It is almost as if this economic crisis were staged to demonstrate that the only solution to a failure of capitalism is more capitalism. Could we in fact be seeing the conditions for the further radicalization of capitalism, which appears to be evolving into an even more pervasive and pernicious form?
The only people in a position to change the tenants of capitalism, see no problem with its current form, they're doing just fine. Sure, the #occupywallstreet movement attempted to shine a light on the inequities of a system that saves the banks while shitting on the homeowners, but they had no shot. The power brokers are well funded, well organized and have our political system in their hands. OWS refused to have a central leadership. -Fatal flaw. I realize that this piece wasn't about OWS, but it's been on my mind of late. I seriously thought that they'd be a major player, as far as narrative was concerned, during this US election. They've not been... at all. I'm not sure if we'll be erecting statues of Lee Kuan Yew in the US 100 years from now, but I am pretty sure we'll still be a capitalist society of some sort. It may look more radical or it may even be a more "socialist" brand of capitalism, but I don't think the core of our economic structure will change much. Too much at stake for those with the $. Would have to be a result of a major catastrophe -man made or otherwise.
Sigh. I'm surprised the OWS dingalings didn't freeze to death at the first frost. Capitalism is so hugely restrained from what it was at it's peak I'm amazed that people have the energy to complain about it. I'm much more worried about illegal no-knock raids, illegal police roadblocks, illegal surveillance, illegal restraint of speech, illegal "executive orders," and illegal government sanctioned imprisonments of American citizens than in how PNC is jacking me on ATM fees. Remember the Heinlein quote: "“Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded- here and there, now and then- are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.This is known as "bad luck.".” -XC
This article is dead on about China. As I see it, Capitialism is not the problem. The problem is the precipitous transfer of representation of the public interests to the representation of narrow corporate interests. Laws are written by industries, to protect industries. That's what gets our politicians reelected. That is the problem. I have no interest in a communist system. I have no interest in a socialist system. But that doesn't mean that I don't see that I am losing to interests that are not my own, and thinking as much is not a critique of Capitalism. Capitalism is fine. It's handing over the reigns of our democracy to corporate interests is where we've gone very wrong. Yes, the GM bailout. Yes, the AIG bailout, the industrial military complex, and the prison industry, and the telecoms. Fuck, I spent two hours today in an AT&T store trying to get rid a $140 debt that I incurred when they charged me for DSL at an apartment 4 months after I cancelled and moved. I only learned about this fraudulent $140 debt through a collection agency two years after. After spending 3 hours on the phone, I was told that it was taken care of. More than a year later, we tried to get a new line, and we couldn't, the charge was still there. For two hours, I stood as an AT&T phone employee bounced from department to department on the phone. The final result: they can't do anything about it. Sorry. It happened too long ago. I have an outstanding debt of $140 to AT&T. I can pay them if I want to resolve it. Yeah, I can call the BBB, I can go to Verizon, but those motherfuckers robbed me, and it's my problem. They are a mafia. The system is rigged in their favor. Those fuckers illegally spied on us too for Bush, and they got a law written to retroactively protect them against it. That is not Capitalism. But it is a problem. EDIT: Yeah, bad day.