Comments by "Curious Crow" (@CuriousCrow-mp4cx) on "" video.
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Pushback is to be expected from those interested in keeping people ignoring the inevitable effects of not distributing wealth fairly enough to keep those mostly producing it just surviving, nevermind thriving.
What people don't really understand is that this is nothing new.
I was reading a piece by Gore Vidal from July 1961 about the willingness of the "Conservatives" in the USA to embrace the ideas of Ayn Rand, who argued that altruism and justice were immoral, and that the Cult of "I" should replace Christianity, and other religions, and values.
Then I watched Philiosphy Tube's latest video that described how the powerful encourage those they need to keep compliant and cooperative in keeping their gravy train running, to see those harmed by their hoarding and exploitation as not worthy of being cared about. The people, lives, and livelihoods ruined and being cut short by wealth inequality are to be ignored. Or not grieved over.
In that, Boris' Johnson's attitudes towards the deaths in Covid were not an aberration. His response to the real damage done by Brexit to business and people's, was not the ramblings of a functional alcoholic - the only personal characteristic he shared with Churchill - but his real belief.
They want us to stop feeling that injustice is wrong.
That wealth inequality to that extent means that the damaged caused is swept under the carpet, devalued, or seen as not worthy of being grieved at it is destroying the capacity of people and their families to survive, is not inevitable, natural, or virtuous, but a deliberate and calculated harvesting and hoarding of asset wealth to benefit the few. It is the world of "Soylent Green". (Google it.) Where those worthy of consideration as determined by the needs of the powerful are treated are seen as worthy of our consideration, and are granted privilege, whilst those who aren't, are marginalised, seen as inconvenient problems, and their suffering is ignored.
This is nothing new. Class and Caste define who gets looked after. And who ends up rioting. And who is blamed and scapegoated.
The current form comes from the failure of Neoliberal economics to maintain the postwar economic settlement in the West, and to ignore the social, cultural, economic, and political dislocations and insecurities caused by it, occurring everywhere, and all at once in this present time. People everywhere, except the winners in this rigged game, are pissed at the outcome, and rightfully so. But the wealthy winners, are largely are using their profits to prevent the pitchforks coming for them. They know their fantasy has crashed to earth, to the extent it has created more instability and more frictions. To the extent the fallout is capable of damaging the earth. But, like any addict, they're not ready to give up. So they will not admit their failure, but instead, will double down. Hence, there's more political polarisation, because when people are busy hating each other, they don't notice their pockets being picked.
It doesn't have to be that way. Capitalism can work in ways that focus on efficient and effective distribution of asset wealth and resources, instead of beggar thy neighbour. It can work in ways that are safer, cleaner, and that can keep the planet in habitable for humans. But we have to do capitalism differently.
Capitalism has to prioritise the basic needs of people and communities before profit. Simply, profit returns to being the means rather than the ends.
Capitalism has to pay its way. Simply, the costs of doing business have to be borne by those doing business. Socialism for the rich, and unmitigated capitalism for everyone else is no longer acceptable or desirable. The rich should clean up their own messes, such as pollution, and societal and cultural impacts of their activities.
If Capitalism did only those two things, wealth inequality would eventually disappear. Wealth would not disappear. On the contrary, it might even grow in size, with more people being able to access the means of building it. It just would be hoarded by a minority.
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