Environment
The System
07/06/07 13:10
There are many problems with capitalism. We all know that. We also are pretty sure that it is the best economic system out there. I wonder though if we are going to enter a period where we have to careful with the environment, if capitalism won’t kill us. My ponderance is centered on the nature of capitalism as a system that is only successful as things are bought and sold. It gets to the point, evidenced by any tour of walmart, target or the grocery store, where we begin to make and sell junk in order to continue to profit. A country’s economic success is based on how much stuff it can buy. The problem is, that seems to entail production simply for production’s sake and thus ignores the effect that it has on the environment. A carbon tax is one way where that gets evened out, but not in terms of the ‘rape of the natural world’. Thus, in order for capitalism to continue, we must create more things to sell, which then further impacts the environment.
A similar problem seems to happen with the whole globalization business. As we globalize, companies are able to send work to other places where the people are willing to work for a cheaper wage. Although I’m not convinced that this impacts the countries that the jobs migrate from (for instance, the U.S. has had some of its lowest unemployment recently), but there seem to be few safeguards that the multinationals will pay living wages. Many think that the market will even it out, but that does not seem to be the case - as evidenced by a good 20 solid years of globalization and little effect throughout much of the 2/3s world. For instance, I know of no place where I can buy some jeans, even for a bit more money, while knowing that whoever made it has been paid a fair wage (i.e., fair trade). There does not seem to be enough demand to make it worthwhile. I suppose shopping 2nd hand would be a good solution.
A similar problem seems to happen with the whole globalization business. As we globalize, companies are able to send work to other places where the people are willing to work for a cheaper wage. Although I’m not convinced that this impacts the countries that the jobs migrate from (for instance, the U.S. has had some of its lowest unemployment recently), but there seem to be few safeguards that the multinationals will pay living wages. Many think that the market will even it out, but that does not seem to be the case - as evidenced by a good 20 solid years of globalization and little effect throughout much of the 2/3s world. For instance, I know of no place where I can buy some jeans, even for a bit more money, while knowing that whoever made it has been paid a fair wage (i.e., fair trade). There does not seem to be enough demand to make it worthwhile. I suppose shopping 2nd hand would be a good solution.
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