CHAPTER XXX.
THE PRESENT SITUATION IN
RELATION TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE.
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After the financial meltdown, Capitalism is on the ropes and like during the Great Depression the opportunity exists to finish it off and start a new Era of real progress; unfortunately there is nobody to take on the challenge. There is no sign of a well organised radical opposition; the progressive Left is in complete disarray: the virtual capitalist dictatorship is in full control and armed to the teeth (NATO), they will try to patch up their economy for the benefit of their establishment no matter how much the cost will be to the rest of the population and to the Planet.
The leaders that believed and or adopted the economic philosophy that brought about the collapse of capitalist financial bureaucracy are still in charge and they will try to save Capitalism at all costs; how? By promoting more development and more consumerism in the capitalist Global Market, the main factors that have brought the Earth to Ecological Meltdown; to save their skins is the first priority, socio-economic disintegration and Global Warming comes second.
They are still dreaming about the capitalist Global Market but as politicians they will be forced, directly or indirectly, to bring the factories back to their voters if they do not want revolution in their own Countries; therefore more isolation, more nationalism, more racism and a new more stupid and more deadly trade war to throw each other out of work.
Where is the Progressive Left? They have given up completely on the Socialist Ideals; they have been blinded by the temporary success of capitalist economy and by the failure of the Soviet Union, a first attempt under extremely unfavourable circumstances to create an alternative to the capitalist system.
Where is the Left now? They all have become consumers in a consumer society, most have become part of the middle class, “chardonnay” socialists, corrupt centre-left politicians, hippies have become yuppies, the few small Left political parties have been infiltrated by secret security agents that are “facilitating” the small groups to be ineffectual or by agents provocateurs intent to ruin the movements’ reputation in the eyes of the public.
I have explained my opinion that the transformation of the capitalist system into a rationally planned or guided economy is essential for the solution of our present social and ecological problems. But a society and its economy cannot be separated, they are one entity. Therefore, economic change means also social change.
This raises the question about what would be the essence and the form of a new socioeconomic organism.
A new economy, to be of general benefit, cannot be artificially devised and imposed on people. It must be the result of natural forces, of necessity and natural evolution; at present, necessity has become the main motivation. The majority of society must feel and understand the necessity for change, it must also agree on the new general direction it should take.
The desire for change will generate from a situation that is becoming intolerable and irrational; the direction will be shown by the movement that will be able to present and explain a practical humane project for change and demonstrate to the people the benefits that it will bring if we embrace it. People will not change unless they can see a better alternative that is practical; people will not jump in a vacuum or in the dark, unless for them life has become no better than death.
Therefore, only a new socioeconomic system for which the basis already exists within the old society, and has the strength to overcome all the injustice and violence that the old establishment will throw at it, will have the chance to grow and prevail. Moreover, it must be an improvement on the old organism for the greater number of people, it must offer spiritual as well as material advantages, and it must offer a better guarantee for the healthy survival of Humanity.
In the present chapter we should consider briefly the main objective features in the present situation. Then, in the following chapters I will try to explain in general terms my opinion on what kind of society and economy could be promoted in relation to these features, and also on some ways by which such transformation could be brought about.
To have an idea of the present situation in relation to economic and social transformation we should consider three main points: the desire and the movement for change, the potential of the productive forces, and the general political situation in the world.
The Human Race has been affected by continual change. During the last two centuries capitalism has accelerated the pace of our evolution, more in respect to science and technology than in respect to our wisdom. Today, the desire for renewal is evident throughout the world, but it manifests itself in many different and opposite forms in many parts of the Earth.
In the western capitalist countries most people realise that there is need for change, but there is no unity of ideas nor everyone is prepared to go to the same extent to promote it.
The traditional division between social classes in relation to evolution or revolution is not any more the same as in the past.
People who are involved in progressive movements come from every section of society. Increasingly they come from the middle class which, at the same time, is materially relatively affluent in capitalist society: therefore most have lost their integrity, they are not likely to start rocking the capitalist boat.
With the advent of modern technology, the workforce employed in production has gradually diminished in relation to that employed in the service industries.
Working class radicalism has almost disappeared, most people have no deep consciousness about the important issues which affect their future; they are mainly concerned with their immediate survival which depends from the preservation of the industries in which they are employed, no matter whether they are good or bad.
