Why capitalism compels renunciation and we could work less (tags)
How much human and natural resources are squandered on taxation, trade and advertising, how much on labor administration, justice, police, prisons, armaments, military? How many people work overtime without end, suffer heart attacks and burnout, wear themselves out in the brutal competition?
When Wealth Destroys Wealth: Inverse Capitalism and its Limits (tags)
Ever-increasing real estate prices was an illusion. The boom that the US stock markets have experienced in recent years deserves the name fracking boom. Fictitious capital put the US economy back on the growth track.
On the Power of Money: Three by Eugen Drewermann (tags)
Only faith (as in a religion), the "invisible hand," the "law" of the "free" market can judge everything. State interventions can only be annoying. The market itself is allegedly "social". Everyone acts according to his advantage. The system is not social but criminal and unjust.
The Attack of Corporations and the Rich on the Rest of Society (tags)
Inconceivable sums were given out without hesitation when the banks were bailed out from bankruptcy. The rich triumph and despise others as losers. Corporations and the rich must desist from their selfishness and accept their responsibility for society again.
Post-capitalist Perspectives (tags)
Capitalism is winning to death. The exit from the overheated machine of capitalism represents an enormous challenge. We cannot avoid the question about common property in the search for alternatives.Can greater social equality be achieved without changing property relations?
Capital as Climate Killer (tags)
The growth pressure of the world economy makes a resource-sparing social order only possible beyond capital. The seeming rationality of capitalist goods production serves an irrational end-in-itself - the multiplication of capital.
The System Question as a Survival Question (tags)
A fundamental social alternative to the permanent capitalist chaos is sought. A rational social discourse on system alternatives would be an antidote to populism and to the irrational identity-mania that spreads. The public discusses headscarves while late capitalism sinks in crisis
The Market is a Universal Totalitarian Religion (tags)
The market accepts and rejects like a Calvinist God. The market only promises itself. Its highest good is the economic boom. The market theocracy makes this side into something otherworldly. The cult of money and the commodity eclipses all its predecessors.
Housing is not just another commodity (tags)
Like food, clothing, health, and education, housing is an elementary need. On'e apartment is a place of retreat of the private person, a protective- and creative space of inviolable identity, Long-term low-interest housing tax credits & SROs, are alternatives to indifference.
Refused sharing and rediscovery of sharing are signs of this time. "This economy kills." So Pope Francis judges socio-economic conditions. Taxing the rich is vital. With additional revenue, workers would not feel threatened by immigrants
Punishing the Poor. The Neoliberal Government of Social Insecurity (tags)
Inequality hurts. Poverty returns with misguided policy
Netanyahu's Statement Following His Latest Bandit Act (tags)
Israel
Waging Economic War on Venezuela (tags)
Venezuela
Israel
Consumption: Endless Growth is Senseless (tags)
Writing in 1930, John Maynard Keynes thought people would soon have everything they need and envisioned a 15-hour work week. In the midst of the worst economic crisis, he foresaw a world where people had to work much less because their needs were satisfied.
The World War against the Poor (tags)
More and more money capital concentrates in the hands of the rich which they let `work for itself.' Every day $1.5 trillion circulates around the globe and changes hands. Only two to three percent of that is needed to handle the business with goods and services. The rest is speculative excess.
Palestinians: Dying to Live Free (tags)
Palestine
Financing the Government: Romney Must Get the Message (tags)
The role of the state and the necessity of common action is a main theme in the political debate. Regulation ensures the same rules for everyone in competition. Conservative politicians in the US underrate the importance of publically provided education, technology and infrastructure.
Research as the Commons: Elinor Ostrom (tags)
Elinor Ostrom was well-known in 2009 when she was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize for economics. In her analysis of governance of the commons, she put in question the past economic model that common goods can only be managed successfully by the market or the state.
