Many of us watch the stock indexes, read the jobless numbers, listen to the what Buffets and Sorroses have to say about the markets while we wait for the rich oligarchs on Wall Street and the capital markets to decide that it is safe to play again, and get the engines of the economy moving.
Why look to these selfish elitists, who are obviously only in it for themselves? They didn’t show such great judgment leading up tho this debacle, did they? Missing the warning signs, ignoring the risks, reaping vast profits, heedless of the potential impact on the entire world. They are the ones who devised the complex and deceptive financial instruments that got us into this mess, or were duped into buying them. They are the ones we have entrusted the economic health of the planet to – and as it turns out, they were off enriching themselves, and not at all interested in what happened to the rest of the world. And these are the folks we look to for turning things around? These are the folks we are bribing with infusions of cash, mortgaging our future to coax into coming out to play, so the whole cycle can be repeated again in a few decades, when the public memory has grown dim?
What we need are accountable communities – a system with absolute transparency, measurable effectiveness, and clear goals and objectives. Under the current approach of global capital, we see economic exploitation, yawning gap between the rich and poor, ecological disasters and a frivolous use of our dwindling natural resources. We see a stunning lack of fore site and planning. A system based on a few individuals getting rich at the expense of the rest, a system where our job is simply to shop – this system cannot produce a rational, fair and forward-thinking economic or social policy.
At the same time, a return to some religious view of personal morality is not the answer. Their focus on personal morality has proven to be a distraction. While religious leaders are expound on their version of sin, the social and economic systems continue unchallenged. The churches all too often breed a narrow, self-interested view of life and our place in society – one that uncritically accepts consumerism, lack of accountability from business and government, and ignores the larger social, political, environmental and economic ramifications of their faith.
The US is a pluralistic, secular democracy. Though people are free to live out their beliefs concerning social relationships, morality and community (within limits), they are not and should not be allowed to impose their views on these arenas on others. What is somewhat ironic is that one area where a personal moral message could have an impact on the current crisis is in the area of consumerism – the very topic that is off-limits in many faith communities, due to the close connection between religious and social conservatives and capitalism.
What is more, these “culture wars” are a distraction. The narrow focus on things like gay marriage and gun control have effectively distracted us from issues like the ecological & climate crises, our crumbling infrastructure and our dependence on foreign oil.
The prescription? More accountable, less hierarchical communities. Churches are often great communities – but they do not reach enough people. Social and civic groups are often too narrow in who they target. Gangs are a kind of dysfunctional community – essentially, a kind of clan capitalism – distorting the idea of a community to make money or promote the power of the bosses. As has happened before, these gangs need to make the transformation from criminal to social enterprise. Though they may have little utility to global capitalism, these folks can be functioning members of local communities. What we cannot allow, however, is to replace rule of law with rule by gun, democracy with the “big man,” legitimate work with crime. All of this is undermined when we celebrate a life of crime because it is a way of asserting power and personal dignity in a system that seems people as interchangeable parts in a machine designed to make a few wealthy and the rest wage slaves.
This involves a return to a local economy. One reason that owners should be local is because they can be held accountable – not just by laws, but by personal relationships. Owners ought to know and love the local community, geography, political situation – rather than be part of a disconnected economy where both product and profit are consumed by faceless strangers. What people do for work ought to be connected to who they are and where they live.
This also involves rediscovering how to live in community. Community is a skill, and a community can be a good thing, or it can be a toxic thing. But we know how to encourage vibrant, effective communities – we know how to develop skills, spot talents and abilities, emntor and recognize the gifts and abilities that foster and maintain communities. As a society, we need to learn to identify, train, support and honor the hard work and dedication it takes to foster community.
This does not mean a return to some parochial village model – a modern model of the human psyche and the our information infrastructure can connect us – humanize our trading partners, prevent a completely local focus – but returning a personal, accountable, local nature of work will be a good start- and we should take advantage of this current economic crisis to take back our economy and builtstong, local, diverse communities.
Mar 1, 2009 at 1:24 pm
When I read your post it is disguised. I think you are talking about the sins of Capitalism. I just don’t get the labeling of the word Capitalism; I must have a different view than many other liberal thinking people. I think I am a liberal thinking person, most who know me think the opposite. It’s convenient. And I think it’s convenient to think of Capitalism the same way. Capitalism is intended to foster freedom; freedom of speech, vocation, religion, motivation, prosperity, and service, charity, hope, and sacrifice. It is the full answer if operated within the rule of law. The rule of law dictates that no one is above the law and therefore no one should suffer by following the law. It’s not the form of the government or the economic system; it’s the failure of the individuals within those structures and the lack of regulation governing those systems. It’s the two systems working against each other to prove culpability.
