Capitalism

http://www.justiceplus.org/capitalist.htm

Poverty in the world is caused by a lack of capitalism.  China's economy is only now starting to grow because of AMERICAN corporations stepping in, and giving them jobs, and in general, income of capital.

>>159 If you live in a house and you accumulate asbestos poisoning, is it really your fault. Yes intelligence is key here but considering the fact that these people know nothing except american society, isn't there something wrong with the environment that has shaped them into these... spheres? I'm not condoning their behavior nor their cost for the healthier ones, but fact is; they are all the "victims" of the same persistent factors in the american lifestyle.
>>160 I'm not saying we go to Mc in our sleep. I'm saying that for many people it has become second nature. It's like bigotry and sexism; it is so much easier to battle it if you first see your own unconcsious prejudices and such. I don't buy Nike, Mc, anyhting from Coca-Cloa and I shun as much plastics as I can. My dad recycles, and such. Shit accumulates, as do good things.

>>161
I know that Mc food sucks and is unhealthy(hell, even all really good food is unhealthy only veggies are healthy), but I still sometimes buy Big Mac when travelling if no pizza is available. I know what Coca-Cola does in third world, but you can ignore that their main drink rocks and you don't really have any alternatives. Sure there's Pepsi, but don't they do same things? I don't buy nikes though, but not, because I have anything against company. It's just that I prefer real shoes over sneakers and have sense of style meaning I don't run around in sports wear. I guess I'm cynical hedonist bastard then. Now it's true that I don't like globalism and big corporations for one reason. They steal jobs from many as it's much cheaper to manufacture stuff in some third world sweatshop, but it's not like I can do anything against it and it's not that big problem yet.

>>162 No alternatives... Ever heard of this "pure water" thing that was just revealed in Japan? It's the "happening" of the day now. Your argument is basically that you can't be arsed to make your lifestyle in better sync with the world. How the ftaherfuck is that a viable stanpoint in any aspect? The worst part is that you say that it's not a big problem... Yet. the problem with your "chill out and have a beer you crackpot"-mentality is that you share it with millions of other mollified westerners. We once had an ad here in Sweden, it's an image of a man pouring some paint in the sink thinking: "What's the harm?". The following poster featured hundreds of tiny people sharing the same thought bubble: "What's the harm?". EVERYTHING ACCUMULATES.
"I guess I'm cynical hedonist bastard then." No you're not *A*  laid-back, acerbic, cool motherfucker that knows the score, lives large and doesn't give *A* shit while still being amicable. You're not Denis Leary up in this, not even Carrot Top. You're just a net loss and blemish for humanity in general. You are a consumer, capitalism is in your hands. You just chose the easy road and that's pitiable.

"HUHU THE INTERNET IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!!! THAT POST SURE ISLONG N' GAY XEL IS SUCH A FAG FOR WRITING LONG POSTS!

>>162
There are alternatives.  Try Jones soda.  It's good stuff.  The bottles are expensive, but you can get the cans at most Target stores in the U.S. (at least the one near me) for the same exact price as the large name brands (coke & pepsi).  I don't know anything negative really about Jones... they seem like a small, cool, and somewhat individualistic company though.  Plus, their soda is superior... premium quality soda at the same price as coke and pepsi (if you buy cans).

Xel, I don't really know what happens in your country, I'm not from Sweden, I'm from the United States.  I can tell you that in the United States, as an average, lower-middle class kid, the message about McDonalds *IS* out there to anyone who isn't too lazy to go read / watch it.  Trust me.  Not only that, if your friends are conscious consumers, they usually let you in on the facts.  Trust me dude, there is no excuse to not be informed.  Those people who go there either are too lazy to know, don't want to know, just don't care, or do care but like eating there and just eat there anyway because... they just don't give a fuck.

They aren't defenseless.  The child marketing thing is possibly half true, but that can be avoided by good parenting, and anyone of average or higher intelligence should eventually get over the McDonalds marketing and advertisements.  I did... there's no reason others can't. 

I'm poster 165 continuing... something I forgot to add.... that is to say, again... they know, it's their fault. 

Maybe they didn't 20 years ago, but after all the recent anti-mcdonalds stuff, movies, ads (subway ads come to mind..) and rampant critisizm of them, and fast food in general, there's really no excuse to NOT know what is going on. 

>>165>>166 Okay, you're starting to convince me. If it is as easy as it is to know what's good for you, then becomin uglier is basically what you deserve. I wonder if their profits have gone down as of late anyway. I mean, you have people eating out or eating take-out. three times a day because it is basically cheaper/faster. That is non-existent in Sweden. Still, your experience is better tha mine in this case.

>>164
Gotta try that
>>167
Becoming uglier? I used to be fat, but not anymore. I just started to eat less. Doesn't matter what you eat if you don't eat too much. There are also people with extremely good metabolism and they never get fat no matter what they eat or what they do. I have buddies who eat many donuts daily, mostly sit in front of their computer, drink lots of beer and god knows what, but they're still not fat nor ugly, although being geeks they're not really good looking, but one of them happens to be cutest man I've seen in real-life comparable to Po-Ju boy and it's all natural.

>>167
According to the movie Super Size Me! or whatever it was I saw a few months back, their profits and sales are actually increasing. 

However, to the credit of the average joe in the United States... organic and 'health' foods sales have been increasing dramatically recently.  People are (at least partially) waking up to a better, less irresponsible, and less corporate way of living and eating. 

Incidentally, the owner of one of these alternative foods stores, John Mackey (owner of the HUGE alt. foods corporation known as Whole Foods) is a libertarian.  :)

You should read his essay on the POSITIVE side of free markets and Capitalism he gave in a speech.  He seems like a decent guy, even if I *personally* disagree with SOME* not all, of his viewpoints on the economy. 

Plus, his stores are pretty cool too... I've been to one once.