Gaza Blockade's Fifth Anniversary (tags)
Gaza
Holiday Season Hypocrisy (tags)
consumerism
Gaza's Suffocating Siege (tags)
Palestine
Those who criticize the Occupation Movement see it and everything else as a product but what the OM is is process.
The End of the "Golden Age" of Capitalism and the Rise of Neoliberalism (tags)
"The central point is that the financial sphere has the potential of developing into an autonomous subsystem of the whole economy with an enormous capacity of self-expansion..Like cancer, it has no internal control mechanism. It can only be brought under control by external interventions"
Easing Gaza's Siege: Bogus and Unacceptable (tags)
Israel's easing bogus
Israel's Exclusion and Restriction of Goods to Gaza (tags)
part of Israel's slow motion genocide
Work- and Social Criticism in the Time of Capitalist Running Amok (tags)
The term social goes through a fundamental change of meaning. Earlier social described an obligation of society to its members. Today the little word social stands for the caring duty of members of society toward the capitalist machine
CPDF; No fee for campaign (tags)
The EPCC NEWS learned today that an official of the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF) said guerrilla leaders would allow political candidates to campaign in Cordillera villages where communist rebels operate without paying permit to campaign (PTC) fees. Simon Naogsan, spokesman of the CPDF, the local political arm of the National Democratic Front, said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have never forced candidates to pay the NPA in exchange for access to so-called rebel territories.
People's CORE Successfully Ends Relief and Fund Drive (tags)
People’s Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment with co-organizer Alliance Philippines, Los Angeles, ended its relief and fund drive to help the victims of the back to back floods that deluged the Philippines in October-November, 2009. Final Report The campaign which was launched on September 21, 2009 ended on December 31, 2009. The Relief and Fund Drive in Southern California and the Bay Area received a total donation of $6,469.43. The financial aid and 174 “Balikbayan” boxes of used and brand new clothing, shoes, canned goods and medicines were sent to the Philippine-based non-profit organization, AKAP (Ang Kalusugan para sa Pinoy) for assistance to the flood victims.
The Origins of Modern Socialism (tags)
The specter of socialism is again haunting the minds of the corporate elite, from the Americas to Europe and beyond. This, after decades of pro-capitalist campaigning from the corporate media, which has always confused “capitalism” with “freedom.” But of course freedom and democracy cannot exist alongside tremendous inequalities of wealth — or next to corporations wielding absolute power over elections and governments.
End the Fed? Or End the Market Economy? (tags)
When Republican Congressman Ron Paul recently introduced legislation to audit the Federal Reserve, diverse sections of the political spectrum applauded. And rightfully so. The Fed’s role in the still-developing bank bailouts is one of utter secrecy; the total cost of which — as estimated by the bailout’s Special Inspector General, Neil Barofsky — could cost taxpayers $23.7 trillion. The fact that legislation needed to be introduced to raise the question of the whereabouts of these funds points to a larger breakdown in U.S. democracy.
The Consequences of the Digital Disruption for the Economy (tags)
The greatest social and economic revolution since industrialization opens up unlimited possibilities for people and businesses. Craigslist made a million-dollar business out of a billion-dollar business. A redefinition of unemployment and a discussion of unconditional basic income are inevitable.
The Rules of the Game, Not the Players (tags)
In the last three decades, the financial markets have grown much faster than production.. The respective players (whether public or private) are not the problem but the rules of the game.. The goals and means of production must be redefined
Last Dance for Capitalism (tags)
Capitalism reaches its inner limit and strangulates itself and the environment. Increasingly effective measures lead to fewer and fewer workers producing ever-greater quantities. The real economy becomes an appendage of speculation bubbles.
Ecological Justice Instead of Growth Economy for the Rich (tags)
"Now the market, the god of neoliberals, cannot help any more and speculators cry for the already instrumentalized state.. Studying pre-capitalist approaches is vital to develop a post-capitalist vision. The vision of the Bible is an economy of enough for all, an economy for life."
