"Greed has been with human beings forever. We have a number of things in our species that you would call the dark side, and greed is one of them. If you don't put certain structures in place or restrictions on those parts of our being that come from that dark place, then it gets out of control. Capitalism does the opposite of that. It not only doesn't really put any structure or restriction on it. It encourages it, it rewards it."
The above excerpt may, or may not, prompt you to read (or listen to) Naomi "Shock Doctrine" Klein's interview with Michael Moore as he launches yet another polemical documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story.
Both capitalism and communism have failed. We should never forget that. The answer lies with a new form of government which is yet to be invented. Can we reflect on it and propose some avenues?
ReplyDeleteThis is a must-watch.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, high time for me to read Shock Doctrine as well. It's been there on my bedside for a long time.
To Kozémotandé: I agree, left, right or any ism for that matter, we should not care less. What I believe really matters is an approach -whatever the label- that is not doctrinaire but instead feeds on integrity and realism to provide an environment conducive to the welfare of citizens. Some countries are already (relatively should I say) faring well. Read this, http://tchombo.blogspot.com/2009/05/jack-leclaireur.html, for my deeper thoughts.
ReplyDeletePa ti pu mal si nu kumans servi ene ti pe bon sens...
ReplyDeleteTo Samad Ramoly. I have read your post. You must indeed be credited with some valuable contribution to this important debate. The avenues you propose qualify you to be part of the New Team although I may not agree with some names you listed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that. I have written to Xerox to come up with a human-copying machine so that we could get a few more Samads.
ReplyDeleteTo Kozémotandé:
ReplyDeleteI guess what is critical, at this stage, is to help rev up civil society to challenge status quo. Namely, by exposing deception and deconstructing propaganda. We need to boost change agency and the role models I identify - although I have my own reservations too especially in terms of providing ideas and doublespeak - are those I reckon to be the most vocally "progressive". We should nonetheless pay tribute to the hundreds of other citizens already engaged at the grassroot level on a non-partisan basis.
To Sanjay Jagatsingh and Samad Ramoly: Those who are most vocally progressive are not neccessarily the most competent to lead. They are often driven by self-interest and a desire to posess and rule. We have now to debate on the characteristics required of true role models. This country is so small that it will not be difficult to identify them if they do exist. Unless they choose to live in anonymity and they should be saluted as you rightly said.
ReplyDeleteTo Kozémotandé and Sanjay Jagatsingh:
ReplyDeleteIs it about requesting people aiming at the dream of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr - "our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective" - to take up arms? Is it merely then about rallying proactive citizens aspiring to life beyond ethnocentrism, corporatism and navel-gazing?
I am sure Mamoujee too has a lot to contribute on Mauritius-building.
ReplyDeleteThe Mauritian citizen is already hijacked by politicians and priests who used him/her as an instrument to satisfy their never-ending thirst for power and fame. What is really needed is a cultural revolution to free the masses from their grips. Education and knowledge are the keys according to me. A further revolution will be required to transform the Mauritian into a world citizen capable of living in harmony with nature amidst all the differences which characterise the human animal. This can be referred to as the Inner Revolution. I guess Martin Luther King and a few others were pointing at that. Big project. Isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMay I add Big Biz, apparatchiks and useful idiots among the hijackers! It might as well be dubbed the winning formula!
ReplyDeleteYes it is really a tall order and I feel that the ball is rolling towards a promising goal and we must ensure that the posts stay within the yin and the yang.
It is our moral responsibility to keep the ball rolling and Sanjay Jagatsingh's to monitor the YinYangmeter.
ReplyDeleteLer zot la ki nu per? Ayo pardon, ler nu la ki zot per? Mo p al rod sa yingyang meter dan bazar tudswit la...
ReplyDeleteZis pu dire zot ki mone ressi gagne sa yingyang meter la. Ek li p marse kare kare tou...
ReplyDeleteThe YinYangmeter will soon become 'un objet de convoitise'. Be careful. If we use it effectively we could even compete in next seasons' Nobel Prize.
ReplyDeleteEutaa, pa tris sa? Pa pe mansyon moris.
ReplyDelete