It does not have to be this way
Around the world democracy is being deliberately dismantled and the power of the people day by day is being diminished, while the power of wealthy oligarchs is being increased by the dismantling of democracy.
In Ontario it is happening more quickly than many other jurisdictions doing the same thing. In virtually every piece of legislation from the Doug Ford government, democratic input and oversight has been removed and more power is transferred to Ford and his ministers to make public policy decisions.
The opposition and the media have not exposed this alarming pattern and really should. Democratic voting structures remain in place but they are increasingly manipulated. Decline continues beneath a continuing propaganda campaign by capitalism and its billionaire oligarchs presenting tax cuts, cutting red tape and privatization efficiencies as a factual indisputable pathway to prosperity for all. We are in an age of regression and a civilization in decline.
The far left wants to end capitalism completely by taking over all means of production. It is not likely to happen. They are not entirely wrong but are dismissed as being so. Necessities of life like water, sewers and electricity, as well as healthcare and education rightly belong under public ownership and control.
Capitalism is the greatest wealth creation process ever invented but its inherent greed makes it a terrible monster, who never shares. The monster must be forced to spread out that wealth and must be forced to end its planet-killing activities and forced to realize that there are no profits on a dead planet. There is not much time left. The capitalist monster has broken out of and dismantled the cage we built and is back with a vengeance, devouring as much as it can.
Many of the progressive laws and regulations made after World War II are now gone and we are almost back entirely to deregulated free markets. Capitalism’s nature is continuous expansion looking to profit from more resources and more territory. Make no mistake. The capitalist monster to the south of us wants our resources, our water and our territory. Trump is just capitalism’s mouthpiece. The biggest danger to Canada’s sovereignty is Trump’s billionaire supporters. Not other countries. These billionaires are conducting a very serious attempt to gain power and control over Canada.
It was the nineteenth century muckraker journalists who started the process of forcing reform and building a cage for capitalism’s excesses and abuses. The transformation of democratic states into oligarchies does not have to be inevitable. The power of today’s oligarchs that determine the boundaries of public debate, determine economic priorities, and shape the future according to their interests, must be challenged and opposed.
It is possible to stop them. Labour unions, Non-Government Organizations and social justice coalitions of the world must unite, organize and make a plan to fight back with a strong campaign of opposition.
What does a successful campaign of opposition look like?
Greta Thunberg is a 22-year-old climate activist from Sweden. Her powerful campaign has been credited with raising worldwide awareness of the dangers of climate change and holding politicians accountable for doing what amounts to nothing on the climate crisis.
Capitalism’s far right infantry has conducted sustained threats and attacks and online smear campaigns against her. As ordered by their politician servants,
Greta has been arrested and detained at climate protests by state police in the Netherlands and Germany.
Greta faces constant bullying, including name calling, insults on her appearance, systemic hatred and harassment about her activism. Through it all she shows unprecedented courage, responding to criticism with resilience and humour.
In response to repeated threats and criticism Greta has said that her message is being heard and that she is having an impact. She certainly has scared the world’s oil oligarchs and their politician servants.
Next is part eight, the closing part: Journalism a Dangerous Profession. The Last Word.
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Nick Seebruch, editor