What's Wrong with a 30-Hour Work Week? (tags)
"there is something problematic with advocating a 30-hour work week at the beginning of the 21st century: a 30 hour week is not short enough! There is mushrooming unemployment amidst mountains of useless products. An hour of labor now produces more goods than has ever been the case in the history of humanity. Combining these means that there is no reason for anyone to work more than 20 hours per week."
the Deeper Origins of the Economic Crisis (tags)
For all the horror the global economic crisis has caused for so many people, one progressive consequence has emerged: many of these people are becoming politically conscious — searching for information to better understand their political and economic system. They want to know how things got the way they did and what can be done about it. Unfortunately, much of the resulting analysis has focused too little on actual causes, and too much on abstract financial details and other consequences of deeper economic problems. Therefore, the typical explanation of the economic crisis goes as follows: depression-era financial regulations were tossed aside, and banks were allowed to merge into new institutions that then invented ways to transform debts into assets, which were gambled away on the stock exchange to the tunes of trillions of dollars. All of which is true. What’s missing, however, is why.
WANNA SUE CITY HALL FOR BREACH OF OATH OF OFFICE? (tags)
Excuse me, but is this REALLY "free speech"?
VIDEO: Lessons of the Great Depression (tags)
Output per worker, efficiency or productivity, increased 25% from 1923-1930 while wages only increased 4%. The first problem is that people can't afford what they produce. The second problem is that we've been consuming the planet
Will Obama Start the Next Trade War? (tags)
While campaigning to be president, Obama gave the general impression that he would act “cooperatively” to solve international problems, moving away from the Bush strategy of irresponsible “unilateralism.” But Obama took an aggressive stance towards China even on the campaign trail, including the accusations of “currency manipulation,” “violating intellectual property rights,” and “devaluing their goods.” Of course, the average American cares nothing about these types of crimes, nor should they.
3 Recent Graphical Economic Indicators (tags)
Three major indicators were publish recently. The US economy is slowing down gravely and the signs are definitely showing the de-acceleration.
Recession Raises the Question of Meaning (tags)
The facade of a sound world suddenly crumbles. Are the funds available to the productive economy or are they sinking in the swamp of a degenerate global financial- and economic system? An economy that prioritizes human needs and nature is primarily regional.
The world today is undeniably chaotic — war, abject poverty, and unimaginable wealth exist side by side. In an attempt to explain the current social turmoil, some have resorted to religion and apocalypse, while others place the blame on the few bad apples that held positions of power as the economy slid into destitution. And then there are those who blame conspiracy, immigrants, or a society-wide lack of morality. All of the above explanations seem to be missing a crucial ingredient. A simple observation should be central to any explanation of the current economic crisis: There are huge surpluses (or overproduction) of houses, cars, food stuffs, and many other products that millions of people desperately need, but cannot afford to buy. This is the essence of the problem.
Biblical Sabbath Economy (tags)
Franz Segbers insists the Biblical Sabbath economy cares for the oikos, not speculation and accumulation When the right of speculation trumps the right of housing, we end up protecting the sharks from the sardines (cf "Housing as a Human Right")
Alternatives to Free Trade: Fair Trade and Beyond (tags)
The global debate around free-trade and its consequences has evolved tremendously in recent years, from tiny circles of leftist critics into a broad international protest movement. Although the movement began to bloom in response to the policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the biggest demonstrations have been in response to the now-popular "bi-lateral" free-trade agreements that economically powerful countries sign with poorer nations. Once one has become conscious of the problems created by free-trade agreements, whether they are international or regional, an immediate task presents itself: finding a feasible alternative. Yes, the trade policy advocated by most big business politicians is "free-trade," and yes, this policy has had devastating consequences for working and poor people worldwide, while filling the already-full bank accounts of the rich. But the issue of "free-trade" alone isn't sufficient to fully explain the vast social problems that plague so many countries.
