Originally posted by
[email protected] 10 2004, 10:20 PM
A large part of Spiritual Socialism involves almost absolute (but regulated) free trade and free enterprise. At the same time, protection for the workers and agrarian reform are still practiced, along with various other Socialist policies.
I think you misunderstand the nature of "socialism".
You seem to think of it like a "menu" -- that is, you can choose socialist policy A, and B, and C, but reject socialist policy D and E.
And then you go to the capitalist menu and choose A and B but reject C and D and E.
That's all messed up.
In capitalist societies, the capitalist class or its chosen agents hold state power.
In socialist societies, the working class or its chosen agents* hold state power.
The question of which particular policy either of those societies might introduce to deal with a particular situation may or may not be suggestive of certain trends in that society...but do not serve to define its class nature.
If the British Government re-nationalizes the railroads, that does not mean the U.K. is moving "towards socialism".
If Cuba permits a limited degree of small businesses to temporarily function, that does not mean, in and of itself, that Cuba is moving "towards capitalism".
The definition of "spiritual socialism" that you offered suggests that the socialist part is entirely "spiritual" and the capitalist part is very material indeed.
You can see why it doesn't exactly meet with rousing approval on this board.
:redstar2000:
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*I'm passing over the question of those "agents" of the working class--Leninist parties. It's really questionable whether it's proper to speak of them as "chosen agents" of the working class at all.
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I understand the nature of Socialism, and the nature of Capitalism, and I would say that this is neither.
Read up a bit about Juan Jose Arevalo and his government in Guatemala from 1944 - 1950, and Jacobo Arbenz's successive government from 1950 - 1954. Guatemala from 1944 - 1954 has been the only example of a "Spiritual Socialist" government and society in the world, and may always be.
Arbenz was also overthrown by Eisenhower's government after:
1. Nationalizing 15,000 acres of the United Fruit Company's land in Guatemala.
2. Refusing to compromise with the United States of America (which by that time had already withdrawn Ambassador John Peurifoy) about being "easy" on the United Fruit Company.
3. Nationalizing all of Guatemala's large and small estates, creating homes and land for 100,000 peasants
4. Enacting strong labor laws (which also hurt what was left of United Fruit*) and giving a great amount of power to the working class.
5. Having an entire cabinet made up of hardcore Communists, while denying to the rest of the world that he was a Communist himself (keep in mind that at that time, stating that you held any Communist views was political suicide).
6. Recieving large amounts of help (and two tons of arms) from the Soviet Union.
7. Sheltering known "Red" theorists and leaders.
8. Using 1/3 of Guatemala's complete expenditures for a complex social aid and welfare program.
Spiritual Socialism may involve some elements of Capitalism, but no more than there are in Cuba today. Also, keep in mind that Che Guevara himself was a great admirer of Jacobo Arbenz, and was in Guatemala at the time of the American invasion. Guevara signed up for several "youth brigades" and was honored to be able to help Arbenz's revolution. In later years, Guevara expressed great admiration for Arbenz - for both his political ideas and his willingness to stand up against the United States.
“…We should also like to extend a special greeting to Jacobo Arbenz, president of the first Latin American country which fearlessly raised its voice against colonialism; a country which, in a far-reaching and courageous agrarian reform, gave expression to the hopes of the peasant masses. We should also like to express our gratitude to him, and to the democracy that gave way, for the example they gave us and for the accurate estimate they enabled us to make of the weaknesses which that government was unable to overcome.”
-Ernesto “Che” Guevara, 1960
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*Arbenz, wisely, did not attempt to nationalize all of United Fruit's holdings, or expel the company. This would draw the wrath of the United States, and the situation was already coming to a crisis point at the time Arbenz entered office. Instead of nationalizing UFCo, Arbenz embarked on a program of competing with it, and several other American businesses. He built government-run ports, government-run farms, and government-run power plants, taking large amounts of business away from the American companies that had formerly dominated Guatemala.