Surviving Capitalism (Not) : The radical nature of austerity

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

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The radical nature of austerity

Click here to access article by Jim O’Reilly from his blog, Comments on Global Economy.

The 500 largest global corporations, the “Global 500” control nearly 40% of total global revenue. Why shouldn’t these production bureaucracies be managed in the interests of everyone rather than a tiny elite of passive stockholders? Since ownership and control of these companies are separate, there’s no particular reason their efficiency should drop if the absentee stockholders were removed from the equation. What a beginning if these companies could be operated globally in the interests of society.

Can you believe this guy had a career in banking and finance? Well, bankers are people, too! However, I notice that he quit his career. In any case, he is authentic--I've had contact with him and he is the "real deal".