Surviving Capitalism (Not) : How Might We Avert the Economic & Environmental Catastrophe That Approaches

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

Sunday, March 27, 2011

How Might We Avert the Economic & Environmental Catastrophe That Approaches

by Richard Clark from OpEd News.

The only solution is for developed countries to greatly decrease their levels of consumption.

The author is wrong. He apparently has bought into the TINA delusion. The only real cure that has a chance is to change the system.

The ruling class of capitalists cannot pursue the policies he outlines without interfering with their access to profits. This is like warning a hard-core heroin addict to give up the drug or it will kill him/her. Without extensive treatment they often end up killing themselves. In this case, they will take us with them.