In our consumer society, families with more than one income, workers who receive high wages, and those who are self employed often are more conservative than the capitalists themselves, because they can enjoy a high standard of living.
Because of poor education and the influence of the media, conservatism has become the trend, even amongst some of the poorest sections of society, the unemployed and alienated. Those who are better off may look with sympathy at those who are poor, but their sympathy will gradually turn to suspicion and resentment when the poor become restless, a drain on their incomes and a threat to their jobs.
Most of the Trade Unions have lost their former anti capitalist radicalism. Their leaders have become an accepted part of the establishment, intent to perpetuate their position of power, and contented to maintain, if they cannot improve, the conditions of their members within the framework and the requirements of the capitalist system. In the present situation of ecological degradation they are against changes that threaten the employment of their members in the problem industries.
In the final analysis, after the capitalist victory in the Cold War, the competition in the world market will intensify, with more poor countries undercutting each other; desperate to attract foreign investment to develop their industries, to increase production to be able to pay their debts.
The situation is even worst since the Financial Meltdown in 2008; the faults and the destructive nature of Capitalism in its final stage of evolution are clearly evident to anybody with a bit of honesty and common sense.
It is my opinion that the technology of production in the industrial countries, and also in some of the developing countries, has reached a level that, if used in a rational way, could eliminate poverty throughout the world. But at present, because of the nature of the capitalist system, this great potential is being wasted mainly in a senseless economic war for the benefit of a minority of people that already have too much; and also in a new wasteful arms race caused by the U.S. - NATO egemonic ambitions.
The main economic problem in capitalist society is the problem of overproduction in relation to the effectual demand, and Capitalism cannot deal with it in a rational way. In a planned economy this problem would be resolved and the rate of development would be reduced; this slowing down would be more than compensated by:
The rationalisation of direction and purpose;
By the rationalisation of production to eliminate excessive duplication of products and spare parts;
By the elimination of "planned obsolescence" and the lengthening of the life of the products by adopting forms of 'modular production';
By the elimination of obnoxious products;
By the utilization of all labour potential that today is being wasted in forced idleness;
By the utilisation of science and technology not for the destruction but for the conservation of energy and resources;
By the utilisation of clean natural energy;
By the elimination of the arms race and arms production;
By a new feeling of purpose and participation in most Human beings especially the young generations that could release the power of thought and inventiveness ;
By reducing the main causes of hopelessness and conflict, it would also diminish the expense in crime repression;
Moreover, by slowing down the present rat race, the generations would be allowed to re establish their natural links, and this would also allow those people who are slower, to catch up and to participate in the life of the new society.
Unlike the situation in Russia and China before their revolutions, the material basis for the development of a planned or guided economy in most parts of the World already exists. The change from private ownership of the corporations to public ownership and the change of orientation of social production from consumerism and private profit to conservation and social profit could be possible without much inconvenience to the great majority of Human beings.
Moreover, the increasing number of people who are out of work and are alienated from the present society may be quite prepared for such a change, they have nothing to lose. Even in the developed countries now life has become unstable for the majority of the population; there is no security of work or housing. How can one rise a family on quick sands; more and more people seem to be on edge.
These people are a threat to the capitalist establishment. Our ruling elites are well aware of the danger, they will try to avoid a situation in which a great number of the population may become restless; they will keep the majority of the poor in a state of stupor, just above the level of desperation, with lotteries and sport, as the Roman populace was kept with distributions of wheat and games in the Circus.
At the same time, the capitalist establishment will have to build more jails, increase their professional security forces, and train the police and the army for anti-riot and anti-terrorist duties. That section of the population that is better off will not oppose effectively the gradual institution of repressive laws and regulations, allegedly for their own protection. The capitalist system, therefore, will gradually become more repressive as well as more regressive.
It seems evident in my opinion that the general elimination of conscription for military training in most developed countries, as unpopular conscription was with young people, was a regressive move regarding a democratic State; instead of having every class of the population trained for the use arms we have now smaller professional armies not unlike mercenaries led, as always it has been the case, by officers corps drawn mainly from the Establishment, likely to be simpatetic towards capitalist interests and also not averse to the repression of popular anti Establishment movements.
For these reasons, it seems evident that it is essential to find new means to promote and accelerate our economic transformation.
To conclude, I believe that the need for change has never been so strong, and that the material requisites for the success of a new economy and society are now available. What are needed are the belief that it is possible and the will to begin working to achieve it.