Quote Originally Posted by theforthdrive
maybe we should define better!?! Yeah, even after the great depression things got better...then worse...then better...then worse. I was too young to remember the 80's, and Ill take your word for it. But didnt the 90's have a dot.com bust, the now the real estate bust. Maybe better wouldnt be repeating the same greedy mistakes. Unfortunately I think things will get better (i think you mean more buying power from the dollar) but I would bet in my lifetime we see a complete collapse of the dollar. But that doesnt mean we'll all starve. Just have a new beginning with some other fiat money! history will repeat itself! we are just along for the ride!
Business cycles have always existed in post mercantilist economies. Even PME's had very trying times, although the rich were rarely ever effected (pre revolutionary France is a good reference).

Our current situations are due to the imperfections of humanity. If we or any algorithmic program had clairvoyance, everything would be perfect. This is not a perfect world, and humans as a whole do not always make the best decisions even if it involves their very well being.

The fact remains that capitalism, with both its goods and bads has improved the living conditions of the societies that has embraced it.