The Extremist Cult of Capitalism

The Extremist Cult of Capitalism

By Paul Buchheit
Common Dreams
January 22, 2013

A 'cult,' according to Merriam-Webster, can be defined as "Great
devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work..(and)..
a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion."

Capitalism has been defined by adherents and detractors.

Milton Friedman said, "The problem of social organization is how
to set up an arrangement under which greed will do the least harm,
capitalism is that kind of a system."

John Maynard Keynes said, "Capitalism is the astounding belief that
the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for
the greatest good of everyone."

Perhaps it's best to turn to someone who actually practiced the art:

"Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class." Al Capone
said that.

Capitalism is a cult. It is devoted to the ideals of privatization over
the common good, profit over social needs, and control by a small
group of people who defy the public's will.

The tenets of the cult lead to extremes rather than to compromise.

Examples are not hard to find.

1. Extremes of Income

By sitting on their growing investments, the richest five Americans
made almost $7 billion each in one year.

That's $3,500,000.00 per hour. The minimum wage for tipped
workers is $2.13 per hour.

Our unregulated capitalist financial system allows a few well-
positioned individuals to divert billions of dollars from the
needs of society.

If the 400 richest Americans lumped together their investment
profits from last year, the total would pay in-state tuition and
fees for EVERY college student in the United States.

2. Extremes of Wealth

The combined net worth of the world's 250 richest individuals
is more than the total annual living expenses of almost half
the world - three billion people.

Within our own borders the disparity is no less shocking.

For every one dollar of assets owned by a single black or Hispanic
woman, a member of the Forbes 400 has over forty million dollars.

That's equivalent to a can of soup versus a mansion, a yacht,
and a private jet.

Most of the Forbes 400 wealth has accrued from nonproductive
capital gains.

It's little wonder that with the exception of Russia, Ukraine, and
Lebanon, the U.S. has the highest degree of wealth inequality in
the world.

3. Extremes of Debt

Up until the 1970s U.S. households had virtually no debt. Now the
total is $13 trillion, which averages out to $100,000 per American
family.

Debt appears to be the only recourse for 21 to 35 year-olds, who
have lost, on average, 68% of their median net worth since 1984,
leaving each of them about $4,000.

4. Extremes of Health Care

A butler in black vest and tie passed the atrium waterfall and entered
the $2,400 suite, where the linens were provided by the high-end
bedding designer Frette of Italy and the bathroom glimmered with
polished marble.

Inside a senior financial executive awaited his 'concierge' doctor for
private treatment.

He was waiting in the penthouse suite of the New York Presbyterian
Hospital.

On the streets outside were some of the 26,000 Americans who will
die this year because they are without health care.

In 2010, 50 million Americans had no health insurance coverage.

5. Extremes of Justice

William James Rummel stole $80 with a credit card, then passed
a bad check for $24, then refused to return $120 for a repair job
gone bad. He got life in prison.

Christopher Williams is facing over 80 years in prison for selling
medical marijuana in Montana, a state which allows medical
marijuana.

Patricia Spottedcrow got 12 years for a $31 marijuana sale, and
has seen her children only twice in the past two years.

Numerous elderly Americans are in prison for life for non-violent
marijuana offenses.

Banking giant HSBC, whose mission statement urges employees, "to
act with courageous integrity" in all they do, was described by a U.S.
Senate report as having "exposed the U.S. financial system to a wide
array of money laundering, drug trafficking, and terrorist financing'"
in their dealings with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, which is considered the
deadliest drug gang in the world.

HSBC received a fine equivalent to four weeks' profits.

The bank's CEO said, "we are profoundly sorry."

In the words of Bertrand Russell, "Advocates of capitalism are very
apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied
in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise
of tyranny over the unfortunate."

Accurate to the extreme.



Paul Buchheit is a college teacher, an active member of US Uncut
Chicago, founder and developer of social justice and educational
websites (UsAgainstGreed.org, PayUpNow.org, RappingHistory.org)

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/21