What God gives, human nature takes away with greed, selfishness, deception, and manipulation. I was always taught that Capitalism was a good thing; it gave us the ability to fulfill Gods calling for us by supplying us with the tools that Jesus taught himself. Look, in its purest form we can take our God given talents and passion, converting them into action which will produce results. If I choose to get up and only provide the income to my family with the 1:1 ratio of my earning power while relying either on the current market rate or what my “boss” agrees to pay me then that is what I choose. But if I decide to get up in the morning and provide a “job” for myself and others, take on more risk so that I can multiply my ratio to 3:1 then now I have resources at my finger tips to apply to my passions. You are right that some of us have become a nation of consumers; not future builders for the betterment of our communities as a whole. When you see the benefits of Capitalism come full circle, the success of its life producing effects are hidden by the media and government more often than not. Why does the President of the United States usually introduce a government related policy by putting a human face on it rather than putting a successful capitalist as the poster child of how our system should work? I think it is because Capitalism must be demonized to forward the agenda of the one world government we are heading towards.
All I know about gangs is that you can’t hum a tune to Rap or Rage music; I don’t hear many of them listening to Frank Sinatra.
It does not matter which type of government or economy we have, there will always be wage slaves. The idea of a wage slave is in the eye of the beholder based on what level of services are available dictated by the city they live in. All I know is that I get to walk down sidewalks, lighted at night, landscaped pathways to a library with 300,000 books that I can read for free. I have 25 miles of trails and bike paths along the water to walk on. Yet if I can’t afford it I can go to Tennessee and put my trailer by a creek and catch all the fish I want. Why should Greg in the State of Washington pay for Joho in San Fran? Yet you do with your federal tax dollars. We support the pay or cost of living for the homeless in San Francisco? They give each homeless person approximately $364 each month or housing voucher and cash to boot; along with free food every day, and free health clinics. The homeless are divided up into two important groups, 20% are insane and should be hospitalized, 60% are drug addicts and the other 20% are just down on their luck or lazy; it really only leaves about 20% that will actually move from being homeless. Ok fine, that is why I agree that we need to get the state governments back in control to keep more of the money local, the decisions local, the help local. But the federal government wants to actually reduce the control of the Governors so that the power stays in Washington. It’s the corruption of the system by the liberal arm of the government, simply a power play to gain power and create longevity in their jobs. Some care of course, but the system is so far removed from the actual person who needs help. This is where the private sector would really help. Employ them on a state level to actually be the eyes and ears of their state.
Many of us have definitely gotten away from living our dreams and passions in America. By becoming a nation of consumer we have stopped producing, and the things we do produce with our hands don’t have the textures and natural feels that they use to. Plastics are everywhere in our cars, and the homes we build have a 40-year life span not the 150-years that they use to. The concept of the cornerstone for a home no longer exists, and that same principle no longer exists in our economy either. The liberal agenda today is attempting to take advantage of the problems created by over spending and the corruption in the private sector. Both parties are at fault, and liberals to date have not said one time that they are sorry about the lack of regulation, their involvement forcing lenders to give money to those who can’t sustain their incomes long term, or to agree to come clean about how they personally benefited. Conservatives have said that they screwed up, but liberals did too. They were in control of the House and Senate for the last two years. It takes two to tango.
I believe that freedom is the key hope of Capitalism, without freedom any form of economic structure is suspect. Freedom must be for the benefit of all men and at the end if the results are produced by greed and selfishness by the few then Capitalism will have a very bad name; and it will give Socialism or any other “ism” a bad name as well. We have not solved the root problem behind the hidden factors of greed and selfishness.
We must as you say have a transparent system. It’s a fine balance though, it’s just like you saying that you will create a website for someone and they say, fine just show me your costs and your personal bills so I can determine if you are making a fair profit. Then complain that your bills are higher than his because your home is bigger, or your child is handicapped, and you have two cars. Oh, did I mention that your second job was a taxi driver! Capitalism says, if I want two jobs and you don’t want any jobs, I get to live better than you, send my kids to the piano teacher or to Disney if I want, and give your lazy ass some doe as well. It’s none of their business what you make or how you make it as long as it follows the rule of law. The girl next door is in the same home I am and she pays $1 for rent and gets Food Stamps and $457 per week after tax. In 1950 the ratio of workers to beneficiaries for Social Security was 1 to 159. Today it’s 1 to 3, this is not sustainable. The only ones who pay for the homeless, and supply the food stamps and the welfare is the working man, and just a few percent of the highest income earners pay 80% of the bills. If everyone earns the same no one will be able to pay for those who don’t or can’t work.
