11 Comments so far

1. Jaded Prole March 8th, 2007 5:03 pm

   Capitalsim has outlived its historic epoch and has nothing left to offer humanity. It will collpase due to the economic impact of environmetnal changes and the end of available petrolium based energy. Only socialisms of various kinds offer a future we can live with. Wealth that feeds on it’s own narrow profit driven agenda must be removed from power as a pre-requisite to making the changes we need to collectively in order to live in a hotter, non-petrolium based world. The alternative is famine, war, environmental collapse and barbarism among those unfortunate enough to survive. We can and must do better.

2. expatincebu March 8th, 2007 8:38 pm

   I believe in the post cheap energy world, only cooperativism will work. We have tried central ownership (feudalism) and central control (communism), and Darwinist competition (capitalism), and the hybrid nanny state (socialism).

   Maybe no it is time for us to cooperate, starting at the local level, and branching out into regional, national, and global cooperatives.

3. ezeflyer March 8th, 2007 8:56 pm

   In any form of government, representative democracy carries it’s own poison pill–all power is in the hands of a tiny few. In decentralized direct democracy, direct online democracy, or Global Online Democracy (G.O.D.) the public makes the decisions. That’s why it lasts and gives citizens the maximum benefits:

   http://www.swissworld.org/dvd_rom/eng/direct_democracy_2004/index.html

   http://www.gp.org/

4. Stephen V. Riley March 9th, 2007 9:08 am

   Capitalism is an intrinsic evil that destroys the spitituality of our humanity. It denies a consciousness for the common good. Capitalism is so pernitious, it has totally corrupted the very foundation of Christianity, the counter-money culture, anti-empire teachings of Christ. What we are witnessing now is the self-destruction of capitalism, and our society and churches remain clueless. It is called “The Great Turning”, check it out

5. ezeflyer March 9th, 2007 1:30 pm

   Great article. But like capitalism has its Hitlers, Mussolinis and Bushes, socialism has its Stalins, Pol Pots and Caescecus. These are the distillations of representative democracy. In an increasingly dangerous world, one dictator is one too many.

   We can only end wealth/power centralization by its decentralization. Fortunately modern communications and information access gives people the ability to become lawmakers at the local, citywide, statewide, nationwide and global levels, solving the logistical problems of speedy decisions with quick referendums.

   Whether we will begin to decentralize government or not is not the question, but when? Highly paid, corruptible professional politicians are already obsolete but there are centuries of inertia and glorified “traditions and institutions” to overcome.

   Meantime, progressives can practice decentralized grassroots democracy by starting a peaceful revolution and joining the Green Party, our first step in the transition toward becoming lawmakers, not it’s victims.

   Critics of direct democracy say that no one will vote for needed taxes and that DD will cause voter apathy, but the reverse is true. Direct democratic countries like Switzerland have the highest voter participation and a top notch infrastructure paid for by the voting public.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy

6. cosmobilly March 9th, 2007 2:02 pm

   It is a pleasure to see intellectual effective people discuss the failings of capitalism. Too many others equate capitalism with democracy or vice versa, meaning that there is no room in casual conversation, in America, for people to even begin discussing the pros and cons of reforming capitalism. But, in my experience there are three little words that must be managed effectively in any real discussion of this topic: “redistribution of wealth.”

   To my republican friends who detest the notion, I remind them that both parties redistribute wealth, it is only a matter of how and to whom.

   But to date, I have not seen or heard any substantive discussion of this topic that even comes close to convincing advocates of capitalism of the flaws of capitalism. How do you convince self-serving interests of the value in not being so self-serving? How do you convince once and for all that helping others lifts the whole. And how do you argue that the government can effectively offer the skills and services required to manage a socially repsonsible economy?

   Otherwise, you’re just preaching to the choir.

7. ezeflyer March 9th, 2007 5:59 pm

   cosmobilly:

   I think you’re right on all counts. The problem as I see it is who gets to redistribute wealth? Is it the politicians in a capitalist society or the ones in a socialist society? History shows that as long as corruptible representatives do the redistributing, the people lose.

   There is no reason why the people can’t govern themselves and redistribute wealth/power direct democratically. There are no technological impediments any longer, only artificial impediments put up by these same politicians.

   See:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-democracy

   Also, why not consider joining the Green Party, the largest, fastest growing and grassroots international party that includes the entire progressive agenda? Vote for Kucinich, Waters, Gravel or other progressive Democrats, but let the corporate DLC conservatives know that progressives are switching parties in protest for not acting on their mandate.

8. Nietzsche March 9th, 2007 9:12 pm

   You are right on the money cosmobilly, in your comments about Murray’s article. It has been my experience that no addict will give up her drug until she has tried every possible way to continue using. Ever tried to stop smoking? And we are asking people to stop what they understand living to be.
   When liberal religion captures the imagination of the masses as far right religion has done already, when a critical mass of citizenry see themselves in every living thing, when the rich really do feel the pain of the poor, then things will change. How long? The sixth chapter of Isaiah tells how long but the answer is not comforting.
   Cosmobilly and Murray should be on tv 24-7.
   Their message is that urgent.

9. Nietzsche March 13th, 2007 2:53 pm

   I will never forget seeing a Republican senator from Arizona standing in the well of the senate and in pious tones saying “There is nothing wrong with using money to influence the legislative process.” Translation: “It is the right of filthy rich corporations and individuals to use their wealth to undermine the democratic process.” How long must we endure government of the rich,by the rich, and for the rich?

10. blessthebeasts March 13th, 2007 8:38 pm

    cosmobilly–Capitalists will never be persuaded to give up their power. It will have to be taken from them by the rest of us, the majority.

11. bnrirynysycu December 12th, 2007 10:53 am

    titzetuwepowi…

    exhyxesocuto…

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