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Suppose you are an intelligent, educated capitalist!

Submitted by John Stoltenberg on Fri, 2007-09-28 13:51.

Capitalism

Suppose you accept the proposition that economic systems evolved from cannibalism, to chattel slavery, to feudalism, to mercantile capitalism, to what we have today, industrial capitalism. Suppose you accept the proposition that our present industrial capitalist economic system is not in its final form, but still is evolving. Suppose you accept the proposition that our industrial capitalist economic system will eventually evolve into yet another economic system. Suppose you accept the proposition that our present form of industrial capitalism may evolve into an economic system totally unlike industrial capitalism in which a capitalist class will no longer exist. Suppose you accept the proposition that we may be 50%, 60% 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%, through the useful life of industrial capitalism.

Now, suppose you are an intelligent, educated, forward thinking American capitalist, or a member of the capitalist political elite, that is willing to forego short term gains in order to extend the useful life of capitalism, and your very favored position in the capitalist economic system. Further, suppose you understand that the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution were created by the emerging American capitalist class for insuring the political power of the emerging American capitalist class. Suppose you understand that the republic they created with a democratic political process, the rule of law, civil rights, and the separation of church and state were absolutely essential to the success of American capitalism. Suppose that you understand that in the course of over two hundred American capitalism has evolved from mercantile capitalism to a very mature industrial capitalism wherein most of the capital is now controlled by a very small faction in the capitalist class and their corporate entities. Suppose you understand that this concentration of economic power in possession of a very small faction of the capitalist class and its corporate entities, has created a fascist oligarchy that is now in the process of destroying the very Republic that was essential for its success, and is essential for its continued survival.

My question is this: Why would you not be in favor of the following reforms to our national election process in order to extend the useful life of capitalism? The reforms are listed below with my comment on each.

(1) Publicly financed federal elections. Comment: There is a high probability that this reform will be very effective in preventing the pro-fascist faction in the American capitalist class and Corporate America from literally buying our elected Representatives. With this reform we will be able to dismantle the fascist state that currently exists, and restore our constitutional republic with its democratic political process.

(2) Term limits. Comment: If we do not have publicly financed elections this is worth trying. If nothing else it would prevent wealthy capitalists from endlessly financing their reelection term after term. Also, it would prevent pro-fascist politicians from being reelected term after term.

(3) Eliminating the barriers to third parties and independents from being on the ballot. Comment: This is absolutely essential in order to introduce new ideas into the political process that are required to solve the problems inherent with our very mature industrial form of capitalism, and to solve the external problems confronting American capitalism

(4) Paper ballots and paper trails. Comment: This is essential to defeating the highly developed election stealing apparatus that exists within both of the major political parties.

(5) Auditing all elections. Comment: This also is essential to defeating the highly developed election stealing apparatus that exists within both of the major political parties.

(6) Elimination of the electoral college. Comment: This is an interesting idea.

(7) Instant Run-off Voting. Comment: This appears to be a far superior system to our present system of voting. It may not be necessary to restore our constitutional democracy, but it would definitely inspire more people to take part in the democratic process. For that reason it may be beneficial to counter the pro-fascist forces in our very mature industrial capitalist economic system.

John P. Stoltenberg, P.E.
N8362 State Highway 67
P.O. Box 596
Elkhart Lake, WI
53020-0596
920-876-2184
jpstolten@verizon.net

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As long as

Submitted by arche on Fri, 2007-09-28 15:32.

they are not forced to do that, I don't see any reasons for the US capitalists and their regimes would make those changes. Who are capitalists in the US? As you mentioned it above, most of the capital is now controlled and monopolized by big corporates. More profit "no matter what" would be the first and the last goals in their agenda. Nothing more or less than that.
Reason would be the least thing that we could see from them.

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About John Stoltenberg

About Me

Hi Darlene;

I am the third generation of a German-American family. Both of my grandfathers were socialists. My father was a member of the Socialist Labor Party (SLP) in the 1930s and 1940s. I am not a socialist, but I am well acquainted with the SLP's platform. I consider the SLP to be the only socialist party that is advocating true socialism and not capitalism with some reforms tacked on.

