What’s the point of capitalism if it can’t produce a travel cup that doesn’t leak? | Emma Beddington

Does anyone really need a hamster harness or a £2.93 bag of 40 miniature plastic babies that will be washing up on beaches for the next millennium?

My WhatsApp messages show that I spend a lot of time complaining about capitalism, probably because I want to sound deep and radical, like a Sally Rooney character (closer analysis reveals that when I disparage “capitalism”, I usually mean “the need for me to work”). This is fairly hypocritical. I am no superfan, but I have capitalism’s greatest hits compilation and think it has some good tunes (takeaway food, Laser Lite earplugs, Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak). My complaints, however, have become more heartfelt recently.

There are plenty of things capitalism is terrible at. Caring about or protecting the planet: absolutely not in capitalism’s wheelhouse. Promoting equality and treating humans with dignity: nope. But in addition to being failed by the free market in the big ways in which it was always going to fail us, I feel as if it is flunking the small stuff it was supposed to ace.

Continue reading…

Please follow and like us: