Posting replies after articles on conservative as well as progressive sites. (That's where people in need of a new understanding hang out.)
Insisting on participatory decision making wherever it is presently feasible.
Techniques that nobody ever thought of.
We must send out our messages like dandelion fluff in the breeze -- unstoppable seeds that are too many to collect and that can grow anywhere.
VII. What would the implementation of the socialist principles outlined above look like?
Americans live under the yoke of a wide array of false believe s: we are an exceptional people destined to rule the world; unregulated capitalism is an essential aspect of a free society; socialism is a four letter word; A merican lives are of more value that the lives of non-Americans; war is a normal and heroic human activity, and is usually fought for noble purposes; etc. One is tempted to say that no revolution will be possible until this collection of absurd beliefs is abandoned by the majority of Americans, but that represents a misunderstanding of revolution.
Overcoming the hegemony of the old mind is the revolution. Only with the shattering of the old mind will significant large scale changes in our institutions become possible. This revolution can begin today.
The implementation of a new understanding, when its time comes, will be a complex and evolving thing, but perhaps it is possible to mention in passing some of the things that might be needed.
-
The creation and supervision of money needs to be under public control. T he central banks must be nationalized so that monetary policy benefits the majority of people.
-
The rules that guide economic activity must be under public control, and created in a visible manner. (This does not mean that all economic activity must be centrally micromanaged.)
-
Society as a whole must provide universal access to health, educational and welfare services.
-
A limit must be placed on the size of corporations.
-
Policies must be in place that prevent huge disparities of wealth.
-
Elections must be real, and not sham affairs controlled by a small portion of the population.
-
Warmongering must not be tolerated.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. The central point that is being made here is simply that the specific policies that are implemented on all levels and within every sphere of society must, in fact as well as word, implement the shared values o f our nation. I might mention in passing that it seems to me that a mixed economy will lead to the most desirable outcome in that sphere. Small and middle sized capitalist enterprises can be quite creative. But we also need many more worker owned businesses, cooperatives, and a large public sphere. These are matters of implementation that can be debated on an ongoing basis. But clearly, a world being run for the benefit of the wealthy 1% by a few too-big-to fail corporations and private banks cannot be an option.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
