From: cwarren@peg.pegasus.oz.au
Newsgroups: aus.politics
Subject: The End of Capitalism
Date: 26 Jul 92 18:06:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:peg:996200251:000:6254
Nf-From: peg.pegasus.oz.au!cwarren    Jul 26 13:06:00 1992


THE END OF CAPITALISM

In a earlier response to a topic on compulsory voting
Bernd Felshe claimed that:

   "there are those that lead and those that follow"

   "all in the pack are not equal"

   "if it was not for incentives then expression of
    individualism would be suppressed".

He then went on and implied this meant we should be
forced to live under capitalism.

There are differences between individuals, but the point
about capitalism is that it is a system which
artificially exploits these differences and once having
obtained advantage suppresses the efforts of others.

Human differences should be the basis for obtaining
economic security for all, not for a few cheating the
others and leaving a trail of bankruptcy, impoverishment,
starvation, and social decay behind them.  This is
today's reality in the UK and USA.  But similar
circumstances for Australia cannot be far off.

Contrary to what B Felshe claims, the expression of true
individualism (not commercial individualism) does not
need incentives.  Only the most vain and indolent, would
claim otherwise.  A true state of happiness, in body and
soul is the only incentive humanity needs and this means,
we should re-examine the problem of capitalism.

We cannot allow capitalists to so mismanage affairs that
Australia becomes, instead of the cornucopia capitalists
always promise, a cauldron of riots, unemployment, de-
industrialisation, crime and bankruptcy.

When you look at the huge range of human societies, it is
evident that many, many different forms of social
organisation and culture have evolved.  There is nothing
special about capitalism.  A better way of living will
emerge eventually.

The economically powerful have always built their power
by plundering the wealth of others.  This can be
accomplished by trade or by war.  Capitalists in the so-
called New World - USA, Australia, NZ, South Africa and
Canada - once having defeated the indigenous peoples,
then imposed capitalist relationships in virgin
conditions.  This may have led to a misunderstanding of
the real long-run tendencies of capitalism.

New land, and new productivity, enabled capitalists to
earn large incomes by selling, not to themselves, but
overseas (in the long run a capitalist society can never
make a profit by producing within, and selling to
itself).

This New World allowed a powerful resurgence of
capitalist faith.  America achieved notable success but
only through the iniquitous triangular trade of slaves,
their produce, and cash, between Guinea Coast (West
Africa), Boston in USA and West Indies, and Bristol and
Liverpool, UK.  American capitalists exploited slaves
until 1865.

Australian capitalists also raided other nations and
captured slaves in the Pacific and enslaved aborigines.
In India, Arabia and the Philippines, capitalists are
still able to keep families in bondage.

Today descendants of slaves in America are prevented from
expressing their individuality and can access few
incentives.  Capitalism in America, is turning so rotten
that its population is destroying itself through drugs,
and crime, by burning down their neighborhoods, and
looting, and killing each other.  Similar events are
spreading through the UK.

It is therefore ridiculous for some individuals in
Australia to, when faced with the 'bleeding-obvious',
suggest that "Capitalism depends on promoting the well-
being of society".  What rot.  Capitalism is based on
promoting the well-being of a particular society but even
then, it only provides well-being for a short phase in
its general development.

Capitalism may prefer the well-being of society but if it
can obtain more productivity by foregoing some well-
being, then it will do so.  Capitalists sensibly prefer
to forego well-being in other countries than their own.
This results in a typical pattern of a rich first world,
and a destitute third world drained of all 'well-being'
but, full of capitalism.

In many countries, capitalism has extinguished basic
human rights, most economic potential, all hope, and
every freedom so thoroughly that total despair now
permeates practically two-thirds of the world's
population.  Without exception, in this pole of
capitalism, the effect on well-being is many times worse
than under old socialism.  In in the citadels of
capitalism, where millions are homeless and destitute,
and sleep in cardboard boxes, there is only well-being
for some.  Mr Felshe did not provide the full picture.

Even in Eastern Europe people are starting to loathe
capitalism.  In a recent poll reported in the "Canberra
Times", Eastern Europeans were found lamenting the fact
they were "a lot better" under communism.  They are now
learning a necessary lesson appropriately expressed by
Peter Ayton a senior analyst with Mintel International,
that, when capitalism was brought into Eastern Europe,
GDP collapsed and the gap between rich and poor widened.

Eastern Europeans might not want the old regimes back but
they certainly have had a gut-full of bloody capitalism.

Capitalism does not consist of politicians promises, or
even what you or I see before us.  It is a total world
system that creates certain conditions in one country by
creating opposite conditions elsewhere.  Unless you
understand this you cannot hope to be taken seriously.

It is a real world out there and it cannot be covered-up
by dogmatic, double-speak about; individualism,
competition, incentive and expression etc.

Australia needs to think-smart, to find the most
appropriate economic position in a traumatised world.
This may mean de-linking ourselves from a too intimate
relationship with foreign interests who detract from our
economic sovereignty.

We need to balance productivity, which gives well-being
at the expense of others, and productivity which allows
all in society to obtain well-being.

This may mean there is more well-being at a lower level
of productivity but - so what?  I know where my
priorities are.

Obviously post-war socialism, as emerged in Eastern
Europe, is not a possible path for Australia, but some
form of economic sovereignty, based on a free-market
socialism, should be considered now that capitalism is in
crisis.  Otherwise things will just get worse.




CHRIS WARREN

26 JULY 1992
Newsgroups: aus.politics