VOTE PSL in 2008: Put Human Needs Over Profits (tags)
The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) is fielding a slate of candidates in the 2008 U.S. presidential elections: Gloria La Riva for President and Eugene Puryear for Vice President. The campaign is rooted in the struggle for socialism. We believe a better world is possible and together we can make it happen.
Stop Your Engines! (and leave em at home!) (tags)
Also if gasoline prices are lower,then this will have an effect on lowering prices across the board on a lot of consumer goods and services because the transportation costs re gasoline,are lower as a result.
The Market is a Universal Totalitarian Religion (tags)
Money replaces God and has become our new religion, a universal totalitarian religion that never existed before.. Commodification of goods is more important than the goods themselves.
National boycott action targets Irish stores selling Israeli goods (tags)
Shops and supermarkets across Ireland were picketed on Saturday as the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) commemorated the anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres with a National Boycott Israel Day.
California Propositions: Billions For Special Interest (tags)
When Governor Schwarzenegger ran for office in 2003 he promised to work for the people of California and not for the special interest, now in 2006 Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the champion of special interest groups. The 2006 bond and tax package, presented by the governor and the state legislature, is the worst package ever offered to California voters in the state’s history.
Nike Just Does it Again (tags)
Students and community to hold demonstration and press briefing in response to Nike’s actively shutting down its non-sweatshop factories
Using the force of government to put your competitors out of business. (tags)
The City Council will be asked to approve a restriction that would "effectively kill" popular country stores in many east Mesa mobile-home and RV parks, says a manager of the weekly marketplaces.
The problem with the idea of “an immigration problem.” (tags)
Why so many different takes to "the immigration problem?" The answer lies in the oversimplification of the issue. I will not diagnose the source(s) of these over-simplistic notions, only attempt to clear up the mud.
The Land Needs a New Vision (tags)
In capitalism, production is for the market instead of for satisfying needs..The postulate `Work as cheap as possible and at the worst possible conditions' leadsus back to the 19h century. We are far removed today from the watchword More Time for Living and Loving'.
Today's internationalization of capital is part of a drastic crisis process.. In the 1970s, several hundred so-called multis existed worldwide. Today there are 60,000 multi-national businesses with 50 million employees.
Charity Garage Sale needs your donation of Goods ASAP! (tags)
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Pakistan Earthquake Charity Garage Sale @ Saddleback College DEC 17 - PLEASE DONATE GOODS (tags)
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Paul Samuelson Attacks a Dogma (tags)
The best-known economist of the world doubts that shifting services to india and buying cheap goods from China bring advantages to Americans when the income of workers falls through foreign competition. The rich North will lose its monopoly profits under the conditions of globalization.
Anchor Cultural Diversity in International Law! (tags)
Making the theme cultural diversity the subject of a conion was urgent through the extension of the WTO and its services agreement GATS to education, culture, social necessities and the media.
"Unfortunately some market fundamentalists are at work in the EU who denounce every-thing the state does to protect public goods as distortion of competition.. The globalized market shatters balance of public & private.."
Call for a Roadless Summer against I-69 and Neoliberal Globalization (tags)
North America's economic planners have re-prioritized the construction of I-69, the NAFTA superhighway. Connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the highway would serve to increase the flow of goods complicit with the expansion of "free" trade. The effects of this highway are both local and global.
Attention must now shift from security of the state to security of the people-human security The UNDP sees expansion of the security concept as a step to more peace and more prosperity and sets human security in the context of human development and hu rights.
Dan Kennedy, Premeire Media Critic of the Bloggers: Cardiac Kids (Cheney AND Bush)... (tags)
Dan Kennedy of the Boston Phoenix, in his Friday, Jan. 7 column, reports on the story about President Bush wearing a device for a heart problem in an article titled: Cardiac kids - Internet speculation about Bush’s and Cheney’s health poses a media dilemma." http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/dont_quote_me/multi-page/documents/04383304.asp
Sweden: Poorer Than You Think (tags)
Does Wal-Mart Destroy Communities? (tags)
In a recent poll on the CNN website, viewers were asked the "poll" question of whether or not they believed that Wal-Mart stores were "good" for the "community." Perhaps it is not surprising that a large majority answered "no."
