Surviving Capitalism (Not) : Radical Concentration of Wealth is Destroying Both Capitalism and Democracy

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Radical Concentration of Wealth is Destroying Both Capitalism and Democracy

from Washington's Blog.

The fed and Treasury are not giving more chips to those who need them: the American consumer. Instead, they are giving chips to the 800-pound gorillas at the poker table, such as Wall Street investment banks.

So...isn't the capitalist system supposed to be about maximizing private gains? Of course, its proponents argue that by maximizing private gains, everyone benefits. But that is just propaganda. Who can argue against the proposition that money is power, otherwise known as the "golden rule"--those with the gold rule? In other words, they (the gold holders) make the rules that protects and enhances their interests--not society's.