Das Krapital

Like our president-elect who proclaimed himself as much, America is a mutt; indeed is comprised of mutts. It's a mélange of diverse elements, a piece from this culture and a sliver from that heritage. Instead of just the rhetorical flourish delivered by a smarmy pol at a patriotic pep rally it actually is A Gorgeous Mosaic.

Now, I don't pretend ever be able to understand Capitalism or Socialism or Pop Teenage Vampirism enough to converse about it with any pimply poly-sci major who "attends" an online community college (well, I do pretend, which allows me to sidestep needless study and avoid all possible profundity) but isn't it apparent that whatever Karl "Birth" Marx warned about in his infamous manifesto has come to pass? That is not to say Socialism in a purer application would necessarily succeed any better than Capitalism but it seems to this dimwit that success in these kinds of things requires versatility, wisdom, humility and a fleetness of foot---all the attributes which have been glaringly absent from the nation-scuttling BushCo approach to governance. What causes the decay of a sociopolitical philosophy is a boneheaded desire on the part of extremists who strive to push their impossibly thoroughbred ideology through at any cost, an approach which necessitates failure.

Nothing, even our president-elect himself, is all black or white; America is a composite of subtler shades, a much more intricate and fuller spectrum than this country has up until recently portrayed itself as being. And as there are cures to be found in nature for any of their corresponding ailments so there are solutions to be found within the breadth of the world's diversity of ideas for America's seriously ailing economy: a piece from this culture and a sliver from that heritage, pieces and slivers previously discarded by the capitalisto-fascist zealots whose greed has been so recently on display. Their ruinous approach is the one that infiltrates religion, pits classes and races against each other and otherwise rots any idyllic theory of social democracy.

Rather than continuously demonizing rival economic ideologies and pitting them against each other, better to adapt the most symbiotic elements from each, creating a mutt-tation of a socioeconomic theory, one which more accurately reflects the multiplicity of thoughts, designs and hopes of the people who would actually be served by such a system.

For next week's class, please write a seven hundred billion word essay on why Black Friday Trampling will become the next "moshing." Dismissed.

Comments

[Social Construct]

Yup. Actually having attained a modest amount of education on the subject of government, I could not have said it better. Thanks again, Mr. Weber.

[Curiouser]

"For next week's class, please write a seven hundred billion word essay on why Black Friday Trampling will become the next "moshing." Dismissed."

I'm gonna have to plead right now that the dog ate my homework.

[TakeNoNeoConPrisoners]

The USA may be a "mix" of capitalism and socialism but the recent economic collapse was as a result of excesses of the extreme capitalists - deregulation, laizze faire, free markets and ponzi economic gambling schemes - subprimes, derivatives, etc.. The combination of these is what has brought the economy down NOT any of so called socialistic policies. We need to temper these excesses more toward the center which in my definition classifies is a social democracy much like that of Canada and the Scandavian countries - not that they are ideal or have no problems but they seem to work better in providing overall to their citizenry a good standard of living, universal health care and no one seems to be at war with them.

[lisakaz2]

The neo-extremists wanted another Dickensian society -- where all they were the bourgeoisie and the regular folks could barely afford a roof over their heads. If you read about the horrors of 19th century cholera epidemics or urban burials you know the horrors well. Scandanavian countries were the first to experiment with Keynesian ideas. And from this we should see that Milton Friedman wasn't 1/10 of the thinker than Keynes was.

That being said, Krapitalism is about right. Krap from China for Joe Avg and caviar for the CEO types. These stooges forgot that this economy depends on the avg ppl -- not just as workers but as consumers. Krapitalism choked the life out of the average citizens to have disposable income: I can't even afford krap (any left over goes to medical costs; I have chronic lyme disease). We live in a post-Fordist society (Ford ensured his workers could and did buy his cars) and the extremists convenienty forget that they only like the market when they reap profits; they want Joe Avg to shoulder their losses.

[sunny123]

As usual, you hit the nail on the head. We are indeed blessed to be "mutts." And blessed be live in a country of "mutts."

[magicmary]

With a smart mutt for a president who gets it. (Mutts tend to be smarter than purebreads...).

It's entropy, ain't it? A closed system tends to decay.

[Alterion]

Not bad but I wish you didn't end it with that pot shot about what happened at Wal-Mart. There are obvious social commentaries about that, plus the man has a family who may read the internet and the many blogs that are making light of the incident.

[lisakaz2]

It does show the callousness of a certain Scooge-capitalist type and as such Steven is just the messenger. Your point isn't entirely wrong, but the fault doesn't exactly lay here.