Capitalism is Killing Free Trade (tags)
Are libertarians going to allow their ideology to do their thinking? What good does it do for libertarians to go into denial and to call me, patronizingly, names?
Wal-Mart 'Eats' More US Manufacturers (tags)
In case you haven't already figured it out the whole point of Wal-Mart is to help depress the wages, and ability to survive, of the average Working Person. The reason is simple: Slaves don't need as much and if they have Jobs and incomes independent of the elites they are harder to order about like Sheep. Welcome to the Totalitarian States of America.
"Stop GATS!" Against Privatization of Services (tags)
"The `Washington Consensus' from the 80s promised that a neoliberal policy - liberalization and deregulation - would be good for eveyrone. In fact, local structures are destroyed, human lives are annihilated through hunger and poverty.."Trans fr German
Unemployed? Worried? Read On... (tags)
First, we need to remember how wealth is created. The average high school graduate comes out thinking that if they get more of the money others have, then that's the way to create wealth. They don't have a clue about wealth creation, because in most cases, the schools don't teach it, and most of the kid's parents don't know either -- so herewith is a refresher course.
Take the Next Step: Join the Global Boycott for Peace* (tags)
Don't let your money flow freely and ignorantly into the pockets of those whose actions you oppose. Disobey with your Dollars!
Boycotts Brew as Baghdad Burns (tags)
Don't let your money flow freely and ignorantly into the pockets of those whose actions you oppose. Find out more about the Global Boycott for Peace.
An Anti-Commercial Manifesto (tags)
"Consumo ergo sum" - I consume therefore I am. Advertising confirms that the possession and use of goods brings happiness. The more goods are produced and consumed, the more happiness..Millions who hunger for feelings are fed..consumer products.."
Proletarian Grocery Shopping in Ghent (tags)
Activists in Ghent (Belgium) go “proletarian grocery shopping.”
LAW STUDENT STANDS UP TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT (tags)
Of course, the law is political, and the politics surfaced quickly.
Leftists Working for Poverty! (tags)
Want more poverty in the 3d world? Don't miss the next World Bank protest! Thanks Walter E. Williams! We are so lucky to have you.
Harmful House Deal on Fire Logging Needs to be Stopped (tags)
An agreement has been reached between Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO) that can best be described as a chainsaw massacre.
While the U.S. organizes to attack Iraq, the Arabs have other things on their minds... like Palestine. Here's another take on the "corporate death burger."
How Revolution Can Overturn Consumer Society (tags)
The following was written by political economist Raymond Lotta -- as part of a longer analysis of "Socialist Planning vs. Market Socialism." It was posted as part of the debate over revolutionary strategy in the General Discussion forum of http://2changetheworld.info
Copied from the Press Telegram, article gives you an idea of the impact of a port strike. Truckers are trying to leverage the situation, and organize into unions.
International boycott Israeli goods (BIG) day (tags)
Saturday May 11 is International Boycott Israeli Goods (BIG) day. This is a global initiative, which aims to bring pressure on the Israeli government to 1)end its illegal occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem 2)stop its human rights violations and 3)comply with UN resolutions
May 9: Latest News from Palestine, Nepal (tags)
**Think Locally, Act Globally! **Courage to Stop War, and Love your neighbour By: http://www.PeaceNoWar.net
Nigeria Thumbs Nose at IMF, Globalization (tags)
A victory for the anti-globalization movement! Nigeria has announced it will withdraw from the IMF and underscored the move by slapping big tariffs on foreign goods. Let's show them our support by buying Nigerian!
a brief history compiled from merriam-websters online dictionary
just came across this reading a great essay by buddhist David Loy. Check out his essay "A Buddhist Critique of Transnational Corporations" as well.