Raphael Sandro C.

Ramirez January 11, 2012

Marxism PHILO 4

Capitalism: A Love Story

1. For Moore it seems that the root cause of the US financial crisis in the late 2000s is due to the

practices involved in Capitalism. However, it is not solely due to the system of Capitalism but

most of the fault lies with the people holding all the power both politically and financially who

use capitalism as a means of gaining profit indefinitely. Capitalism is not completely at fault but

rather it is how it can be used and abused that is at fault.

In Capitalism, those who have can have even more. That is why there are many practices

that involve gaining profit and property even at the expense of others. The driving force behind

these practices is, as stated by Moore, Greed. In the case of the US as depicted by Michael

Moore, the elite of Market CEOs took control of politics through the inauguration of a candidate

for President. The President ended up being under these elites. They seemingly used a puppet

president to enable them to seize control of politics and establish laws and standards that would

benefit the Market CEOs. This led to unfair institutional practices which involve circumventing

several rights and laws in order to make an environment that would be just right for the market

economy to take advantage of.

Moore depicts these injustices creatively in his documentary. What was once the most

powerful country in the world was made to feel the pain of an economic crisis that was caused by

a set of individuals leading many innocents to be put in harms way and forced to live even

harsher lives.

2. In both the Marxist critique and the documentary presented by Michael Moore, the term that is

used to describe the root of these economic evils is GREED. The reason why Capitalism has

allowed such acts of injustice is due to Greed. In the documentary, Michael Moore specifically
 conducts interviews with officials using the term Greed. We encounter this term in reading the

Marxist documents and it is more or less the same to how Moore sees it. The reason why those

who have continue such acts of injustice is under the influence of Greed. Marx and Moore share

a similar standpoint; that the central reason that makes the market economy and capitalism evil is

the acts perpetuated by those under the influence of Greed.

Another point of interest is that Marx criticized the political economy for its principles

that dont have any basis whatsoever. In the documentary, Moore also criticizes some principles

used by Wall Street that were very complicated such as the principle of betting on pretty much

anything.
Lastly, both Marx and Moore criticizes that the promises made on account of Capitalism

were pretty much empty words that ended up ruined and endangered the lives of countless

people. They both make it obvious that Capitalism has done more harm than good.

3. For Marx, he was very much declarative in his solution as the complete abolition of private

property to counter the problems brought about though Capitalism. In my opinion, Moore is

more open ended and does not quick give any formative solutions but gives a striking exposition

that Capitalism is not all that its cracked up to be and that there are many other solutions.

4. I think that Christ would definitely not choose Capitalism as the System of Order. In the ministry

of Christ, he would always uphold what is right and could never accept acts that bring pain and

sadness to others. Christ would never condone such vile acts that not only deprive people of their

property and rights but also their dignity as persons. Marx and Moore have contributed into a

better understanding of Capitalism and how this system continues to commit crimes against the

people it was made to serve. A system that can be used to bring harm to the people would

definitely warrant Christs anger and disgust.