Einstein saw the development of a worldwide predatory oligarchy early in the 20th century when he wrote:
"Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones. The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights" (http://monthlyreview.org/2009/05/01/why-socialism).
Einstein was perspicacious in his long view of history and we would do well to pay attention:
"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots" (click here).
Unfortunately, it seems that this day is here. Worshiping technology is now the norm. Scientism has replaced 'science' (http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-folly-of-scientism) and with it we see the rise of a new, more virulent ruling class bent on destroying all life through what they call "progress", i.e. the creation of more and more artificial intelligence, the destruction of nature, the creation of laboratory rats and dependent populations. Monsanto is just one example of the new scientism but the notion abounds in all areas of life.
Worshiping the 'tools' we as humans have been able to manufacture within a framework of 'predatory capitalism' will have far reaching results that the world cannot really even imagine, although Einstein tried:
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones" (ibid).
Oligarchies and the forces of production in the hands of a few
The superiority of the forces of production and their concentration in the hands of a few predatory oligarchs out to make nothing but money under the auspices that property is wealth, has now arrived. The pictures tell a thousand words and as we see the destruction of human interaction in favor of artificial intelligence we witness the rise of the "idiot" that Einstein so clearly warned us about.
There is only one thing that we as humans can do to assure that the air we breathe, the food we eat, the morality we have and the world we live in puts people and their needs before profit and again, Einstein is salient:
"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society" (h ttp://monthlyreview.org/2009/05/01/why-socialism).
Since 1949 when Einstein penned this piece for Monthly Review we have seen millions die from the excesses of predatory capitalism. Is it too late? Will we revert to the Stone Age as Einstein so eloquently envisioned? Or can we educate masses of people to see that capitalism is a devastating socio-economic system even for those who presently handsomely profit. Or again, is the short-term thinking we are embroiled in today while we worship the tools of enslavement too humongous for us to see the forest through the trees?
Quoting Einstein again:
A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future" (click here).
The choice is ours if we are educated enough to make it.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
3
2
