Global corporations make it difficult for the actions of a progressive social democracy to influence issues beyond their borders. However, if the majority of developed countries adopted the same policies of punishing corporations who source goods and materials from exploitative regimes, some progress will be made.Brian Peacock wrote:
...my personal position stands as a counter to the exploitative practices upon which capitalism relies. I would be interested to hear you thoughts on where and how firm governmental hands on domestic economic policy might benefit indentured child labours mining Cobalt in the Congo for your domestic and personal electronics for example.
The point is that none of your political statements allow for some form of free enterprise continuing to exist, at least if you had your druthers. You seem to imply that even the most stringent government controls over capitalism is a less that ideal solution. So, your preferred system, I assume, would have no room for capitalism whatsoever. If this is more than just a wistful fantasy, you need to have a mechanism for the end of capitalism. I think it's highly unlikely that it will wither away; it fights hard against the sorts of government regulation that social democrats and progressives wish to tame it with. So, it is perfectly reasonable for me to ask whether you think it should be replaced in some type of revolution...Brian Peacock wrote:
With respect, what a load of nonsense. Look, I'm a constitutional republican to but I'm also committed to pacifism. I'm no more arguing for the violent overthrow of Capitalism than I am advocating stringing Prince Charles up by his lugholes. I think it's telling that challenging the liberal hegemony is so routinely and casually equated with unjustified violence.
Fine, you've made it clear that you are a pacifist, so violent revolution is not on your agenda. Given that, what process do you envisage that would allow a transition to a non-capitalist (and presumably socialist) society? I know one - the total collapse of civilisation world-wide. And of course, that is a real possibility, but not one to be desired...