Let's try more democracy so people can debate and decide.

Tabetha, on the one hand you are saying that capitalism is "...the only world order that understands people and what motivates them" - and on the other, you say "...it's about time we focused on improving capitalism".

Do you think that if such an improvement in the understanding of people is required to satisfy your second point, that capitalism can still legitimately be called "capitalism" any longer? If capitalism in its current incarnation is failing, what other "...isms" or "...ologies" would be required to facilitate such improvements in our understanding? Would the occupiers of oak-panelled, top-floor rooms even be open at all to any such changes that detract from a lifestyle to which they have become very accustomed?

Pippa is saying everything I've been thinking but have felt too scared to utter out loud. Capitalism may feel cold hearted to some, but it's the only form of world order that actually understands people and what motivates them. All this talk about global social shift in mindset seems more utopian by the minute, it's about time we focussed on improving capitalism, not dethroning it.

Robert's idea that, in times of crisis, we should shift the pressure from failing countries to more successful ones is an intriguing one. From a purely rational point of view it makes sense, countries with a surplus should be incentivised/coerced into down spending the surplus by importing more from failing countries. This is a radical shift from the austerity measures currently forced upon failing countires to try to get out of a dip. Could it work though? On a global scale I cannot see it even being suggested. Within large supranational unions though? Food for thought.