Are Co-operatives The Answer to the Problems of Capitalism ? August 29, 2012

Capitalism favours a system where there is a hierarchy of people gaining profit on the back of people whom are paid enough to keep them in a job however whom cannot move from one job to another easily enough. You pay a man a wage, and also control him, with the net result that corporations and big business gain power. Capitalism may have some benefits but by and large is it not the largest contributor to the issues we have at the moment in the world in terms of strife? No one need look any closer than to the US, where there has been an unequal health care system and social welfare system and where minorities were treated like second class citizens. Large insurance companies own the vast tract of the health care market, social welfare is cut off after a year as people are expected to be wage slaves and big business is predominantly white. Capitalism has contributed to the cause of divisions within society with African Americans, Latinos and other minorities all being treated with disdain by large corporations in the pursuit of materialistic wealth. Access to housing, employment, education and other benefits is restricted to a swathe of white America who are intent on oppressing those from whom they can’t make a quick buck. Israel has seized land from Palestinians in the hope of expanding to make a larger country, more resources means more profit and the pursuit of financial goals inflicts more misery on the people of Palestine.

Photo: Factory in China (Wikicommons)

The divisions that afflict such groups can be seen as to be beneficial to capitalists and their ilk. The worker that is not united is the worker that will not fight, that will not empower themselves and rise up and fight for the rights they are entitled to.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/10/0…ion-comes-from

http://www.plp.org/challenge/2012/8/…land-grab.html

Free Market economics is dictating world policy as it stands at the moment. A price is agreed on for goods and this in turn spurs growth of the economy with improved quality and a lower cost, as there is so much competition. However a free market will only benefit certain individuals. How might this be countered? Mutualism could be one solution. A number of co-ops are set up and are government run with each co-op competing against one and other and private industry pushed to the peripheral. In Ireland this could take the role of looking at areas of drug research that other multinationals are not doing here but are doing abroad that could create competition. Each of the mutual co-ops would be owned by the staff and shares offered if they wish to buy more and each given a basic wage (good wage ). This answers the issues raised by those whom are pro capitalist, it creates a free market effect but also takes into account factors that affect unemployment and job creation.

fluffybiscuits 28 August 2023

Enda Kenny and the Assassination of Irish History Pt 2 August 26, 2012

Michael Collins showed how ahead of his time he was when he brought Lennon and McCartney to Ireland to write the National Anthem……….or was it the Notional Album ?

Andrew49 24.8.2012

Enda Kenny and the Assassination of Irish History August 23, 2012

There have been many fine political speeches made in the course of Irish history. Speeches of the utmost eloquence that flowed magnificently and that moved and inspired listeners. Speeches of great vision that upheld the highest ideals and noblest aspirations. One can, however, rest assured that no speech by the current Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will ever grace a list of outstanding Irish oratory. Characterised by incoherent thought and the shallowest of political vision – all presented in tortured language and in a puffed up manner – the only emotive response they are capable of stirring in listeners is an overwhelming urge to cringe.

But what are we to make of the recent trek of the Fine Gael faithful to Beal na mBlath to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the death of Michael Collins and what are we to make of the speech delivered by Enda Kenny there? It is standard practice of political parties in Ireland, of course, to make annual pilgrimages to commemorate esteemed historical figures in the hope that some of their standing will rub off. The Labour Party assemble at Arbour Hill every year where the bones of James Connolly cry out in agony from deep in the ground, “Please! No more! Do not continue to abuse me this way!” while Fianna Fail still make their way to Bodenstown to denigrate the memory of Wolfe Tone. Should we attribute any more significance to the recent Beal na mBlath gathering than the usual self serving activity of the bourgeois parties?

A great deal of the commentary on Kenny’s speech at the commemoration has focused on a substantial historical inaccuracy. Others have accused him of attempting (in another historical inaccuracy ) to revive civil war politics by asserting that Collins had been “assassinated”. But, as embarrassing as it is that the leader of the country and his well paid advisers are incapable of getting simple historical facts correct, is that the main issue with the speech? And when did Fianna Faíl and Fine Gael ever give up civil war politics? Finally, some have commented on the bombastic manner in which Kenny put him himself forward as a great warrior in the Collins tradition who will fight to the end for Irish freedom while he and his party willingly secede every greater amounts of is sovereignty to the EU. But this is treated as more of the usual Brave New World spin of contemporary bourgeois parties. War is peace, Slavery is Freedom.

Personally, I think the Beal na mBlath speech was a significant one and progressive public opinion would do well to prick up its ears. And what is significant was outlined quite clearly when Kenny stated:

“We will shortly begin a decade of national commemorations…….. the Dublin Lock-Out, The Easter Rising, The First World War, the War of Independence, The Treaty, the Civil War and many others, North and South. It is the firm intention of the government that the official commemoration of each and all of these milestones in our history will be generous and insightful…. inclusive and dignified.”

The ruling circles are cognisant of the turbulent waters they are currently navigating as the crisis of capitalism deepens, and they are more than aware of the effect the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1916 rising had on stimulating patriotic sentiment in the country. They are determined not to be caught out this time and are planning well in ahead. The plan is to rip any patriotic and progressive content out of major struggles fought by the Irish people. The Beal na mBlath speech was laying down a marker. It was an announcement that another major revisionist onslaught on Irish history is to be launched. Presenting economic sovereignty as the ability to borrow money on the international markets at “reasonable” rates and putting Michael Collins forward as an individual who would have embraced unelected EU bureaucrats running his country is just the start.

In this regard I note that this Saturday retired members of the Garda Siochana and the RUC will be holding a commemoration in Glasnevin cemetery to mark the disbanding of the RIC and Dublin Metropolitan Police and to honour the 500 policemen who were apparently “murdered” in the course of the War of Independence.

It is clear that in upcoming years Irish republicans, socialists, and indeed all honest citizens will have a huge battle on their hands to preserve the patriotic, progressive and revolutionary content of some of the most major struggles of the Irish people for freedom and justice. The ruling circles have commenced their offensive. It is time that progressive opinion started the fight back.

Sam Lord 23 August 2012
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