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RE: Cape Town's water apocalypse

in #life7 years ago

You send me some pertinent commentary of your own on the sources I referred you to and I will consider reading the book.

You might say that I extol the precepts taught by the Master, wherever they are to be found.

I still favour capitalism over most leftist thinking but not the way it has been applied. The essence of Capitalism needs to be tempered with compassion and understanding and a greater commitment to service.

A man considered to be the greatest Industrialist and possibly Capitalist is Andrew Carnegie said some relevant things :

The day is not far distant when the man who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was free for him to administer during life, will pass away unwept, unhonored, and unsung, no matter to what uses he leave the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these the public verdict will then be: The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced. Such, in my opinion, is the true gospel concerning wealth, obedience to which is destined some day to solve the problem of the rich and the poor.
Andrew Carnegie

The man of wealth [should] consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to administer to produce the most beneficial results for the community - the man of wealth thus becoming the mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience and ability to administer, doing for them better than that they would or could do for themselves.
Andrew Carnegie

Sadly his example and exhortations fell on deaf ears and blind eyes.

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Thanks for the reply. Carnegie surely wasn't wrong. But Communists wouldn't even allow him to use his talent and amass a fortune, even is he would give it away at the end. That's the tragedy.

Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of capitalism as well. But what choice do we have? All collectivism always ends in misery for everyone. With freedom and capitalism on the other hand, you and everyone else can adapt.

And one more thing: If I had to chose between freedom and democracy, I would always chose freedom. Because in a democracy, it can happen that you are on the minority side your whole life. With freedom on the other hand, you are the one who decides for yourself. That's why I think democracy is important, but freedom is essential.