A debate, Capitalism Vs Communism

[SamuelRSmith]

Badassbab said:

SamuelRSmith said:

America got rich because it embraced capitalism in the 19th century. It decays now, because it fares away from it. The "emerging nations" are doing so because they are embracing more and more capitalism today. To argue that the way to "ruin" somewhere is to have capitalism, is to argue against history.

America got rich in the 19th century because of geography, protectionism, Europeans fighting each other and immense natural resources. State capitalism played it's part.

Geography and natural resources have nothing to do with it. Hong Kong is essentially just a big rock with zero natural resources, and yet it's one of the richest places in the world. Because of capitalism. Many places in the world are far more resource-blessed than the USA, and is still far poorer. Look at Africa and Latin America, for example.

Did Americans not fight each other in the 19th century? Best throw out my history books, then!

Protectionism, I'm not gonna dispute that America had protectionism, but it grew rich despite it. To argue that protectionism makes a country rich is to argue that a family who refused to trade with any outside individual could become wealthy through it. Have to build your own shelter, make your own clothes, grow your own food, harvest your own energy, etc... everybody would have a job! The family's employment would be 100%, they'd be billionaires! Right?