- Capitalism and the Alternatives -

People Before Profits

Posted by: Andy Gianniotis ( Democratic Socialist Party , Australia ) on January 26, 1997 at 12:48:14:

In Reply to: You can be the one who capitalizes posted by Scott Kuempel on December 29, 1996 at 14:55:21:

Why can't people distinguish Idealism from Reality?
Without bringing in Mr Marx's theory that Capitalism is doomed anyway because of it's contradictions,
I will accept that maybe Capitalism is OK as a theoretical system based on a level playing field.
I cannot come up with a suitable analogy to describe the un-levelness of the wealth system in the world
that has been the same since Capitalism occured.

In 1996, 358 people had the same amount of wealth as 45% of the world's population (UN Human Development Report, 1996)
Where do you draw the line that is acceptable that lies between the above figure and 1 person controlling the whole world ?

And what is the difference between selling in order to buy and buying in order to sell?
One is the normal market economy, the other is Capitalism. (thats for those who equate 'the market' with capitalism.

And one more thing, there are people starving in the third-world because their goverments are planting cash crops and not
food crops to pay off loans to the IMF & the World bank. Internal Capitalism hasn't even been given the chance to develop in
these countries because the foreign monopolies are already way ahead of the competition (sounds like an ad).

There are many more examples if you want them but I prefer to use idealogical ones.
Like the recent Food summit in Rome where the USA declared that food was not a human right. Only a goal or Aspiration.
I wonder how many Americans would agree with that one. Oh you can't 'afford' it, I'm sorry.

My organisation can be summed up in 3 words ...

People Before Profits.


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