[nomoreplease]

> Capitalism begets grifters as a matter of necessity.

While I don’t disagree, I expect there’s a substantially equivalent number of grifters under socialism as well

[coffeefirst]

Yeah, this is a thing of human nature. I'm sure if we rolled back to ancient Greece we could find no shortage charlatan oracle-soothsayers who put on a good show but deep down knew they were blowing smoke.

[tehjoker]

Depending on how the system is constructed, there's less financial incentive for it. Sure, the political arena might have some, but in theory you're supposed to try to weed those people out through the party. Nonetheless, I don't think you can characterize capitalist politicians as anything other than grifters or war mongers.

[def_true_false]

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.

It would be great if you people tried reading a history book for once. In particular, stories of people who believed these ideas were great and (despite a bunch of red flags) tried to act on that belief by immigrating to the Soviet Union in 1920s and 1930s, to help build the promised utopia. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end well for most of them.

[pnathan]

Then the grift is to be a party hack and have the party arrange for a nice dacha for you, good schools for the kids.

of course, you don't hardly make anything, the party provides, in its benevolence!

edit: my point is that grifters show up in any particular structure. not to sling arrows at the USSR or the USA.

[a9h74j]

Not all incentives need be financial. Connections yield better schools, better housing, invitation to more cultural events, etc etc.