Re: A New Perspective of...
Tad Williams (twilliams@progressivepubs.com)
Thu, 25 Mar 1999 14:57:06 -0500
>Hi All,
>
>
>Earlier Dan Wrote:
>> Capitalism may not be a great system, but it is the best that has been
>>devised by man thus far. And in its pure form, it is based on a worker
>>being paid "an honest day's pay for an honest day's work". The capitalist
>>(owner) who puts his/her money at risk investing it in what ever venture,
>>deserves a reasonable profit for his investment and effort. A lot of
>>people have attempted over the years to define "reasonable" in the above
>>context and have come up short. I do not intend to go there myself.
>>
>
>I don't agree that capitalism is the best that has been devised so far. It
>is certainly the most powerful. Capitalism has ruthlessly conquered any
>system that has had resources to plunder. Some of these systems have had a
>better way of existence than what capitalism is providing. We simply haven't
>heard about, or thought about it, or cared to think about, because evidence
>of previous cultures has been destroyed or pushed aside by capitalistic
>public relations(PR). Plus, it's too cosy in our pleasant capitalistic
>system to worry about such tedious details.
>
>The reason you perceive capitalism to be the best system that has been
>devised so far, is because it's great economic engines are being fueled by
>consumption of natural and social capital. As long as we have natural
>capital to consume and the waste generated by this system does not foul our
>own nest, then the capitalistic system works(unless your one of those being
>socially exploited)(ask the Ecquadorian Indians what they think about
>capitalism).
>
>However, when the natural capital runs out, and the filth of polution sicken
>even the highest in the capitalistic system, then the ways of capitalism
>will be laid bare, and the truth, will be known...capitalism is a failure
too.
>
>For any system to function, it first of all, has to be a democracy. We no
>longer have that here. We have an oligarchy, or as Jim Hightower likes to
>say, 'A cleptocracy...Government by Thieves".
>
>Capitalism, socialism, communism and any other 'ism', will not work unless
>it is based in democracy! The experiments based on Carl Marx's work were not
>democratic, and they failed. But that does not mean that a democratic form
>of socialism could not work.
>
>And I'm not saying that is what I endorse. I think a democratic capitalistic
>system, that is held accountable for it's action could be a very pausible
>for of government.
>But that is not what we have now! We have no accountability. The faster you
>can exploit, the better.
>
>Our world is being stolen undying mega-oligarchies, known as corporations.
>With no concsience, only profit as a motive, and more influence in
>government than my Senators, they become perpetrators of an irresponsible
>form of capitalism that is degenerating into a form of tyranny that we may
>be unable to recover from.
>
>I hope I'm wrong...but I don't think so.
>
>Greg
I thought I would add my two cents worth to the discussion. The viability
of any economic or political system rests on its ability to change or
adapt. For example, capitalism adopted some of the ideas that Marx was
advocating in the form of unions and social welfare. Everything that was
said about accountability and the power of corporations is true, however
when systems whether economic or political do not adapt or change like in
the former Soviet Union they fail. On the other hand communism in China has
adjusted just enough to mantain its viability by adopting some of
capitalism's ideas.
I feel that any system has its limits and capitalism is no exception. Its
just a matter of new ideas blossoming and old ones reaching their capacities.
Tad Williams
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