Socialist Standard February 2020 - World Socialist Movement
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Socialist Standard February 2020 1
Editorial
Green capitalism – a contradiction in terms
The failure of the UN climate change resources it contains. of forcing fossil fuel rich states to toe the
conference in Madrid in December was This was crudely, but honestly, stated line. And they are not going to voluntarily
predictable. It is now well established, and by President Bolsonaro of Brazil who told undermine their competitiveness by using
accepted by most, that the incremental the UN General Assembly in New York in more expensive ways of generating energy
increase in average global temperature September that the Amazon rainforest when a cheaper source is to hand.
that’s been going on for decades – and was not ‘the heritage of mankind’ but This was underlined by a report from
its long-term consequences of rising belonged to Brazil, implying that Brazil the International Energy Agency the same
sea levels and more extreme weather could to do what it wanted with it, month as the talking shop in Madrid
– is mainly due to the past and present including burning and chopping it down that ‘coal will remain by far the biggest
burning of fossil fuels releasing carbon to make way for profitable mining and source of power supply worldwide in
dioxide into the atmosphere. As long as ranching, even if this would eventually 2024 ... because of demand for cheap
this continues, so will the slow but steady harm other states, let alone humanity. energy in Asia’ (Times, 17 December).
increase in global temperature. Brazil is not alone. All states claim that Being relatively cheap there, coal use
This rise can only be countered, let the resources within their frontiers are in India is expected to grow by almost 5
alone stopped, by using other sources theirs to do what they judge best with. percent a year for the next five years while
for generating energy that don’t release This is why the states which have coal, Bangladesh is building five large new coal-
carbon dioxide and, to a lesser extent, by oil and gas reserves on their territory are fired power stations.
finding ways to reabsorb it and certainly holding up anything that would reduce The threat of global warming is a global
not by destroying natural ways that do this their profits from exploiting their fossil problem that can only be dealt with by
like the Amazon and other rainforests. fuel resources, whether for export or as planned action on a global scale, but
If there is a known solution, why is it the cheapest source of energy for their capitalism’s vested interests and profit
not being applied? Basically, it’s because internal needs. considerations are preventing this. The
we are living in a capitalist world, divided They are only defending their sectional only framework allowing planned action
into rival states, where production interest as all states do. Whereas within a is a world without borders based on the
is in the hands of competing, profit- country there is a body – the state – that common ownership of its natural and
seeking enterprises. Each state, claiming can if need be force recalcitrant profit- industrial resources. That’s what those
to represent a ‘nation’ but actually seeking enterprises to respect the general rightly concerned about the dangers
representing its ruling class, asserts interest of the capitalist class there, on the of global overwarming should also be
‘sovereignty’, ie exclusive political control, world scene there is no such body. The UN working for.
over a part of the globe and the natural is just a talking shop. There is no means
Introducing the Socialist Party
The Socialist Party advocates a society why actions to prevent the depredation of unattractive -- meaning: state ownership
where production is freed from the the natural world can have limited effect and control. As the Socialist Standard
artificial constraints of profit and and run counter to the nature of capitalism pointed out before both courses were
organised for the benefit of all on the itself. followed, the results would more properly
basis of material abundance. It does not Gradualist reformers like the Labour be called state capitalism.
have policies to ameliorate aspects of the Party believed that capitalism could be The Socialist Party and the World
existing social system. It is opposed to all Socialist Movement affirm that capitalism
war. is incapable of meaningful change in
The Socialist Standard is the combative the interests of the majority; that the
monthly journal of the Socialist Party, basis of exploitation is the wages/money
published without interruption since system. The Socialist Standard is proud
1904. In the 1930s the Socialist Standard to have kept alive the original idea of
explained why capitalism would not what socialism is -- a classless, stateless,
collapse of its own accord, in response to wageless, moneyless society or, defined
widespread claims to the contrary, and positively, a democracy in which free and
continues to hold this view in face of the equal men and women co-operate to
notion’s recent popularity. Beveridge’s produce the things they need to live and
welfare measures of the 1940s were transformed through a series of social enjoy life, to which they have free access
viewed as a reorganisation of poverty and measures, but have merely become in accordance with the principle ‘from
a necessary ‘expense’ of production, and routine managers of the system. The each according to their abilities, to each
Keynesian policies designed to overcome Bolsheviks had to be content with according to their needs’
slumps an illusion. Today, the journal developing Russian capitalism under a All original material is available under the Creative
exposes as false the view that banks one-party dictatorship. Both failures have Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 UK: England & Wales
create money out of thin air, and explains given socialism a quite different -- and (CC BY-ND 2.0 UK) licence.
2 Socialist Standard February 2020 Socialist Standard February 2020 3
The pensions struggle
P
Celebs wanted, dead or alive the idea of these privileged Hollywood consist of a gaggle of pale and half-starved ensions have loomed large into as well. As we reported earlier this year, in the UK to 65 in 1995, the WASPI
Something about the recent revolt of legends continuing to be plundered and teenage computer programmers trying the political landscape again. As this strike action has previously brought campaign notes that many women
the younger UK royals reminds us that commodified in perpetuity, even after to support sick parents and pay their way an issue for our masters, they are employers back to the negotiating table, born in the 1950s weren’t even notified
celebs may be good box office but they they’re dead. At least when we workers through college on the minimum wage.
like submerged icebergs that from time and saw off their initial schemes which formally until 14 years later. This has
are sometimes hard for the management snuff it, the bastards finally leave us alone. Just watch the cash roll in!
