This is from Quora: How can I educate people about the millions of victims of capitalism?

Great question, this is easy! [Answered by Paul O’Brien, CEO of MediaTech Ventures found in Austin, Texas.] Here’s his answer.

First.

Explicitly define capitalism:

An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Right? We have to be clear about what it is if we’re going to then educate people properly about something.

Second.

List some countries in which the country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners…

Singapore, Hong Kong, and New Zealand are the closest we can get.

Shoot, this isn’t as easy as I thought.

Okay, back up… according to the The Heritage Foundation, which reports on this stuff, those are the only 3 countries in which trade and industry are almost entirely controlled by private owners.

From there, the ranking of that control drops quite a bit, with Australia, Switzerland, and Ireland next. Then it slides pretty rapidly from there.

The United States, troublingly argued by many to have these capitalists and respective victims, is actually way down the list at about 17. And when I think about it, I can’t think any example of anything in the United States that is controlled by private owners – the government is involved in every aspect of business and trade.

Still, let’s roll with what we’ve found so far; we can only educate given the facts, right?

So, 3 countries to which to refer.

Third.

Explain what each of these countries and their capitalists do, that’s terrible.

1. Singapore. Singapore has been ranked as the top city in Asia in terms of quality of living according to global human resource consultancy, Mercer. Singapore is also regarded as the ‘Happiest country in South-east Asia’ according to the 2018 World Happiness Report .

[crepe]… this isn’t starting out so well is it?

Its sustained extraordinary performance has resulted in one of the world’s highest per capita incomes and solid rates of GDP growth.

Singapore is one of the world’s most prosperous nations, with a business-friendly regulatory environment and a very low unemployment rate.

okay okay… okay. Let’s move on.

2. Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a world financial center with low taxation rates and free trade. The city is connected by a well-developed but cheap public transportation system and offers extensive international travel connections for its large expat community. Adding its ease of doing business, the free public wifi, high safety rating.

[frack]…

The ongoing political and social turmoil has begun to erode its reputation as one of the best locations from which to do business, dampening investment inflows.

A ha! SEE!!!!! Atrocities.

no, no… wait a second… that’s because of the incoming government and the transfer of power of Hong Kong to China.

Okay, moving on…

3. New Zealand. Alright, we have to have something here! New Zealand… right? Come on. That country where Lord of the Rings was filmed. Seriously, where did they get all those Orc extras if not for it being a terrible place to live. Let’s take a look…

New Zealand ranks above the average in health status, income and wealth, environmental quality, personal security, civic engagement, housing, subjective well-being, education and skills, jobs and earnings, and social connections but below average in work-life balance.

seriously?!?! you gotta be kidding me…

Let’s move on to the forth step and really get this message across

Fourth.

Go to the other extremes and give the counter point. In order to effectively educate, we:

1. define and explain
2. Give valid examples
3. Give counter examples

So, counter examples.

Bottom on the list of economic freedom where private owners retain the liberty to control what they do and decide how it works… That is, the places LEAST capitalist:

North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba.

*sigh*

Okay okay, let’s give it the benefit of the doubt and work further up the list, increasingly toward countries with more private ownership and control of trade and industry…

Eritrea, Republic of Congo (isn’t that where they recently wrapped up a civil war?), Bolivia, Zimbabwe, Sudan (wait, as in the Darfur genocide?!), Sierra Leone, Liberia, Iran…

screw it, I give up.

Fifth.

You make your point in summation.

And it seems that what we’ve learned is that the victims of capitalism are the people who have lost capitalism to increasing governance, regulation, and control.

How can I educate people about the millions of victims of capitalism?

I’d proceed by educating thusly..

Throughout the world, hundreds of millions of people lack private ownership and control. As a result, capitalism is the victim and people caught living in countries where capitalism has been taken from them, live in poverty, war, in horrific health conditions, and without civil liberties and human rights.

You can aid people. You can make a difference.

We see through countries such as Hong Kong, that the sacrifice of private ownership, the loss of capitalism, leads millions to protest, often violently; fearful of falling under the same governance and economic circumstances of a place like China.

Countries such as Singapore, New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia, Switzerland to the surprise of many perhaps, are the counties we might admire, are they not? Countries with few, if any, victims; where people are healthy, thriving, and prosperous.

What’s the difference? These are countries in which government and public ownership and control of people is severely restricted. Private ownership of trade and industry is near paramount, and capitalism is protected.

Fight back the loss of human rights and fight for private ownership. Start saving millions who are suffering from capitalism being lost to them.