TINA/capitalism

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's famous response to a question about challenges to capitalism was TINA -- There Is No Alternative. If there is no alternative, anyone who questions capitalism is crazy.

Here's another, more common, acronym about life under a predatory corporate capitalism: TGIF -- Thank God It's Friday. It's a phrase that communicates a sad reality for many working in this economy -- the jobs we do are not rewarding, not enjoyable, and fundamentally not worth doing. We do them to survive. Then on Friday we go out and get drunk to forget about that reality, hoping we can find something during the weekend that makes it possible on Monday to, in the words of one songwriter, "get up and do it again."

Remember, an economic system doesn't just produce goods. It produces people as well. Our experience of work shapes us. Our experience of consuming those goods shapes us. Increasingly, we are a nation of unhappy people consuming miles of aisles of cheap consumer goods, hoping to dull the pain of unfulfilling work. Is this who we want to be?

We're told TINA in a TGIF world. Doesn't that seem a bit strange? Is there really no alternative to such a world? Of course there is. Anything that is the product of human choices can be chosen differently. We don't need to spell out a new system in all its specifics to realize there always are alternatives. We can encourage the existing institutions that provide a site of resistance, while we experiment with new forms. But the first step is calling out the system for what it is, without guarantees of what's to come.



I don't think the problem is that the whole system in which we were immersed for years made ​​us humans conformist who no longer have the voice of struggle that many people had before, we simply become part of the system, all complain of capitalism but nobody really does anything to find new forms of economy.

they unknown that there are businesses that can work in social action, make money and solve a problem, like social business. make a lot more compared to being just another employee of the capitalist system that exploits many people, also be part of these Corporations based on democracy where equity and the welfare of their employees is a priority as the Mondragon Corporation (MC).

I think not to complain all the time how badly the system works, is about to act differently and look for new alternatives, the issue isn't only in the system, but also in us that we become conformists.

The One Percent

The documentary The One Percent, tries to show the inequality between the social classes of United States, and how the richest families in the country keep on increasing their fortines while average americans happen to live.


Jamie Johnson is an example, used the power of his name to promote a new lifestyle to people who know and have more followers. While still living in his luxurious life and make no change in that aspect, you can see the initiative that has to change things, which is primarily important. “The One Percent” compels despite its many simplicities, showing, for instance, how sugar titans in this country have bought enough political influence to reap millions and millions in government subsidies as they trample the Everglades and exploit workers. Mr. Johnson is a young heir who isn’t out trying to name a fragrance after himself. And he cares, even if naïvely, about something that truly matters.

People that don´t hesitate when it comes to criticizing the gap between wealth and poverty, usually have this tipe of backgrounds. He starts telling to Friedman that the fact that this 1% of society that controls more than 40% of the money of the country, are the ones to blame for the other 99% of americans to not succeed, or be able to get out of the poor social class they belong. The fact that Johson has a camera to film, the resources to visit the people he wanted to interview and have the crew that helped him developed this project is thanks to the wealth that his family has provided and worked for.


It's a very interesting documentary that shows how a billionaire can make a difference in America, is an example of the rich do not only think about themselves and not see beyond their noses, but rather this example we see that is the opposite and that they also care about the common good even though they have never had any kind of difficulty or lack of money.
Johnson is proposing is to find a way of ending this type of inequality and the tacit solution is: socialism. What socialism would like to do is to redistribute the money in the countries and used them as public policies that would "benefit" the societies. 

New creative ways of economy: social business

In Yunus' definition, a social business is a non-loss, non-dividend company designed to address a social objective within the highly regulated marketplace of today. It is distinct from a non-profit because the business should seek to generate a modest profit but this will be used to expand the company’s reach, improve the product or service or in other ways to subsidise the social mission.
In fact a wider definition of social business is possible, including any business which has a social rather than financial objective.


"Human beings are driven by more than a desire to just make money. Self-sustaining social enterprises should be built around this aspiration." Muhammad Yunus.



Muhammad proposed project is one of the most interesting entrepreneurial ideas I've heard, because not only is to create a new form of business that generates profits, also this business solve a social problem that include a society or community.


