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George Kerevan: Capitalism must rediscover its ethical roots for good of all

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Published Date: 09 October 2008
IS THIS the end of capitalism? Yes, according to the front page of the Socialist Worker, which has a piece by my old mate Chris Bambery, thundering: "Capitalism isn't working!" If capitalism is in the dock, we'd better start by defining what we mean by the concept. Capitalism – a word Marx never used – is not reducible to the notion of markets, free or otherwise. Markets existed long before capitalism emerged in the 17th century.


In the pre-capitalist world, most folk survived through subsistence agriculture. The only other form of economic activity was pillage by the European aristocracy, or Chinese emperors taxing their peasants. These latter activities fuelled luxury c...



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  • Last Updated: 09 October 2008 9:50 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

,

09/10/2008 02:57:48
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

argonaut,

east lothian 09/10/2008 04:41:13

hes right ! end of
3

Lance Boyle,

Linlithgow 09/10/2008 06:35:47
Capitalism has no ethics.
4

Itchy,

09/10/2008 07:04:45
#4 wrong, it is socialism which has no ethics. Look at Hitler, Stalin, Mao et al.

The article is based on a false premise anyway. This is a crisis brought on by interventionism, not capitalism.
5

donald,

glasgow 09/10/2008 07:26:26
Chris Bambery the North British spy?
6

Mikey,

09/10/2008 08:02:34
Itchy, your comment just shows how much you know about the subject!

Hitler, Mao and Stalin were socialists? Good one!
7

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 08:07:06
Capitalism doesnt have ethical roots its all about self serving and the accumulation of personal wealth at the expense of socialist and communual needs.
What we are experiancing is Conservative capitalism reaching its fruition.
This is exactly where capitalism was always heading there was never anywhere else for it to go.
A tiny minority of people will profit from this situation while the vast vast majority will pay and suffer for it.
And that is simply Conservative capitalism dogma in a nutshell.
The problem is everybody wants to be amongst the minority but very few can be thats the trap.
8

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 08:08:15
7

There is only one type of capitalism the self serving minority take all type and nothing else.
9

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 08:09:39
8

Spot on a list of ultra conservative self serving capitalist extremists.
10

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 08:10:19
1

Idiot.
11

Boy Wonder,

09/10/2008 08:18:54
All these bloody "isms" have never been good for the human race!!!
12

Peter Curran,

Kirkliston 09/10/2008 08:22:25
No economic system has an ethical base - only the system of democratic government can be ethical, and it must then keep the economic system within an ethical framework of regulation and control. However this can only happen if there is a true people's democracy and not the elective dictatorship that Britain currently has, in common with most Western democracies.

Scotland is moving towards this, and devolution was only the first step. At the moment, I feel that I can reach out and touch my democracy in Scotland, that I can truly influence my elected representatives and hold them accountable, but only within the limited framework that the present devolution settlement permits. Only full independence for Scotland will bring the fully accountable, ethical government that will fulfil the legitimate aspirations of Scots, within a true democracy responsible to the people.

Capitalism won't deliver on its own, socialism won't deliver on its own - only a true democratic nationalism will deliver what we need. I believe that the present international upheavals have opened the eyes of the people, and they will no longer believe the old lies.

The trades unions still have a crucial role to play in this democratic evolution, if only they will free themselves of their blind Labour Party allegiance - indeed of allegiance to any political party - and deliver their support flexibly and tactically to politicians who are truly responsive to the aspirations of their members.
And dare I say it, Scotland needs the kind of media such a political system deserves – independent, objective, investigative and fearless, not the compliant mouthpieces of faceless power elites with a self-serving agenda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey-5ymkm78
13

Destroy the Planet,

09/10/2008 08:31:50
Did you cut and paste this from wiki ?
14

Peter Curran,

Kirkliston 09/10/2008 08:41:43
#15 Destroy the planet

Some of us are capable of formulating our own thoughts without the dubious benefits of Wikipedia. And if I need a reference, I have things called books. Try them sometime.
15

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 09:15:55
14

Socialism is extreme democracy. You cannot have real democracy without real socialism
16

,

09/10/2008 09:22:53
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
17

Peter Curran,

Kirkliston 09/10/2008 09:24:46
Whatever the theoretical benfits of socialism, it has never existed anywhere in the world, and the failed attempts have contaminated the brand. The best things former socialists can now do is abandon the name and try to achieve their ideals by other means.
18

,

09/10/2008 09:47:17
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
19

The_Reiver,

09/10/2008 13:51:00
Come off it George,

Capitalism has NO ethical roots.
20

Alan B,

09/10/2008 15:09:46
Captalism is based on workability and practicality not ethics, beyond individual freedom which is denied via communist or socialist models.

The argument for capitalism is not ethics but that it is the only workabel system. Ethics are about the people and the government and how it implements these economic policies.

Also whose ethics.

Much of the current crisis was brough about by lending to people who could not afford it in a down turn. Is it for the individual to choose how much he can afford or a faceless financial institution. Much of the debt to the poor in the US was the idea morgages should not just go to the middle classes. That is why the democrats apparently agrued for much of the sub prime market. Ethical maybe but completely stupid.
21

Peter Curran,

Kirkliston 09/10/2008 17:32:47
An interesting debate. Like all truly important issues, the truth is elusive. Amoral, unregulated capitalism is bad: over-regulation is bad: and AlanB's question- "Whose ethics?" is perhaps the most difficult of all.

But we must place our trust in the good sense of the people of Scotland, and their elected representatives to find the balance. Perhaps only ethical pragmatism will serve us in this complex world. My only wish is that rigid, intolerant doctrine, whether religious or political, is kept out of the equation. What we need above all is flexibility within a frame of core human values, ones we can all subscribe to.
22

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 17:58:34
22

"Captalism is based on workability and practicality not ethics, beyond individual freedom which is denied via communist or socialist models."

Name one failed communist or socialist model?
Let me name you several successful ones namely every Kibbutz in Israel.
23

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 09/10/2008 17:59:44
22

It seems youre also lacking in ethics when it comes to your posting but then I would expect nothing less from a Conservative Tory capitalist.
24

Itchy,

09/10/2008 21:34:34
#8 Hitler was a National Socialist. Stalin was the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist republics and Mao was a Communist and communism is a form of socialism.

#25 was the Soviet union successful? Is North Korea? Mao's China? Pol Pot?
25

Itchy,

09/10/2008 21:35:59
#9 what we are experiencing is interventionism in the money supply reaching its' fruition.

Socialists never differentiate between interventionism and capitalism and have no grasp of reality.
26

Itchy,

09/10/2008 21:39:22
"11 suchaparcelofrogues,Scotland 09/10/2008 08:09:39
8

Spot on a list of ultra conservative self serving capitalist extremists"

They were Socialists and you are a liar. These men had the economies of their respective countries under full state control. Obviously, no one is left wing enough for you, not even Communists and National Socialists.

#20"The only debate should be this:

Freedom - The government issues money and credit, debt free.
OR
Slavery - The Banks issue currency and charge interest."

Your idea of freedom is a Marxist nationalization of the money supply and Marxism is totalitarian.

 

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