Tag: capitalism

Letters: Capitalism cannot control the greedy

Dear Editor

It never fails to amaze me to see the varied skills and knowledge of working people and their dedication. This is made clear to each and every one of us when we need help.

Working people are the largest section of the total population; they make and design everything that we use and need.

The importance of each and every one cannot be overstated: it is the skills of the working people that make things – no investor or financial institution can or does produce anything. Their contribution, if investing can be called that, is to buy the abilities and skills of people for a weekly wage. Then, they lay claim to everything that has been produced, making even more profit from the labour of working people.

This is how the society in which we live operates – it is called Capitalism, an outdated system that works for the benefit of the wealthy.

It buys the labour power and skills of working people, as many hours as possible and for as little pay as possible, and when the goods are made takes them as theirs to sell for their own profit. What an incredible system we tolerate!

To change this blatant exploitation of working people needs examples of where public ownership of such industries as Gas and Electicity, railways and other public passenger transport; water companies, too, would also benefit not just the people employed but the public at large.

Capitalism cannot control the greedy, or solve any problems.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letters: taking our time

capitalism

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

Letters: a decent life for all

global-world

Dear Editor

Throughout history, systems under which people worked and lived have changed not automatically, but after long struggles.

The capitalist system, under which we now live, has changed from a national to an international one, where massive amounts of money are moved around the world daily, seeking the highest rate of profit, closing down industries regardless of where they are and the devastating effect on peoples’ lives.

International investors owe allegiance to no one, people or the planet: both are suffering in the name of ‘free markets’ (which is their slogan for ‘we are free to do what we like, anywhere we like’.) This global capitalism is incapable of solving problems; it is greedy and selfish, working only for the benefit of already wealthy people.

There is no law or rule that says things can never change: history has shown only people of nations can do that.

We here in the UK have made efforts over many years to show there is a better way, where the resources – both material and human – are used not to create wealthy individuals here or abroad but to create a decent life for all, and to leave a guaranteed future for coming generations.

Socialism can replace capitalism, because it is a system that works for all people, not just the few.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

 

 

Letter: Why Politics Matters

Dear Editor

We work through a Parliament or a Council to change things, so it is crucial to know whom the Members represent and why.

Throughout history there have been many changes in how society works – but not without struggle. Those resisting change stood to benefit from the old system: it is the same today.

The system of Capitalism under which we live is not a stable one; it exists in crisis, followed by a mini-boom, followed by another crisis. The result is unemployment, restricted wages for most people and cuts in public services of all kinds.

The system cannot be stable if the main aim of the owners of industries is private profit making; Capitalism as a system can no longer cope and poses a danger to all. It is time to be replaced by a Socialist sytem, where increasingly industry will operate for the benefit of all, not the few.

This means a struggle, as in the past, with those resisting change. The areas of struggle must be decided by the needs of the people. This will arouse the wrath of the resisters, taking many forms: diverting attention in various ways, pitting one section of people against another to disrupt unity of purpose nationally and internationally.

Throughout history there have been many changes in how society operates: the present society of Capitalism will change but must be replaced by a fairer system called Socialism – that operates for the benefit of ALL.

A.Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter: Capitalism – making millions miserable

capitalist-democracy

Dear Editor

Most people have felt the effects of the latest economic crisis; many people have experienced more than one.

The population needs to work regularly to be able to care for their families; they need good pay, decent conditions of work and security of employment.

We live in a capitalist society where the owners of money wealth control where and when to invest. More important to them is their right, if they find profit too low, to withdraw money from industry and business – even to the extent of closing them down – regardless of the effects on employees. This investment and disinvestment happens every day on a large scale, and the system allows a relatively small number of wealthy people to have power over the lives of many people. This cannot be right and must be changed.

As a first step in changing the sytem, the industries on which all people rely – electricity, gas, water supply and sewerage – should be excluded from private profit making as they are essential to every home. Rail and road passenger transport services are also essential in getting to and from work and for social mobility. Again, these industries are needed by everybody so it is essential they should be operated for the benefit of everyone, not for the private profit of the few.

Other essential universal services could also be ncluded, making furthr changes to the system of capitalism that has caused so much hardship to millions of people: people who are now being forced to pay for the crisis they did not create.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens 

Letters: Different Class: by hand or by brain

Dear Editor

When the UK had massive industries like coal mining, ship building, steel works and many others the term ‘working class’ was generally used to describe manual workers, although that work often involved great skill and use of modern technology. It was, and still is, an honourable description of the majority of the people – although the type of work has changed, not being manual, it is still wage earning.

Opportunities for some, such as the chance to take further study or to train – sometimes with financial support – has given them a more comfortable life, but it soesn’t take them into a different class: they remain wage earners. The interests of 90% of the population are similar, secure work giving them a stable and comfortable life with opportunities to develop interests and skills.

The capitalist system under which we all live is the cause of economic crisis: it is not possible for that system to give permanent security. It is an illusion, carefully nurtured, that an individual can be one of the 10% for whom everything is fine.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

 

Letter: Need before greed

letter (2)

Dear Editor

Particularly during and since the Thatcher times people have been encouraged to think only of themselves. It has the divisive effect – which was it’s intention – of tearing people away from their natural instinct of caring for others. The evidence that the policy of looking after number one is the wrong thing to do is all around us, those with the most wealth have the most power.

A divided people are easier to manipulate: those in work against the unemployed who have to exist on benefits, the disgusting campaign against the disabled living on benefits, pitting those who work in the private sector against those in the public sector, the disgraceful ‘bedroom tax’ action taken against tenants and the continuing privatisation of public property …

The situation is not unique to this country; exactly the same is happening in many parts of the world, demonstrating that the capitalist system under which we live cannot solve their problems. What can we do? We can make a start to change things by identifying essential needs everyone has in common, to maximise unity; these essential common needs will show that no individual or groups of individuals should have the power to restrict or withhold them in the pursuit of profit. The following is a most obvious list of common needs upon which that unity can be achieved and removing them from those who only see those needs as a source of private profit:

  • Heating and power: this basic necessity should be treated as such, not as a source of private profit
  • Water & sewerage services: As above, absolute health essential
  • Transport: Essential public service to enable easy access to and from work and social activities
  • National Health Service: To ensure treatment is a permanent public universal service paid for out of taxation.
  • Recreation and Learning facilities of all kinds: Work is not an end in itself but a means of developing an intelligent quality of living in whatever choice of interest.
  • Greenbelt and Open Spaces: Selling these off to developers to be stopped immediately and lawful public consultation on any building applications.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens 

 

Letter: People, not commodities

Dear Editor

Despite the massive potential wealth of the UK, around two million people are unemployed, causing great hardship, depression and a loss of dignity. If people are willing to work, and the materials needed are available, what then is the problem and what can be done about it?

We live under a system of capitalism whose main concern is to make profit: if it cannot, in any industry or enterprise, the owners of wealth will not invest, switching their money to where it can, irrespective of any damage or hardship caused in doing so. This cannot be right; it only appeals to the greedy and selfish and the events of the last few years have shown just how much damage has been inflicted on people.

Investors, then, have considerable power; supported by people in powerful decision-making positions, protecting the existing set up.

If switching of investment purely for profit is the creator of unemployment, then this activity must be changed. An initial steps could be to put a limit in place on the rate of interest on an investment, coupled with a minimum term of investment to prevent money being pulled out and putting an industry and employees at risk.

This immoral position of holding the threat of unemployment over people purely for private gain is long overdue for changing – people are not commodities to be used and discarded.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens