In Reply to: Re: Selfishness and capitalism posted by C.O.Y. on May 16, 1996 at 12:28:04:
: : : Ordinary people might influence governments once every three or
: : : four years through voting at elections but big business
: : : influences government every day. What's more they influence
: : : them to make decisions which will aid them to command more
: : : profits.: : In our 'democratic' system of government, we do indeed only get to vote
: : once every four year or so. We get to vote in a vaguely democratic way
: : to decide which party will dictate. I guess you could say with have a
: : democraticaly elected dictatorship. It's not as if our opinions are
: : really considered once the party is in power.: : However, what most poeple fail to realise is that the real power and
: : influence that each of us has, is not the cross we place in the ballot
: : box, but the way in which we choose to spend out money.: : We created multinationals, and I guess, the entire capitalist system,
: : by the choices we made when spending our money. Now, I hope, people we
: : be able to make considered descions regarding what company should
: : receive their custom.: : McSpotlight and the Internet in general is a way to provide the
: : information that might make corporations accountable. It is really up
: : to the individual now to realise the potential influence that their
: : spending habbits have, and decide to use that influence to make things
: : better.
THE IDEA OF CONSUMER SOVEREIGNTY HAS WORN A BIT THIN. IT IS
DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT IN THE AGE OF OLIGOPOLIES,
MULTI MILLION DOLLAR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS AND PRICE FIXING.
TO SUPPOSE THAT CONSUMERS CAN MAKE A RATIONAL CHOICE THEY NEED
ACCESS TO ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE
BUYING. IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE
WAY TNC'S EXPLOIT WORKERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT DRIVES DOWN THE
COST OF THEIR PRODUCT SO IF YOU MADE A BURGER WITHOUT EXPLIOTING ANYONE,
AND LEAVING THE ENVIRONMENT ALMOST AS WELL AS YOU FOUND IT, IT
WOULD BE A PRETTY DARNED EXPENSIVE BURGER.THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE THE ONLY TRUE ANSWER TO STOPPING
EXPLOITATION, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, POVERTY, WARS,
AND MOST THE WORLDS ILLS IS TO CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD IS RUN.
CAPITALISM PRODUCES ONLY WHAT IS PROFITABLE,
NOT WHAT IS NEEDED. ILLUSIONS IN THE PARLIMENT OR THE MARKET
FORCES WILL AT BEST BRING ABOUT SLIGHT CONCESSIONS
TO LARGE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, WHILE THE CAPITALISTS CONTINUE TO
RAKE IN RECORD PROFITS.THAT IS WHY I SAY THE ONLY WAY FOR INEQUALITIES TO CEASE IN THE
LONG TERM - A SOCIALIST REVOLUTION IS THE ONLY ANSWER.