As the project in Bangladesh with this new social business proposal, a business to achieve other economic gains, generate jobs for the community and gradually resolve the problem of malnutrition of children. this is a sign that with a little creativity anything can be improved, the point is not to get stuck watching the problems accumulate, just realize the potential of problem to give a solution and make money.

The biggest flaw in the conceptual design of the existing theory lies in its misrepresentation of the human being. In traditional profit-maximizing capitalism, human beings are treated as one-dimensional creatures whose only mission in life is to make as much money as possible.


That's the difference between an economic model based on social business and economic model capitalist, in the capitalism the only thing that matters is making money, get profits only for myself and be the most powerful, social business is the opposite, you win money but problems are solved, the company is involved and so everyone wins.

THE PRICE OF INEQUALITY

"El supuesto “paraíso” de bienestar y prosperidad que representan la sociedad norteamericana y su modelo de desarrollo, se derrumba estrepitosamente cuando se conocen las estadísticas que demuestran que sólo el 1% de sus habitantes recibe casi un cuarto de la renta nacional, y acumula el 40% de la riqueza."- Joseph Stiglitz, Premio Nobel de Economía 2001


Today, these figures show that the American dream is a myth.  Actually there is less equality of opportunity in the U.S. than in Europe (and in fact, less than in any advanced industrial country)


Stiglitz mentions that having the sense of values lost in the wealth seek of power, the big upper classes, are gonna still "exploring the poorest and the least educated" taking advantage of them, offering jobs while they get bonuses for their hard work, so here we have the very good example of lack of TREATMENT and STATUS, in a society. 


This is one reason why America has the highest level of inequality of any of the advanced countries. And the distance that separates him from others is growing. During the "recovery" of 2009 and 2010, 1% of Americans with higher incomes are left with 93% of the increase in income. Other indicators of inequality (such as wealth, health and life expectancy) are as bad or worse. There is a clear trend towards concentration of income and wealth at the top, the depletion of the middle class and increased poverty in the background.



Every time decreases equal opportunity means that we are not using some of our most valuable asset is our people, the most productive way possible. Also, many of the distortions that lead to inequality, such as those related to monopoly power and preferential tax treatment for special interests, undermine the efficiency of the economy.


Personally feel that not only the fact that there is economic inequality, the inequality is the eye in several ways starting with respect for basic constitutional rights of any citizen, in this country tend to be overlooked unless you are as in other economic status or  if you're native citizen. because the migrants and the middle classes are those classes that are most needed but at least they aren't take in mind.

Defenders of claim that American inequality the poor and those in the middle need not complain, it may be that piece of cake with which they are running is less than before, but thanks to the contributions of the rich and super-rich, the cake is growing so much that in fact the size of the slice is greater.

why we have figures of excessive profits on one side of the balance while the other side only recorded losses? the extent to which the defenders of inequality characteristic of a capitalist economic model intended to make up a reality that is obvious in the eyes of all?

It may not be so bad if there was even a grain of truth in the theory of the spill: the peculiar notion that enrich the above is in the interest of all. But today most Americans are worse (less real income adjusted for inflation) than a decade and a half ago in 1997. All the benefits of growth flowed to the top.


This should not surprise those who understand what is the origin of inequality. Rent-seeking distorts the economy. Of course, market forces also play a role, but the markets are policy, and the United States, with its system of campaign finance cuasicorrupto and the coming and going of people one day occupy a public office and the other is in a private company, and vice versa, depends on money politics.


Is the price that a State must pay to maintain an economic model that gets us nowhere, only to realize inequality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olKOPrRqdH4&feature=player_embedded

los indignados del 15m, España.

"Estaba latente; se elevaba a veces y, de pronto, comenzó a rugir con fuerza. Sus ecos tomaron las calles hablando de hartazgo, de conciencia y activismo por aquello del 'No nos representan'. Y alcanzaron a miles de personas, que abrían los oídos a medida que los decibelios iban subiendo. Era el inicio de un movimiento ciudadano que pilló a políticos y medios fuera de juego"

"15M: palabra por palabra. Una movilización de ideas, de voluntades en asamblea, de
familias y rebeldía acampada que empapeló aquellos días de recados sin respuesta. La prosa espontánea y urbana que consignó el descontento un 15 de mayo"

The benefit of this manifestation is that the media has capture the essence of the spanish movement. People feel related, and that people are the only one that can actually change for a good, and that the changing is possible. It really thrilled me to see an analyst giving a sense of hope to the decision of the people, cause in my opinion that's where the really power relies.That's what democracy actually means. 