[graffen48]

I'd like to meet the idiots that trampled the poor guy. I mean come on, over Walmart?? I wouldn't trample if they offered me the whole store, everything in there is designed to be obsolete or break in a few years anyway. Walmart is good for one thing; buying little debbies snacks, mmmm.

[davidly]

The problem is: there is a super-upper-privileged class which has handed down its wealth from generation to generation since the dawn of all things financial. They have been in power under capitalist, socialist, communist, and fascist regimes and every mixture thereof.

They don't want to give up power. They are anti-union and anti-worker. They oppose health care for the poor beyond a pittance, but they see to it that those who sit at the seat of government continue to funnel more money in their direction.

They finance the wars and the war candidates. Every election cycle, a certain candidate or candidates for representative office speak to this problem and are as a consequence roundly ridiculed and marginalized, first by the smart-mouth press, and then by the know-it-all public, from whom the press claim to take their cue; in reality, their marching orders come from the aforementioned ruling class.

The cartoon-like evil of the last eight years serves this class well. Firstly, for the obvious reasons, and secondly because everything which follows will be "oh-so reasonable".

[itmaybetoolate]

Steven, I know this is off topic, but why raz the community college? It is uniquely American and is based on the premise that everyone deserves an education. In fact, it is the most egalitarian form of education in existence. Yet, people look down their noses at it and speak of it as though it is filled with idiots and losers! In reality, community colleges are the doorway to a four-year education for many students who would have no hope of getting into a "real college" due to a lack of wealth, a lack of social support (think first generation college student), or poor high school grades (that don't necessarily correlate with smarts). It also provides a doorway to career and technical skills/professions for those who don't want a 4-year degree. We should be proud of our community colleges and praise those who have the courage to seek an education in the face of overwhelmingly negative class/environmental conditions. The community college is a direct and tangible consequence of the American dream. Don't perpetuate the negative stereotype!!

[MASHON]

Great post itmaybetoolate. As much as I enjoy Weber's blogs, most people who have platforms to speak from and be heard by many people, are economically far removed from those of us that have no platform other than these series of tubes.

Praise be to the powers that be for these tubes.

[itmaybetoolate]

I second that MASHON!!

[lisakaz2]

You perhaps are correct. I have taught at such a college and some students do show promise (e.g., older students who go back in various circumstances or for various reasons). Others do not. It is a very mixed bag. I must say, though, I met more motivated community college students in NJ than worthwhile 4 yr students in Western PA. The latter featured students who began their weekend on Wednesday night, cheated on exams, and a few who couldn't read.

[edva]

We are too caught up in words and definitions. These things are only representations, like a photograph of a sandwich; not the thing itself.
However, whatever this thing we call "free-market capitalism" is, it is very obviously the WRONG system upon which to base humanity's future. Too much "me" and not enough "we".

[23000Days]

Excellent as usual, Steven. Yours is truly the only way to arrive at our desired destination. Merging divergent ideas works for any successful business.

It's neither socialism nor capitalism, but Americanism. We used to know how to do that.....

[Konnie]

been wondering where you've been.....................you always are the most interesting writer here, with your
cut right thru it approach to complex issues. its just too bad no one adopts these solutions.....not politically advantageous doncha know...........wish our newly elected leader would step up on jan 20,
and state emphatically " I AM GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FIX THIS COUNTRY, AND I AM
NOT GOING TO SPEND ONE SECOND OF THE NEXT 4 YEARS DOING ANYTHING FOR ANYONE OR
ANYBODY TO GET RE-ELECTED. PERIOD. IF YOU LIKE WHAT I HAVE DONE, THEN RE-ELECT ME AAT THAT TIME",

[susanlno]

Well put! However, as the approach you advocate is a common-sense one, that makes it substantially less likely to be adopted by our government.

[K.J. Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

Perfect analogy to our "Mutt" nation.

Why is everything bookended by Capitalism vs. Socialism? There's not one NOT ONE purely capitalist or socialist country on the face of the earth. Even in the harshest days of the USSR and communist China there were thriving black markets because the existing state run operations were insufficient. Conversely, in the U.S., what would you call social security, medicare, public education, infrastructure projects, police and fire services (not to mention $700 billion dollar bailouts) if not socialist enterprises?

The "socialist" card is wearing thin for conservatives and they would do well to stop playing it.

The truth is that it's a mix, it always has been a mix and it always will be a mix. We all need to embrace our "muttdom," shut up and get on with dealing with the mess we've made and continue to make economically, socially, environmentally, etc. There is a myriad of solutions just staring us in the face waiting for us to grow up and commit to them.

What are we waiting for?

[kellygrrrl]

take the bits and pieces that work and apply them -- BRILLIANT! Can be applied to anything!