our global economy has brought millions of people THROUGHOUT the world out of poverty.
"Of the 7 billion people alive on the planet, 1.1 billion subsist below the internationally accepted extreme-poverty line of $1.25 a day.... Most of the credit, however, must go to capitalism and free trade, for they enable economies to grow—and it was growth, principally, that has eased destitution."
FACT: Thanks to free markets, people have more free time than they did before division of labor. Therefore, allowing people to develop their strengths and contribute to the world in a positive manner. For example, we have more technology and medical advancements because people don't have to make their own clothes, grow their own food, etc. In addition, data has shown that the wealth and health of ALL individuals in the world has risen in the past 200 years alone. Everyone is basically better off today with regards to wealth and health than our ancestors were 200 years ago.
This is not a bad thing, and don't tell me that overpopulation is threatening our world because overpopulation is a myth.
Our global economy is a good thing, not only because it allows countries to trade with one another and reduce the likelihood of war, but for the first time in world history, humans can cooperate to produce a product as simple as a pencil. That's so cool.
Now, just like anything, humans can turn something good into something bad (e.g., crony capitalism).
Finally, saying that a system like capitalism is the cause of all our problems is just wrong.
Please, before believing everything you see on the internet, like The Story of Stuff Project, double check the facts. Lee Doren did a great job with his critique.
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