MovieChat Forums > It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) Discussion > A critique of capitalism?

A critique of capitalism?

posted 5 years ago by Silverman (270)
11 replies | jump to latest

This is an honest question, and I’m not trying to stir up shit. Nor am I attempting to justify/denigrate one economic system over the other. This era was well before my time, and I don’t know enough about the director/ context to make an educated conclusion.

Here’s why I thought this might be the case.

A group of strangers discovers the potential for wealth. In attempting to figure out what to do, they develop a few well-thought our means of distribution that would benefit everyone in the group. However, each person is overcome by their own selfish sense of entitlement and greed wins out. A mad scramble ensues where each member of the group disgraces themselves in the name of their pursuit, leaves a trail of total chaos in the wake of their avarice , before they all fall to total ruin.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this movie, and I don’t remember it beat for beat. I just had a thought An wanted some feedback

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] degree7 (821) 4 years ago

It can't be a critique of capitalism because the money they feel entitled to they didn't earn, but rather belongs to someone else.

Actually this is capitalism in a nutshell, the upper class is only able to generate wealth off the backbreaking work of labourers, who only see a fraction of the profit they created.

[–] Wuchak (8737) 4 years ago

Lol, yeah right. In capitalism the worker can wisely plan, eventually quit (if they so choose) and start their own business wherein they work hard, prosper and hire workers, spreading the prosperity. Of course, today, Demonic-rats will try to shut down the business using their plan-demic as an excuse.

To understand the all-around destructive effects of socialism/communism go no further than Cuba. The propaganda on the internet suggests that it's a gorgeous Caribbean wonderland, but the truth is just the opposite. This video details what four honest Americans saw firsthand on their visit to Cuba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz6VJK3mS08.

Even worse, notice what socialism did for the formerly prosperous Venezuela.

Bottom line: socialism/communism sucks.

[–] degree7 (821) 4 years ago

Ah yes, start your own business where 30% of your revenue is taxed and sent to prop up corporations and lobbyists. Somewhat ironic that right wingers are all about the “free market” when they always advocate taxing the little man and letting Fortune 500 companies and the rich get away with hardly paying anything. So by the time you’re 65 and almost dead, you just might have enough to live off of.

[–] Wuchak (8737) 4 years ago

I added to my post; check it out and observe glaring evidence from the video.

As to the rest of what you say, you're just a pathetic lil' whiner, aren't you? (Wah). Capitalism encourages imagination, diligence and attaining your dreams. That's why people from all over the world want to come to America even though LIEberals smear it as "racist" (lol). Yeah, it's so "racist" that Libs have to regularly create fake hate crimes against minorities. (You can't make this stuff up!)

[–] degree7 (821) 4 years ago

Yeah all those 40 million people living in poverty without access to proper healthcare, education, and infrastructure are such “whiners.” “Whining” must be why the US has the second highest poverty rate of any developed country. Nothing to do with your elected leadership ransacking it and leeching off economic slave labour. You seem to be completely caught up in the left vs right narrative that you’ve failed to notice it’s all a ploy so that corporations can rob us blind.

[–] Wuchak (8737) 4 years ago

your elected leadership ransacking it and leeching off economic slave labour

Yeah, Demonic-rats & RINOs. Quit voting for 'em. If you're from the UK quit voting for the equally clueless Labour Party. (Speaking as an Independent).

the US has the second highest poverty rate of any developed country

And yet these so-called impoverished people own smart phones, TVs, vehicles, have AC and don't have to work for a living. Some of 'em have so much time on their hands they regularly riot, loot, assault, vandalize, burn and murder. Yeah, they're just so oppressed and impoverished. Get real.

that corporations can rob us blind.

If you oppose these corporations then the obvious answer is to not work for them. Start your own enterprise, work hard, prosper and spread the wealth. That's why people from all walks of life the world over regularly pour into America, legally and illegally. It certainly ain't because America is socialist/communist. Who's pouring into nations like Cuba and Venezuela? Nobody.

[–] degree7 (821) 4 years ago

Ah yes, only the democrats and labour party are the problem and not the Republicans or Tories. When will you wake up and realize a two party system is the problem.

Your second paragraph is a joke.
Spoken like someone who’s never experienced true hardship in life. Many people are forced to work 50-60 hours a week and live paycheck to paycheck JUST to afford a bare living. Most of those amenities you’re referring to are not luxuries but lifelines. Get a clue.

And ah yes, what a solution. Don’t work for corporations that control a monopoly over entire industries, but start your own business and hope you don’t get squashed by said monopoly. The only people who are able to do that are either white or very very lucky. Stop acting like the USA is equal opportunity. It isn’t. The American Dream is dead or dying.

Also nice cherry picking two countries that don’t fit into your skewed agenda (who, btw, suffered from decades of economic sanctions from your darling USA) while ignoring the myriad of socialist governments that work just fine. Heh.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Wuchak you are a fucking moron. Many and many more Americans are supporting socialism over a system that constantly exploits them.

And it was the CIA that destroyed Cuba and Venezuela.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

In capitalism if you can't afford to pay for your healthcare you die. Every other country has universal healthcare.

Bottom line: Capitalism sucks.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

It's not a critique about anything political. The point of the movie was to make fun of human greed and how it can turn perfectly ordinary, civilized people into cutthroat savages and criminals. That point is why in the end of the movie, everyone winds up losing the suitcase. Each person thought he was most deserving of the money because of how cutthroat he was. But they weren't deserving, because 1) they didn't turn the money into the police 2) even if they didn't, they decided to harm each other and cause destruction rather than just team up and divide the money equally.