Capitalism Versus Democracy — Robert Urie

It was always just a matter of time before the reemergence of establishment Democrats reminded people why they were booted from power in 2016. As ugly as Donald Trump is and as not constructive as his tenure in the White House has been, the Democratic establishment would rather lose with establishment candidates and retrograde policies than loosen its grip on its service to the oligarchs.

Phrased differently, if Democrats cared about ‘defeating Trump,’ they would offer programs that people want. But they are so firmly in the grip of corporate interests and the oligarchs that they won’t do so. The Republicans are just as beholden, but they offer fewer (manufactured) illusions. They represent the interests of capital. This transparency provides political clarity for those who oppose their policies....

Economic liberalism as capitalism is not compatible with political liberalism as democracy. Economic liberalism leads to plutonomy, a form of oligarchy, while democracy is the rule of the people, by the people and for the people. The economic interests of capital as the owners and the interests of workers are mutually exclusive.

This has precedent.

While confusion has been sown around the meaning of ‘corporatism’ that stood at the center of (Benito) Mussolini’s vision of the good life, a defining characteristic of both Italian and German fascism was capitalist-state alliances where state power was used for the benefit of select capitalists and select state actors. Labor unions were systematically disempowered, and the interests of powerful economic and state actors were put forward as those of the polity.

The difference between Mussolini (and Gentile)'s fascist "corporatism" and contemporary neoliberal capitalism is under Mussolini, corporations were in the aid of the state and aided by the state, whereas in neoliberal corporatism, corporations control the state and use the levels of the state to extend their reach and deepen it. In both, the military and intelligence services are instruments of state control with the state in service to corporations. This results in imperialism and colonialism internationally.

Both are state corporatism (fascism) and corporate statism (neoliberalism) are "unholy alliances" from the POV of political liberalism; for they lead to oligarchy and authoritarianism.

This is what one would expect when capital is viewed as the primary factor of production, to be prioritized over labor (people) and land (environment) because growth is the higher priority and growth depends on capital formation. This is justified by marginalism, that "shows" all receive their "just deserts" and "trickle down," the assumption that "a rising tide lifts all boats." Margaret Thatcher went so far as claiming that there is no alternative to progress (TINA).

Consortium News
Capitalism Versus Democracy

Robert Urie

Also interesting if you were around in the 60s or early 70s and were politically active or at least aware. Most where then because Vietnam.

Consortium News
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