Capitalism+Screenplay+B

Open with a music clip (along with lyrics)

Band: The International Noise Conspiracy Song: Capitalism Stole My Virginity

Follow up with a quote:
 * "COMPETITION IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF CAPITALISM."**

--Mr. Harris

Will says:  This quote from Mount Saint Joseph teacher, Mr. Harris, explains what capitalism is in a nutshell. This picture shows the pillars of capitalism, which are money, power, and wealth. Capitalism refers to an economic and social system in which the means of production are primarily privately owned and operated, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a market economy. It is usually considered to involve the right of individuals and groups of individuals acting as "legal persons" or corporations to trade capital goods, labor, land and money. The concept of capitalism has limited logical value, given the great variety of historical cases over which it is applied, varying in time, geography, politics and culture, and some feel that the term "mixed economies" more accurately describes most modern economies. Some economists have specified a variety of different types of capitalism, depending on specifics of the focus of economic power and wealth, and methods of capital accumulation. During the last century capitalism has been contrasted with centrally planned economies.

Capitalism is essential individualistic, meaning that the individual is the center of capitalist enterprise. This idea is related to all the Enlightenment concepts of individuality. That all individuals are different, that society is composed of individuals who pursue their own interests, that individuals should be free to pursue their own interests (also known as "economic freedom") and that individuals pursuing their own interests will guarantee the interests of society as a whole.

Capitalism is also based on the Enlightenment idea of progress; the large-scale goal of capitalism is to produce wealth, that is, to make the national economy wealthier and more prosperous than it normally would be. Therefore, in a concept derived from the idea of progress, the entire structure of capitalism as a way of thinking is built on the idea of "economic growth." This economic growth has no restricted end and the purpose is for nations to gradually grow wealthier.

Just as there is for everything else, there are those for and those against capitalism. There are some that are advocates of it, but think there are some things that could be changed to improve it. Capitalism has been a great success and has brought a great amount of material goods and services. Its success has lead some to believe it is a perfect system, and it must not be modified in any way. Here are some opinions taken from a blog entry.(http://www.deeperwants.com/cul1/homeworlds/journal/archives/001065.html)

"The biggest problem with capitalism is that its solutions are based purely on short term economics, how to provide a given service most cheaply to the consumer. Only producer and consumer are involved." This is a problem because in the developing of some of these products for the consumer, the producer may be unaware of what else is being affected. Things that give off pollution are an example of other being affected by products. Producers will also do whatever they can to maximize their profit, which can lead to being wasteful with materials. Another opinion of a problem of capitalism is that "capitalism turns productive citizens into drones who do no useful work. All they do is buy and sell stocks and live off the interest. An entrepreneur who creates a business does useful work." This is basically saying that people are in it for the money and nothing else, and that profit is the only motive for business decisions. Another problem is wealth stratafication. In a stable system, the relative numbers of people at each income level remains constant. Individual people still become richer or poorer, but the distribution of incomes remains unchanged. "in our modern society, labour is much less important. Technology, capital and knowledge overshadow labour. Unskilled labour is increasingly less valuable. Further, computers take over a greater proportion of skilled labour every year. This leads to an instability, since labourers no longer have the clout they once had. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer."

Artist: The (International) Noise Conspiracy Song: Capitalism Stole My Virginity
 * Background Song:

The video will convey opposing ideas of capitalism. Those for it and those against it.

This picture will be used for those against it. **