From my perspective we are on a long slow evolutionary path that involves the capitalist economic system eventually evolving into some other economic system. Also, it involves the culture that presently supports capitalism, and makes it possible, evolving into another culture that will be able to support the new economic system.
All of this will take place over many generations and will involve many small steps. The steps in the evolutionary process are the small reforms being made to capitalism to make capitalism more bearable for the working class. These reforms have the effect of slowly changing capitalism into some other economic system, and/or changing the culture that supports capitalism into a culture that will support the new economic system.
The fact that this is a slow evolutionary process is a positive. It gives society the time to experiment, and to learn what works and what does not work.
I do not know what the new economic system will be and I really don't care. This will be determined after generations of experimenting.
In the mean time, in my generation, I am dedicating myself to preserving our constitutional political democracy, our civil rights, the rule of law and the separation of church and state so that the evolutionary process can take place. In other words, I am concentrating on fighting the ascendancy of fascism in America.
John Stoltenberg, P.E.
N8362 State Highway 67
P.O.Box 596
Elkhart Lake, WI
53020-0596
920-876-2184
jpstolten@verizon.net
------------------------------------------------------
From: Darlene Denis
To:jpstolten@verizo.net
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 8:52
Subject: What is the Alternative?

"The best solution would be to replace the American capitalist economic system with an economic system that would not exploit people, destroy cultures, corrupt governments, plunder resources, etc. Of course, this is not going to happen in our lifetimes and, perhaps, for many lifetimes."
As long as the majority of people believe this to be true then it will be a self fulfilling prophecy. It is this kind of attitude that prevents our country from realizing universal equality, freedom & peace.
The only solution is to form & institute an entirely new government that does not exploit people, destroy culture, plunder recourses, corrupt/terrorize other governments, and respects the rights of all individuals to govern their own existence without any interference so long as they harm none but themselves.
Why is this the only solution? Because no two humans hold the exact same perspective, personal principles, values or beliefs, however, all humans should be allowed to govern their existence according to these elements without interference from others so long as no others are harmed.
But as long as people like you insist that it can never be, then it probably never will be.
Why do you believe we can not see this in our lifetimes. I will be 40 years old this summer, I have seen plenty of changes in the 40 years I have existed so far, I prefer to think that I may well around for another 40 years.......is 40 years not enough time to form & institute a new government that addresses & corrects for the above stated issues and failings of the current government?
If there are really that many people who truly want universal equality, freedom & peace, and end to war and violence, and end to discrimination, and so much more then why do we not take upon ourselves the one action that is virtually guaranteed to provide these things and so much more? My guess......FEAR & INSANITY!
FEAR of the current governments illusion of power to punish us when we oppose them with a real non-violent threat to their power.
INSANITY because we continue to allow this current government the power they need to accomplish the crimes they perpetrate against us and other nations, despite the proof that they lie, deceive, commit fraud against and ignore the will of the people
We have only ourselves to blame for the ongoing blood shed, wars & corporate/government corruption we see all around us, whatever injustice and inhumane action we see perpetrated/allowed by our government is ultimately our fault as we the people have allowed those committing these actions to remain in power. It is more than obvious to me that it is an exercise in futility to continue trying to force this government to do "the right things" by voting, protesting, petitioning calling emailing, writing, rallying etc. How long will it be before Americans understand that whether democrat, republican or other.....this democratic republic form of government is never going to solve all the problems our country faces, nor will it completely endorse universal equality, freedom & peace to all it's people & it will continue to wage wars & contribute to terrorism & insecurity as long as it remains in power.
Where do you think that the current government administration gets its power from? Do they have some "magic" potion, pills or spell that gives them this power? Are they "special", so special in fact that no average American could ever even hope to stop them? NO!
They derive their power from the people, people like you who are convinced that there is no way to stop them from continuing their path of destruction and enslavement! And they derive their core power from a core group of people who have unified for a common cause. Can't you see that if we did the same thing we would deprive them of this critical & vital necessary source of power and shift it to the people where it belongs!, where it has always belonged!!
Please reconsider your position that we can not see an alternative reality in our lifetimes and start acting to create that reality.
You can start by going here!
and uniting with us.
Respectfully Optimistic,
Dar
Awaken Me! website
Awaken Me! group
Co-creator, co-owner, moderator & manager

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