Dear Editor,
Industry and agriculture across the world are already capable of providing for the needs of people everywhere, if this is the case why is it not being done? Millions are living in poverty and millions are living on the edge of starvation What are the causes of this terrible situation, and is it beyond our thinking to devise a system that doesn’t have slumps, unemployment and hardship imposed on people?
The present system of capitalism where financial institutions and individuals command great wealth and power that goes with it moving money around the world seeking maximum profit as their main and only consideration.
The question must arise, how did they manage to acquire this great wealth and power to control peoples lives? Historically, through stealing and fighting to obtain land then being in a position to control the lives of people who lived on the land ,this being done through systems of work, Slavery, Serfdom, Feudalism.
Rapid technology from the 17th century on brought in the present system of Capitalism, maintaining their control of the most valuable asset, peoples labour time New technologies increase the inability of the Capitalist system to organise and solve problems here and worldwide because it is based on private wealth and interests.
The value of articles is based on costs of materials, power, transport, etc. and the amount of wages paid to produce it. If this process takes a percentage of a working day, say 4 hours out of 8 hours, everything produced in the second 4 hours is free of labour costs: this is the source of their profits. The flaw in the system is that more is being produced than can be bought by the people that produced them, This is why the capitalist system goes from boom to slump repeatedly, devastating peoples lives.
This surplus of goods is partially covered by exporting and/or trade wars with other countries, but the problem cannot be solved that way particularly as ever new technology is develops. Capitalism is no longer able to solve its problems; it twists and turns but will not give up its control over peoples time. Extending zero hours contracts and the junior doctors working hours are modern variations of slavery in which the employers control not only working time but all time.
This kind of freedom for the wealthy few denies freedom for millions and, as we see every day, sometimes their lives.
Tony Delahoy
Silverknowes Gardens
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