Originally posted by
[email protected] 12 2004, 12:42 PM
Democracy is only good when you're with friends and want to decide whether to eat pizza or chinese.
Nevertheless, as far as I know there has been no time in history were two democratic countries engaged into war with eachother, so it's fair to say that despite all its flaws it's the best system.
Another question perhaps interesting: can the people democratically decide to end democracy?
Not True. Chile 1973, the US supported Pinochet in overthrowing the democratic government of Salvador Allende.
Anyway, I wrote an article for my school's newspaper about how capitalism and democracy can't co- exist indefinately (one will destroy the other). A lot of focus has been put on Canada, b/c that's where I live, and it would be more relevant to the audience. Here it is:
Capitalism vs. Democracy
Canada adheres to two broad, widely- defined systems. One, our economic system, is Capitalism, where the "means of production" (the methods with which goods are produced), is controlled by private shareholders, and the workforce is used to generate profit. The other, our political system, is democracy, wherein sections of our government are selected by the public. It's my belief, after examining history, that one of our two systems will inevitably destroy the other.
I'd like first to start by looking at examples of capitalism destroying democracy. One of the most apparent examples would be our nabours to the south. In the United States, the electoral system is controlled by two parties (appologies go to any Greens out there, but, come on, you know as well as I do that the two parties controll everything), the Democrats and the Republicans. On the surface, these two parties may look as though they have some differences, but they are, in reality, almost exactly the same. In fact, the only things the two parties disagree on are homosexual rights, and abortion (there are members of both parties who have recently spoken out against the war in Iraq, but both party lines officially agree on the issue). The economic models of both parties are almost identical (resembling 'trickle down', wherein large tax cuts are given to the richest people, in hopes that they'll invest in their businesses, creating jobs). When you can't distinguish one presidential candidate from another, you don't have democracy. Both parties are firmly in the hands of the country's richest men. Mega- corporations give massive donations to the Democrats and Republicans (or 'Republicrats', as they're 'fondly' referred to by the left), which pretty much compells them to work for the interests of said mega- corporations. No democracy there.
The economic reasons for the war on Iraq (and in Afghanistan, for that matter), are no secret (OIL!). As a result of these wars, freedom- decimating policies (ie. the USA Patriot Act ) have come into effect without question. The USA Patriot Act allows any person to be held in jail for indefinate lengths of time, without having charges laid, an opportunity to speak to a lawyer, or get out on bail. This act tramples the very freedom that was fought and died for. The very freedom on which democracy depends. Without freedom, there is no democracy.
Let's look at an example of democracy destroying capitalism. Chile, in 1970, elected Salvador Allende, a socialist as their president. Even though Chile was in the midst of a depression, Allende managed to impliment several social benefit programs (for example, he gave free milk to young children). Chile seemed to be well on the road to socialism, that is, until September 11, 2003. A US- backed coup put dictator and hardcore right- winger Pinochet into power, which effectively turned South America's oldest democracy into a slaughterhouse.
There are better examples, though. Venezuela, for example, is well on it's way to getting rid of capitalism. Venezuela was the only nation to stand against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) plan. If implimented, both North and South America would become an unrestricted free trade zone, allowing the biggest corporations to hightail it to the third world in order to exploit the unrestricted labour laws (kept in place by displaced government death- squads). This is, of course, the dream wet of every industrial capitalist, and is capitalism at its peak.
There are cases all over the world of workers standing up and saying NO to capitalism by using their democratic rights of assembly, speech, and association. We only need to look at Europe to see how workers can use democracy to build better lives for themselves. Comparing the economic structures of, say, England in the 1800s to the pre- Thatcher days shows that huge strides to the left can be made democratically. Finding a democratic county who has elected a socialist/labour government is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Canada is a unique case, though. We seem to have taken both roads. The Anti- Terrorism bill, introduced in the wake of 9-11, takes away our freedoms in exactly the same manner as the USA Patriot Act. NAFTA's Chapter 11 gives a foreign corporation to (almost always successfully) sue a government for 'jeopardizing future profit'. A perfect example of this was when EthylCorp, a US- Based oil company, sued the Canadian government, when parliament passed a bill banning the import of MMT (an additive in gasoline), a dangerous neurotoxin. EthylCorp sued the Canadian government for $350 million in damages for lost future profit. To avoid having to pay this crippling sum, the Canadian government reversed its ban on MMT, and paid EthylCorp $20 million in compensation "for its trouble". That sure isn't democracy.
We've taken steps to weaken capitalism as well. Just this year, parliament passed a bill limitting union, corporate, and individual donations to political parties to $1000/year. This is a huge step in the right direction, especially after looking at how big- money donations to the US's political parties has effectively destroyed any real democracy south of the border. Anti- scab laws are on the horizon for Canada as well, which would take away one of the deadliest weapons of the oppressive capitalists.
We're at a crossroads in this country. A crossroads between democratic socialism, and autocratic capitalism. What do you consider more precious, your freedom to elect, express, and protest; or your freedom to be exploited, impoverished, and pitted against your brother?
... Tell me what you think.