The foxes are guarding the henhouse while the sheepdogs are sleeping in the field.

That’s what is was like for child workers back in the early days of the industrial revolution – capitalism in all its brutality.

Such conditions in western democracies today would not be tolerated. The reason why conditions changed was due to the efforts of the workers movements. We all know the story. In short capital has never surrendered anything – it had to be demanded and taken. Maybe the commies (in western democracies) saved the capitalists from themselves; think Russia.

Now, the point I’m attempting to make is that today we actually live in a socialist society – by comparison to earlier times. Think about it. Of course capital has been whittling away at the workers hard won benefits for the past 30 years now and will continue to do so. That nature of the beast.

Democracy as a form a government is a socialistic idea – government by the people. Capital couldn’t give a sh*t about the people (unless made to by law). Western prosperity parallels the growth of industry, theft and murder (imperialism) and the growth of democracy. Sadly capital doesn’t like democracy and is at present doing a pretty good job in reversing things as best it can.

Yes things are beginning to stink of fascism. Yet human being are by nature socialists – think about it. As mammals we are no different to many others, we have always lived in communities for safety and prosperity. We were socialists long before we were capitalits.

I find it amusing when people speak of socialism negatively. If you live in a democratic society, pay taxes (directly or indirecty), drive on the freeways, borrow books from the libray, receive family benefits or government pensions then you are a part of a socialist society. Of course if one believes that socialism is bad then one does not have to claim benefits, or drive on the freeways, or borrow books etc.etc.etc.

I suppose once we, as a people, chose (forced sometimes) to live in very large communities/nations then all forms of government were destined to become inadequate and would eventually decay. Maybe Plato was right when he stated that all political systems end by destroying themselves by excess.

At the end of the day one might be tempted to ask: do we really need politicians, and if not, how could we as a community administrate and plan for ourselves in a truly fair and “just” manner?

Of course one is tempted to ask: what is justice? A question asked some 2,500 years ago in Greece – the result was The Republic. Somehow I don’t think Philosopher Kings are the answer, but I what like to consider alternatives based on the inescapable reality that human beings are intrinsically socialists; like rats, horses, elephants etc we really do need one another to survive.

Cheers

“Yeah, what corporations fund this site indeed.” …extract from zuzumamu’s post

Yo to the “brain dead”…!

You must both work for Goldman Sachs and this is your off hours post, hoping to destabilize Mr. Thompson’s comments with such non sequitur, uninformed thought processes.

Yes, Ray our government is illegitimate and if you think it’s legit then I could sell you beachfront property in “Death Valley”… ? : |

This cabal of Congressional crimpols that we’ve mistakenly assume represents us are totally bought and sold by shadowy, deep pockets corporatist interests through their running dog lobbyists…period!

Zuzu; I’ve never come across your handle on this site, but your driveby expressed sentiments indicates to me that you are the equivalent of a deer in the headlights of a semi, soon to put you out of your miserable paradigm of ignorance; ie., your head perpetually in the sand.

Yep, keep cheerin’ them on guy/gals and hopefully things will change…NOT!

As far as Doug Thompson being bought off by corporate interests tells me you two are doing bad drugs too. Just say no is all I can say… : ))

Carl Nemo **==

I think we are moving toward a Fascist Idiocracy with ads like the above on news stations.