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Revolution and IdeasWhat is Capitalism?Some Theory: Marx in Das Kapital: He believed that labour was a commodity that people offered industry. If wheat was to be converted to bread, it was the cost of labour which made the bread more expensive than the wheat, as bread is in essence the same material as wheat only processed. The capitalist, in order to make a surplus value/ profit then tries and gets as much value from the worker, with only self-enrichment in mind. Hence the exploitation of the workforce, the specialisation of manufacture and the need for machinery to replace the worker for maximum profit. This is serious simplification and only part of the theory. But it offers the mechanics behind the economic system. Adam Smith: Supply and Demand. When something is rare, it is highly valued and expensive; when it is abundant, cheap and worth less. The Everyday Experience: Capitalism has lead to the individualist society, as is the nature of the system. Capitalism leads to the individual seeking profit = getting as much from someone without having to give as much back. The individualist is obsessed with the self, their own ego and success at any cost. The community is replaced by law, the police and centralised government and business, because the community is no longer self-governed as politics and business search for "economies of scale"/ bigger is better and cheaper. People no longer feel a need/ sense of right or wrong, as the greatest ideal is individual success. The system creates the Illusion, a vision of material wealth and ideal lifestyles (holidays, gadgets, get-rich-quick) to keep the masses enthralled by the carrot and keep their eyes off the stick. As many of us know, the sparkle of things as they appear is never quite the reality (that perfume just didn’t get me friends or a shag, the Media Assistant job is just filing and photocopying). On the world scene, the search for western wealth has lead to the great wealth imbalance and the drive for the 3rd world to try and achieve a better life to no avail. Wars, terrorism, poverty, ecological disaster all stem from the current economic thinking. What is Anti-Capitalism? Anti-Capitalism is as yet undefined. It is made up of groups ranging from anarchists, socialists, environmentalists, community groups, etc. All these causes contribute to the melting pot of ideas behind it. What they all have in common is the belief that capitalism is not the right economic system for the future. They would like to see the following changes in society:
What about Co-ops? The idea of a Co-op is creating a (structured) community that provides a service/ product without extracting individual profit. The people who buy the product are the members/ users and workers of the co-op. i.e. ******: you pay rent to ****** which pays the mortgage and services, you get a room and you decide how the surplus money is spent. You act as both tenant and landlord. OK so how does this economic and political structure impact on the wider issues? Monopoly and Centralisation: co-ops are independent, de-centralised bodies, ruled by the community. The boss is the community, the benefits are for everyone and the power is spread to all users and workers. Overwork: The better value and cost of the product means that not so much work is needed to live a quality of life, meaning less time needed to earn outside money and more time for outside pursuits. The Illusion: the "instant"culture no longer applies and the increased personal responsibility means that we are no longer captured by the unrealistic, illusionary expectations and goals that society places on the individual. The hard work inputted leads to a real and tangible change for the person and the community in which they live. Cult of Individualism: The community checks certain individuals exerting power and exploitation on others. Decisions made by the community are for the benefit of everyone and not a selected few. Community offers compassion, understanding of human needs and situations and can act flexibly but never jeopardising the welfare of the majority. The co-op offers another model to the individualist capitalist society. When it works well, co-operation is beneficial to both the individual and the community at large. In Conclusion Kropotkin, the anarchist thinker on whose idea the co-operation is based, proves that the simplification of everyone’s tasks and the dependence on large industry leads to the stunting of the creative human process and the wasteful nature of the capitalist system. The co-op idea is a solution. It follows the path of anti-capitalism and makes possible the realisation of the anti-capitalist belief system. It has the potential to change the way we view the world, our part in society and the way we live. Think of how people are impressed when they hear about the idea of ******, how we live, the rent we pay, the freedom and security it offers us on the borderline of society. Would London be such a lonely place, run on exploitative rents, bad living conditions, insecurity and uncertainty if more people could live as we do? |