this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
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No, they aren't "harmless" either. It isn't about "getting a high score." Capitalism is based on profits and selects for those that are most profitable, there's no such thing as an "ethical capitalism" because even if a capitalist decided individually to stop pursuing profits above all else, others would overtake them and the "ethical" capitalist would go under.
Of course there's no ethical capitalist, nor are capitalists arithmomaniacs obsessed with gaining money the sake of gaining money. Money is an expression of power, money itself is not the goal it's the power.
Capitalism is a material, existing system that does not care about power. All it cares about is whoever best achieves profits in the system. As there is a tendency for the rate of profit to fall, absolute profits must be raised by rapid and continuous expansion. Power is merely a tool for that purpose, a capitalist that doesn't manipulate the state to its own ends, etc fails to outcompete. In capitalism, even if the action is abhorant, if it's profitable, it will be done.
By putting notions of power above profit, you utterly confuse the driving aspect of economies based on circulation of commodities and reproduction on an expanded scale, ie capitalism. It doesn't matter if the capitalists has everything they want as an individual, if they choose to stop pursuing profits, they sink and new capitalists that are willing to continue will take their place, because capitalists are a class, and not just a group of individuals alone.