Pandemic Thoughts: End Capitalism
So what happens to capitalism? Never has it been easier to protest bullshit job conditions than when you don't even have to make signs or take a bus to get there, right? But how do we mobilize to do it?
At what point do we say these major corporations who lobby against welfare, but can't sustain a lousy month without obscene profits aren't worth keeping? At what point do we say the entire financial sector is just a shell game used to keep people poor, and stop showing up? At what point do we say, "That person needs food, let's give them some" instead of "They only have value if they're making money for someone else"?
Never has the impotence and inherent bias of capitalism been laid so bare, and yet, here we are, working from home - or worse, still having to show up for uncaring bosses who can't see fit to diminish their own grotesque salaries so others can eat.
How do we convince the workers at the utilities to keep the lights on regardless of what money's coming in? How do we convince the food suppliers and sellers to keep providing regardless of the income of the starving? How do we convince all those who provide essential services that the rest of us will take care of them, so long as we all agree to start working for each other and not for the greedy at the "top?"
All it would take is for us to close and lock the cash registers, and keep doing what we're doing. But can we do it? Can we give up that safety net of 1s and 0s regulated by the wealthy for the trust of our neighbors? Can we promise to support those who maintain the utility, food, and medical pipelines by keeping their lights on, bringing them meals, and giving them momentary escape?
And who's got the most difficult job of all? Convincing police, security, and military not to listen to their wealthy overlords when told to shut the factories, grocery stores, and hospitals down? Who's got the job of convincing them that they're on our side?
We're there. Our leaders have failed us. There's never been a clearer opportunity to end the capitalist oligarchy. What are our next steps?
