This week: Is greed good?

Gordon Gekko, Michael Douglas' character in "Wall Street," seemed to think so, and he made a pretty compelling argument in defense of traditional capitalism. And hey, it's tough to deny that the market system works. But one might ask: For whom? Which begs the original question: Not does greed work, but is it good? This week, Tripod columnist Howard Zinn presents some compelling arguments of his own against a strict free-market economy, and now we're not sure whom to believe. So tell us: Is capitalism the best way to organize a civilized society? Does a rising tide lift all boats? Or do the dinghies sink when the yachts cruise by?

Read what others have said so far, and then tell us what you think.

See what Tripod members had to say about the differences between public, private, and parochial schooling in the last survey. For other past survey results, check our survey archive.

A new Politics & Community survey is published each Thursday.

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Oshhale: Greed is the basis of capitalistic society, and unfortunately our society would crumble without it. So greed in one sense in bad, but to keep our society going, it is a must.

KBucher: Capitalism may lead to greed, but communism definitely does not lead to good. Humans, being what they are, always tend to look out for themselves. Capitalism provides the freedom and the opportunity for an individual to excel as much or as little as they like. Communism provides a forced equality to the lowest common denominator with a small number of wealthy elitists.

Nowhere in the plan for humankind does it say that all are assured of an equal (good/wealthy/lazy) outcome, but at least our Constitution provides that everyone has the right to "pursue happiness" in whatever manner they see fit. In a free-market society, everyone has the same basic opportunities to succeed ... not everyone will take those opportunities.

paulgowder: HA! The essence of Soviet socalism was the replacement of greed with power-lust. In communism, it can only be worse. Marx said (paraphrase) "If a man wants to be a fisherman, let him fish ... if he wants to do nothing, let him," and Lenin said (exact quote) "From each according to his means, to each according to his needs." Those two principles, summarized in two words, are injustice and stupidity. The few work to feed the rest of society, creating a terrible injustice, where those with the "means" suffer so that those with the "needs" can sleep easily. The other option is to allow the "means" people to "be fishermen" also. Now, nothing is done. As his people starve, the communist dictator will surely regret removing individual incentive from the world of production. As I ajm wont to do, I feel the need to refer you to The Right Click for further information.

Mark: Is ANYONE still so stupid as to think that communism has or could work? Go back to the "greed" argument, and you have the answer why it cannot ever work in the forseeable future. Only drug washouts and a few overpowered leaders in China have not yet grasped reality -- animals are greedy, and humans are animals.

Good? Evil? It sort of depends on what people do when they acquire wealth, isn't it? Factory owners in the south paying employees for a year after the factory burns down, and the recent reports of the software company that paid employees a $75,000 Christmas bonus illustrates that. Of course, many employers do what they can, but it's not news unless it's exceptional.

And the poor Joe that has to let some workers go to keep the business alive at all becomes evil in some people's eyes. Perhaps it's more a matter of perspective and experience, and a realistic recognition of human motivations. Greed may not be good, but it's damn sure universal.

allisoncm: Greed can lead to stealing or cheating. Greed is not good, but significantly bad. More harm is done by greed than many other characteristics.

egh: Paul believes that communism leads to the few working to support the many. I am not a Communist per se, but it seems to me that capitalism leads to the many supporting the few, and I ask which is better? Capitalism encourages greed, because that is what it is about. A corporation's only purpose is profit. If it can't make a profit, it will cease to exist. Now, I mistrust government as much as the next person, but it seems to me that at least government's purpose is not to create more profit no matter what the cost. The only things that keep corporations in check are government and organized labor -- without these two corporations would do whatever they wanted and lay even greater waste to the Earth.

State communism (or was it state capitalism?) didn't work, but capitalism isn't doing so hot itself (though many in the U.S. are quite comfortable, it always comes at the expense of others). It seems to be time for something entirely different.

cracker: I don't agree that capitalism leads to greed. Capitalism generally rewards hard work, thus motivating one to achieve more, but that is not greed. Greed probably descends upon those who can't handle the reality of success so they want more and more, but I think they are in the minority. To even try to compare capitalism to communism is an exercise in futility. Just look around the World and review the changes in the last few years.

ozzyosbourne: KBucher points out what I think is the biggest fallacy of free-market societies: "In a free-market society, everyone has the same basic opportunities to succeed ... not everyone will take those opportunities."

This is bullshit. Do you really think that a black child born in the ghetto has the same opportunity as a white child from suburbia? The playing field is not equal. We are not all given the same opportunity to pursue wealth. Some of us have family connections, wealth, and the privilege of race on our side. I don't think the answer is socialism, but let's be honest about the fact that American society has gross inequities.