The Illusion of Isms

From the beginning of the occupation, I have listened to people’s different economic theories.  I have discussed the issues of capitalism, socialism and communism too many times to count, and while I have learned some valuable lessons, I still feel there  are points that are overlooked far too often.

First of all, none of these systems exist in their true forms.  The United States is not a capitalist country anymore—it is a crony-capitalist country.  Special favors and unjust agreements between the government and corporations are rampant, and they are not conducive to a true free market.  How can we say we have a free market, when clearly beneficial renewable energy technologies are suppressed by the oil industry?

Europe is often referred to as socialist; however, they are actually capitalist or crony- capitalist nations mixed with some socialist practices. This is soon to change for many countries within the E.U., as the austerity measures designed to pay off debt will kill many of the services Europe has boasted about for so long. 

China: Welcome to the global economy.  As they are now tied into the global financial system, and have embraced what is called “a free market,” they aren’t really communist any more, are they?  Let’s also not forget that they have a vast income disparity between those at the top of their economy and those at the bottom.  Well, actually, this is typical to communism, as it always leads to a small percentage of bureaucrats maintaining absolute control over the masses. 

There is an argument, often used when discussing the various “isms:”  “It sounds good on paper.”  Well, this is the deceit that encompasses them all—they all sound good on paper.  Rather than look at the reality of power structures and how they work, many people continue to push for outdated ideas, which have never, and will never work as they are designed to.

So now we get to where the real problem lies.  The problem is the lack of a true model of democracy for this age in which we live.  The United States’ form of representative democracy was born in an era when people actually had to send people on their behalf by horse and carriage to Washington D.C.  We the people could certainly do better with some form of direct democracy adapted for our times where instantaneous communication is the norm.  Also, as an American I see that there clearly is not taxation with representation.  Whether my taxes are raised or lowered, I still, as an American citizen, have no input as to where my taxes are spent.  Then there is the control by the two-party system working in unison with the mainstream media.  I don’t care what people say, my vote has little relevance in the direction of my nation’s decision making process.  I think the people who regret voting for President Obama should understand this idea quite easily.  This is not democracy. 

I’m not sure where, in fact, democracy does exist, as even in Europe, their economies, as well their forms of government, bow to the global financial system.  Just like the United States, Europe is headed for a future of debt, and like the United States, this will lead to the stagnation of future generations.  So when people want to argue about which economic theory is best, I think they are missing the point.  The world needs new ideas.  We should be learning from the past, instead of trying to resurrect it.  Blind embrace of the old “isms” will lead us back to familiar places, which will not free us from our problems.  Our nations deserve better.  Humanity deserves better.  It’s time to stop beating a dead horse.  It’s time for us to envision and create a civilization which allows Humanity to live up to its fullest potential, as none of the outdated “isms” are capable of doing so at this point in time.