José Luis talks about a reality when he portraits that "Al hacer mediatica la opinión pública, te has cargado la libertad de todo el público." What he means is that even when your opinion is good, once it gets in the hands of the media, it will stop being your opinion and start being manipulated by it, to generate in this case a big manifestation. He tries to makes us understand that there are also two sides of this manifestation, the media is always strong to get people, and to convince others, he wants to leave clear that message so that spanish people could vote on the elections wisely, and not only fooled by another blinded system, which is the mediatic one.

Spain suffered from having two political parties that were only interested in gaining power for each side and to generate the same kind of oppression to the spanish people, and not being a "channel of communication" for them. According to José Luis, the capitalist economic government is sinking and it's not gonna last for much long, that idea I also share it, because as we discussed in class, capitalism have come to the point in that it has stop being a benefit for the societies, the wealthy corporations or the biggest power on it are the one who rule and oppress the others, leaving us, the rest, with a bunch of financial problems, polite views issues, demands for more power and banking problems, just like it is happening on Spain.

Necesitamos una economía «más humana, más solidaria, capaz de contribuir a desarrollar la dignidad de los pueblos» José Miguel Sampedro.

Las prioridades de toda sociedad avanzada han de ser la igualdad, el progreso, la solidaridad, el libre acceso a la cultura, la sostenibilidad ecológica y el desarrollo, el bienestar y la felicidad de las personas.

El actual funcionamiento de nuestro sistema económico y gubernamental no atiende a estas prioridades y es un obstáculo para el progreso de la humanidad.

Check the interview in this link on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOmh3jcV28g

Who Will Benefit from Haiti’s Gold Rush?

Mining companies were exploring in Haiti, Canadian and U.S. corporations now confirm they have permits to mine gold in more than 1,000 square miles in northern Haiti. Haiti’s new prime minister says the estimated $20 billion worth of minerals in Haiti’s hills could help liberate it from dependency on foreign aid and rebuild from the devastating 2010 earthquake.

I think mining is very important to the development for a country as long as this has the economic and environmental sufficient resources for this practice to be sustainable. Haiti is a country that is in complete poverty is not only economically but also their natural resources are depleted, eroded soils, and others that do not have enough drinking water to the mining practice become the limited reserves of water in most polluted places. This is not just thinking about making money, which in this case the profits of production do not stay in haiti, most goes to the northern countries owners of large corporations engaged in the business, you should consider the population that inhabits the place and future sustainable development and to achieve sustainable progress.

women's confronting poverty

"Mary Ann Manahan helps rural women in the Philippines build their knowledge, strength, and political voice. Here she speaks of how women are creating alternatives to violence and poverty in their lives. They use strategies for change that start at the household and community, and then connect to the global level, so they can confront the crippling impacts of globalization."





It is very important to your activity Mary Ann, and considering the economic factors that affect their city sociale, she is an enterprising woman who is not content simply to protest the rights that all people in their womanhood should receive. She creates strategies to stop seeing women as mere receivers filter problems, they always rests with the first blow of poverty, or any social problem, women are called “shock absorbers” because they are the first to feel the crises caused by the economic and social insecurity of globalization, and right now specifically by the financial crisis. Essentially, the global economy is being run on the backs of women, especially women in the global South.

But, even in the most vulnerable sector of society, women have strength. They get it from within their family and from interacting with fellow women. Another important piece is confidence-building. Having been battered so much, they don’t normally have the confidence to present themselves as women of knowledge, or women who can actually insist on their rights. Central in their interactions is women’s rights and the importance of changing gender relations.


Once they have enough knowledge and confidence, another strategy is doing trainings to improve their skills in light of government policies. They’re now ready for a much bigger arena of engagement: collectively going to the mayors and local executive to insist, for example, that we have a policy where 5% of the budget goes to gender and development projects.