Inventor invents something: capitalism has them pay to be an inventor as they are probably a grad student and then sells the patent for a pittance to a corporation they are friendly with

Inventor invents something or fails and has to try again: communism gives them free Healthcare, education, housing and food.

[–] gkd@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Not to mention that they overlooked the fact that for some people - a sizable number too - the reward can be in helping others. Not everyone is a pariah looking to churn profits while pretending to care about other people’s needs.

Unfortunately the barrier to do this in capitalism is high, because like you mention, if you’re devoting your time to something that is not immediately producing profit then you may lose access to those basic needs. Companies can weather those losses, but will then want to make up the costs by - usually - using shady practices.

That’s not to say communism is the answer. But it surely isn’t capitalism as we have it today.

[–] OurToothbrush@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I mean to get rid of profits ya gotta get rid of the bourgeoisie, and then you're in a classless society.

[–] Flumsy@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

capitalism has them pay to be an inventor

I live in a capitalist country with free education. Healthcare is free if you cant afford it and is always a percentage of your income otherwise. Housing and food is also free if you cant afford it.

I have trouble seeing why capitalism is supposedly so bad

[–] OurToothbrush@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Social democracy isn't sustainable though, it requires the threat of a revolution to force the capitalists into a compromise and will be rolled back when that threat passes in the name of profit.

[–] GhotiPhin@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Inventors in the USSR were paid just as well, if not better than, their American counterparts. Mind you, this is not a defense of the USSR or authoritarian communism, Stalinism killed many people. However, maybe educate yourself on how these systems worked before critiquing them. A critique of communism does not negate critiques of capitalism.

Also - be careful with conflating inventors and capitalists. Inventors are often laborers who have their work profiteered by from the owning class - famously, Nikola Tesla lost control of his patent for DC motors and was left penniless as capitalists formed a new utility company.