I'm not completely convinced that there could
not be a system that allows a controlled and constrained capitalism within
a governmental structure that made sure that, commensurate with the wealth
of the country, every person's needs (of all kinds) were adequately met;
an extension and refinement of the model
that has been used in northern European countries, perhaps. Actually,
reading over what I have written here, I would have to change it. We can
no longer think in terms of the wealth of any particular country belonging
to just the people of that country. The people on this planet are already
so interconnected that it is insanity for us to think or ourselves as
separate nations. So, whatever system might be worked out, it would have
to be one in which the wealth on this planet is seen as belonging to
everyone.
I know that seems ridiculously idealistic and
maybe not even worth talking about. It is my contention, however, that if
we don't have some sense of what goals we want to see realized (not
necessarily in our lifetimes) we cannot figure out what steps we need to
take now in order to set us in a direction that holds out some hope of
getting to a better place.
Do you have any ideas about what kind of an
economic system would further the ends of a humane society? We can borrow
ideas from small hunter-gatherer societies and even small agricultural
communities, but taking those ideas and making them workable in large,
complex, technologically oriented societies is what we need to work
on.
I do not believe we can go back to some
'simpler' life that some seem to believe is possible. Most of those ideas
are based in concepts of ideal societies that have never existed in
reality, for one thing.
Secondly, I strongly believe that we need to
use all existing technological advances for human benefit. Technology
could make possible a very 'good' life for everyone, if, as a society, we
had to the will to use it that way.
However, as the saying goes, "the devil is in
the details" and, outside of a few very broad principles, how to bring
this about is a question that I think needs the most
discussion.
I think this is an issue that we must think
about if any of our problems are ever to be solved. Otherwise we must
inevitably destroy ourselves and everyone else as the administration in
this country is already doing.
Selma
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2003 5:04
PM
Subject: [Futurework] Beyond
Bush
Selma,
That was a good one!
Has the topic of the Illuminati been raised on FW?
Just a brief mention around your question about
capitalism, and whether or not there are any circumstances
under which it could actually be fair and just:
Acquiring the most money for the least investment
always means profits are at the expense of someone else.
Just one tiny aspect of capitalism, that of interest rates
acquired on money deposited, is false profit because it is
earned on the premise that for every 5 cents--today's bank is
allowed to lend out one dollar. This system is based upon
the system remaining stable, hardly anyone removing
their savings, and the bank being able to re-invest what
isn't
theirs in the first place. Much like the false value of
diamonds;
if only 5% of women cashed in or switched to another stone,
the industry would be ruined. The image of stability is just
that fragile, and money doesn't really grow. Anyone who
invests does so at the expense of someone else, eventually.
Wages are never commensurate with cost of living, and
never with the cost of things they just don't make anymore.
Capitalism depends on the enslavement of people to thrive.
In a nut shell it is a blatant legalized pyramid scheme.
I can't look at this question any way but rhetorically.
What are your views?
Natalia
DJB
