F.C. is a Hispanic male, who is twenty-one years of age, and grew up in Fredericksburg, Va. He is a senior a Mary Washington studying Economics. F.C. works at a company called Fasanol Industrial and Construction. When F.C. graduates he plans on continue his career in the finance field as a broker and living in Richmond.
How would you define capitalism?
Capitalism is the pricing and distribution of products for profits. There are two roles laborers and capitalists. Laborers make the products and capitalists are the salesmen who sell the product for profits.
What has your personal experience with capitalism been? What is your relationship with capitalism? –
I study capitalism and plan to be a capitalist. I am a salesman right now and a broker at my job after graduation. I distribute and sell freight at my job making me the capitalist.
What do you think are some alternatives to capitalism? What do you think about them?
Socialism is one alternative and I believe it works poorly. The economy is too top heavy causing it to be more government based.
How does capitalism influence America? How has it influenced America in the past?
- People have more motivation to work harder because of how one can profit from capitalism. The people are influenced to work harder through education and experience. The system allows people to move in social mobility if they so desire.
2) The economy started off as a barter system of people making their own products and giving it to a salesman to sell for their necessities. The salesmen in the system were considered low class. The influence of capitalism put importance on the salesmen because of the importance of distribution.
What do you think are capitalism’s origins? Both globally and in reference to the United States?
When I took my philosophy of economics class one man we studied spoke that the origins were European based. The society was based on specialty jobs people held and bartering was popular because of no currency. The economy developed from this system.
How do you think social issues have been affected by capitalism, both now and in the past?
- now: The system puts an importance on class. The capitalists are typically upper class to upper middle. The laborers are typically in lower muddle to lower class. The focus on class causes tensions.
- past: The system has the same focus as today. People do not want to be on the bottom driving them to get an education and experience.
How do you think capitalism has changed over time? What are some examples?
The system changed over time because of the transition from bartering and the importance placed on different jobs. The salesmen were the errand boys for most communities and the switch caused the product makers to become the overworked. The biggest changes is technology, the specialties broadening and the more money in the system.
Do you think capitalism is a natural fit for human nature? Why or why not?
Yes, you need social classes and people with their own goals. The labor needs to be divided whether it be a person in a power plant or a distributer for a big company.
How has capitalism been taught to you at different levels of your education?
I was taught throughout all levels of my education capitalism was the best and the only economy that will work. All education before college never taught information on how the capitalist economy work. When I went in to my major I learned the details, however the message is the same that it’s the only way to have an economy.
F.C. views capitalism as a motivator for people to do well or better their lives. The economy is a way of giving people their place in the social order. The economy gives opportunity to the people who work or educate themselves for the jobs. F.C. is a true capitalist and it was interesting hearing his opinion from a salesman’s
point of view. I find it interesting that he views the changes as barter to the system it is today just technology added.
