Thanks a bunch, capitalism

[Eddi]

In my town there was an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, a small family business – and it was good.

It was well liked locally, very highly thought of.

Then, a more slick and corporate Chinese buffet opened, which was cheaper but just as good.

This put the original one out of business.

Months later and the new one closed down too, because the wider business it was a part of had somehow failed.

Now we have no all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets.

Which means there is now nowhere to stuff one’s face with Chinese food – because of competition: if the new buffet hadn’t opened the old one would still be in business. And my town would still have an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.

Thanks a bunch, capitalism.

​

 

[Misunderstood]

Capitalism says when you see opportunity you should act.

 

[Eddi]

Capitalism says when you see opportunity you should act.

I suppose I should see this as an opportunity to open my own Chinese buffet - there is obviously a demand for one

 

[Misunderstood]

I don't know for sure whether or not you should. I was just having some fun. But from what you are saying, when opportunity knocks...maybe someone will answer.

 

[Eddi]

I don't know for sure whether or not you should. I was just having some fun. But from what you are saying, when opportunity knocks...maybe someone will answer.

Well, I hope someone does - if they do then my faith in capitalism will be restored! (what little faith I had, anyway)

It would have to be someone other than me though, I'd have no idea where to even start

I miss the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet

 

[PureX]

Capitalism is just systematized greed. It rewards those who have money with the control that enables them to capture more money with the money they already have. It's not an especially good way for a society to make decisions, or to carry out tasks, because it forces all social enterprise to serve the cause of profiting the capital investor rather than the well being of the society that is engaging in it. Although it's annoying for you, your example is minor compared to the suffering and deaths of millions of humans all over the world caused by for-profit health care, for-profit food production and distribution, for-profit politics and policing, and so on.

 

[Revoltingest]

Without greed, there would be no good restaurants at all.

 

[Rival]

What about the food that's on your table that hard-working people put there and produced under the capitalist system?

No that's not good enough, I want Chinese.

 

[Revoltingest]

In my town there was an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, a small family business – and it was good.

It was well liked locally, very highly thought of.

Then, a more slick and corporate Chinese buffet opened, which was cheaper but just as good.

This put the original one out of business.

Months later and the new one closed down too, because the wider business it was a part of had somehow failed.

Now we have no all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets.

Which means there is now nowhere to stuff one’s face with Chinese food – because of competition: if the new buffet hadn’t opened the old one would still be in business. And my town would still have an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.

Thanks a bunch, capitalism.

​

Why not eat at the socialist Chinese buffet?
Oh....right.
Capitalism involves change.
This is what you're experiencing.
But I recommend avoiding all-you-can-eat restaurants.
Better quality is to be found at conventional ones.
And it's not healthy to eat all one can.

 

[YmirGF]

Some friendly Communists could open an all-you-can-eat buffet following the Communist principle "each according to their need"... with a large fellow carrying a rifle standing nearby to enforce said policy.

 

[Rival]

Some friendly Communists could open an all-you-can-eat buffet following the Communist principle "each according to their need"... with a large fellow carrying a rifle standing nearby to enforce said policy.

To be fair that's better than what they usually get in communist countries.

Least they're not queueing for bread that might not exist.

 

[YmirGF]

To be fair that's better than what they usually get in communist countries.

Least they're not queueing for bread that might not exist.

But that's not true Communism!

 

[Rival]

But that's not true Communism!

I'm sorry. The only pictures I could find of 'true communism' were all artists' impressions.

 

[YmirGF]

I'm sorry. The only pictures I could find of 'true communism' were all artist's impressions.

You're probably going to the wrong sources then.

 

[Sunstone]

Somehow, I don't think a Chinese buffet going out of business is a major indictment of capitalism. But correct me if I'm wrong. I'm wrong about most things.

 

[PureX]

Without greed, there would be no good restaurants at all.

People would still have to eat, and would still like to eat certain things prepared in certain ways, and they would still be willing to trade with others for that service. The only difference that a lack of greed would make is that people would be looking to make an even/fair trade, rather than to take every possible advantage of others to increase themselves as much as possible at the other's expense.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Without greed, there would be no good restaurants at all.

Do you honestly believe that? I can see it holds some truth, but seems over-stated.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Somehow, I don't think a Chinese buffet going out of business is a major indictment of capitalism. But correct me if I'm wrong. I'm wrong about most things.

That sounds like casual racism. If it was a Burger King, would you be so flippant?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

That sucks. It is awful how the system is stacked against small businesses and in favor of corporations. The government should do something about that.

 

[Revoltingest]

People would still have to eat, and would still like to eat certain things prepared in certain ways, and they would still be willing to trade with others for that service. The only difference that a lack of greed would make is that people would be looking to make an even/fair trade, rather than to take every possible advantage of others to increase themselves as much as possible at the other's expense.

I doubt that any real restaurant can exist on a barter system.
Capitalism & money are both useful in food businesses.