Friday, May 18th, 2012
ON THE LEFT, ideology has become a bad word, thanks to Blair’s New Labour project. Pragmatism ruled – or was it populism?
On the Right, the capitalists quietly continued their neo-conservative libertarian agenda, without any need to spell it out.
The people, though, should understand that there is an alternative, the socialist alternative. It may be hard to sum up in a sound-bite and have suffered from being tainted by what it isn’t – but it nevertheless offers a way forward.
Capital failure and collective success
That Capitalism has failed is obvious, that Socialism has succeeded not so clear, but consider, the NHS; how China got to where it is today; the turn-around in South America. To rid the UK of Capitalism, we have to re-engineer the economy, and here’s what it might look like.
Measure for measure
First, take control of the financial sector by re-distributive taxation, land and transaction taxes, anti-speculation laws and additional controls of directors’ salaries. Be very relaxed about high-flying business people emigrating, just ensure they don’t return.
Planting the seeds
Next, preserve and support free-enterprise (!): but, as millions of small businesses with very few employees and small capital. This is the seed-stock of innovation. Proprietors are then close to purchasers: knowing where they live breeds trust. This is Tier 1 of a Tripartite Economy.
The subordinate nature of capital
In Tier 2, truncate capital (stop it accumulating) by ensuring all businesses larger than in Tier 1 are co-operatives, worker-owned and collective businesses.
For the greater good
Tier 3 is the state sector which should own and control all infrastructure and utilities, and major organisations of the nation’s production. Any remaining capitalist enterprises are to be discouraged, joint-managed or gradually taken over.
The sovereignty of labour
Third, ensure full regulation in all sectors for workers’ health and safety, civil rights and democratic control. Ensure full regulation of the economy to comply with the environmental necessities.
This is what the socialist alternative might involve – how to do it, is harder to specify, but Capitalism’s increasing and deepening crises may provide the opportunity.
Dick Symonds is wowdewow blogger of the Left
Do you feel it might be worth revisiting socialist alternatives? Can they be worse than what we have? Opinions welcome
Related posts:
Tags: capitalist enterprises, civil rights, neo conservative, new labour project, re-distributive taxation, socialist alternative, south america