The pendulum is swinging to the proverbial left today, and it is swinging with a vengeance to take a larger slice out of anyone who actually makes money. Universal health care, so let’s agree to disagree but it’s coming and I am concerned about the quality of it. Do you really know anyone who has had a bad experience with health care in this nation? I mean personally, been rolled out into the street with a tumor hanging off of their head because they did not have insurance? So let’s compromise and put it at the state level… never going to happen! The liberals want the power and to control the social welfare state they are creating. Did you know that there are more liberal millionaires in the Senate and House then conservatives?
With 1 out of 10 in California on unemployment compensation, and 1 out of 6 in Missouri on Food Stamps and with these statistics being able to be quoted for almost every state, our government is taking from our very hands our dignity and self worth. The right to earn our community benefits; while none of us who can produce should be given any compensation without effort on our part.
The concept of accountability for the selfish elitists is in itself a little bit of an oxymoron. The government and specifically the liberal arm of the House and Senate created a real problem when they turned down George Bush 23 times for more government regulation on the financial markets. Yes… the conservatives screwed up and deregulated in the beginning but when they saw the writing on the wall they tried; accepted that they screwed up and tried. Credibility is a key element when pointing fingers. There is nothing that justifies the manipulation of the markets or the environment to the detriment of others. Responsibility and accountability must be the job of the government, power and money will corrupt. But when I see an environmentalist flying on private planes, or individuals using 10 to 20 times their carbon foot print of the normal person, and buying offsets to justify their excessive use it makes me feel like we are just pointing fingers at the capitalist not the wealthy élite. Our government spends too much money, and when they pointed their fingers at the automakers use of private planes to fly in and ask for money and our Speaker of the House took around 30 law makers on several private planes and spent thousands on booze at the tax payer’s expense where the credibility in that is I just don’t know! It’s not about talking at us it’s about us becoming acutely aware of when others are doing right. For example, what about a guy like Bill Gates? Where has he gone wrong with his wealth generation, pay plan, and now giving plan? Why has no one said this is a good model to look at? Here is a Capitalist who did it right from the start to the finish. But know lets demonize him by saying he stole the ideas, and that given the same concept anyone… even one of those biting monkeys today could do what he has. It seems that what we should celebrate in him is his since of community, what the cause and effect of his wealth generation and how it has affected our world; great innovations, increased productivity, good jobs, and huge profits that he is in the process of returning to the community. But the government does no reward this; they only want to point out the bad guys. There are three things we need to change the USA.
I have 80 shirts and tee shirts in my closet, go and count yours. It seems when I think about giving them away I always justify my need to keep the gray one and the light gray one and the dark gray one…. How about just one grey shirt, what am I worried about?
I agree that the focus on personal morality is a distraction, I think what Jesus tells us to do is like Nike… Just Do It! Help others now, give now whatever the amount, serve now, listen now, pray now, and quit focusing on our personal whiteness and rely on His. When you look at USA as a secular nation, the one true thread that must be returned it the value of personal integrity.
I think the opposite of integrity is perversity; either outcome is possible and can look a lot alike sometimes. For example if you won’t take money from some organization or company but give it to someone else, if the money is bad then it is bad; they both may look admirable on the surface. I have always thought it was interesting when someone finds out in politics that they received money from a thief they give it to charity… why not give it back to the one it was take from, not the thief but from the one the thief took if from.
Education – Discipline – Integrity, now here is the big three that anyone can agree upon if we want to set things right. There is no ethical question that cannot be answered, no directive that cannot be implemented, without applying these three. Our problem as a nation is we have strayed from these. Take any issue and apply these and nothing can be hided.
I don’t think issues like gay marriage or gun control distracted us they focus us; we all need to have forums to express what we feel is important, it’s the cry for equality without requiring discipline, without integrity. It’s creating a lazy, handout, godless society. I used a little “g” in godless which to me are the thing you discussed earlier about being accountable; it is moral fiber and the essential fabrics that our nation must maintain. I don’t think that every city our community needs to be accepting of gay marriage or have guns, just like it is not right to impose my beliefs on others as a governing body I have the right to be intolerant of key issues as long as they don’t discriminate according to their rights and their beliefs don’t mandate for me to subordinate my beliefs. . The idea of everyone being anesthetized to issues and living in harmony is no place for any person of integrity. We must believe in the rule of law, and that our outcome must always benefit our fellow man. Standing up for what you believe must be allowed as long as it follows that all men are created equal.