Better still, with advances in AI, let the to time bob to the surface to impede would have greatly reduced the benefits led to great difficulties in retirement
to keep in line. Film stars are often But wait, they’re not thinking this
through. The tech will get cheaper, and digital celebs write and star in their own ongoing profitability: agreements that accruing to members of the USS pension planning for millions of women. As
notoriously hard to work with, and can
then why only make box office movies stories. They can direct and produce them stretch far into the future, which hamper scheme. the WASPI campaign notes, a 1 year
misbehave off set too. They even insist on
having their own ideas, as if they’re real for the family-friendly customer? Screw too. So you won’t need to pay writers the capitalists’ ability to invest today. It was understood at the time that difference in birthdate can now mean a
people, and using media opportunities morals, why not take deep fake porn (always an awkward resentful bunch) In December, France was gripped by this was only round one, and it was 3 year difference in retirement date. In
including awards ceremonies as platforms movies to the next level, with Marilyn or directors (prima donnas) or even days of a General Strike, which featured likely that a subsequent round of action 2011 the Coalition Government sought
to spout their own pet worthy causes. Monroe or Jane Russell doing physically producers (jumped-up investors). It could riots in the streets, and ongoing clashes would be required to bring matters to to raise the retirement age for the same
Ricky Gervais nailed it recently, when unfeasible things with Errol Flynn or Elvis be just you, sitting on a mountain of cash, between police and protestors. These a conclusion, thus the UCU (University cohort again.
presenting the recent Golden Globes, Presley? None of it’s real, so the punters with more pouring down on you like a clashes had all the appearances of being and College Union) has successfully In an election bombshell, Labour
by asking the assembled luvvies not to don’t have to feel guilty. How dark and perpetual money monsoon from heaven. a continuation of the running battles won a second strike and action short of promised £58 billion of extra money
lecture workers on life and politics when twisted could it go? How dark and twisted Better still, the AI celebs will take between police and Gilets Jaunes that a strike ballot, with pay and equalities (above their published plans) to
most of them have spent less time in can capitalism go? Shirley Temple in a over altogether and manage their own have been happening in France all year. now included as a part of the dispute. compensate the WASPI women effected.
school than Greta Thunberg. paedo slasher movie? There would be finances, PR and contractual negotiations. (As an aside, this situation is At the time of writing, employers are Television pundits wittered on about
But this problem may go away by itself, a public outcry. Eighteen months later Then they’ll finally sack you too, and good an instructive illustration of how refusing to discuss pay levels. why should Theresa May (who would
as new technology dispenses with reality it would be considered tame. Feminists riddance. And then, supposing that AI
propaganda in the media works. Clashes They maintain that USS is an qualify) get the money, but the principle,
entirely by creating a new population would fight back of course. Annie Get Your celebs really are smarter than humans,
between police and protestors in Hong excellent pension scheme, and note that Labour argued, was that what was
of purely virtual celebs who never perhaps they’ll start using their awards
ceremonies to lecture us on why we Kong made the top of the UK news employers have seen their contributions agreed all those years ago when those
have tantrums, make off-message
should have abolished capitalism and schedule, but similar clashes in France, rise dramatically (50 percent increase women entered the workforce should
statements, get caught in scandals or
established socialism when there was still Haiti, Iraq and other countries around in employer contributions over 10 stand.
demand pay rises. This virtualisation
has already started. In fulfilment of time to do it. the world only made footnotes in an years).They argue that to guarantee Other pundits noted that the
everyone’s perfect fantasy, actors can But probably by then there won’t be online resource to show that coverage is the pension is funded in line with interaction between the policy,
be ‘de-aged’ to play themselves when anyone left alive who cares anymore. The comprehensive.) state regulations, employees should which would see the women given
they were 30 or 40 years younger, as audiences will all be virtual too. President Macron has sought to contribute more than the current 8 compensation, and the benefits system
we saw with 2019’s Captain Marvel and create a unified pension system, with an percent (the fact that that 8 percent would see women in the lowest income
The Irishman. Tragedy and farce effective higher retirement age, to try comes from employees in any case is groups getting no benefit from the
But that’s nothing. Actor Peter Two recent news items illustrate to curb the cost of the French pension neither here nor there, and cost of living scheme.
Cushing had a largish speaking role in capitalism writ large and writ small. system, with workers getting points will continue to dictate employers will The theme running through all this
the 2016 Star Wars movie Rogue One, One, the Australian wildfire apocalypse, based on days worked (which will be have to pay in net terms in order to is one of ‘affordability’, but that is not
a remarkable bit of casting considering is a tragedy that makes any further to the advantage of those workers with attract and retain staff). affordability relative to the productive
he died in 1994. Now one company comment redundant. The other is broken career patterns, such as women It is clear that the little they are capacity of society, but relative to
has bought the ‘rights’ to James Dean’s quite trivial, ridiculous even, yet is a
who take maternity leave).This would offering at all is only in response to the profitability. Pensions are a part of
appearance and is proposing to have perfect example of capitalism making
complicated and wasteful what socialism replace a maze of different retirement solid strike action by university workers, wages, they are not paid out because of
‘him’ star in a new Vietnam movie. ages and calculation methods. At the
would make simple and economical: and even if the union eventually the goodness of employer’s hearts, but
Ethical opinions are divided, with
the matter of phone chargers. In 2009, same time, some people will have accepts some increase in employee instead because of a recognition that
Marvel Studios perhaps surprisingly
expressing moral repugnance (yhoo. there were over 30 different types of their expectations lowered, and find contributions, it will represent a huge workers who are too old to work would
it/38bKKra). charger, generating an estimated 51,000 themselves working longer for less. improvement over the original offer. be more of a hindrance than a use in the
Think this is all rather creepy? Of tonnes of waste and giving everyone Reform of pensions is the iceberg the Similar arguments can be heard over workplace, and, ultimately, they would
course it is. This is another Alice-in- a drawerful of old and useless cables. Juppé government foundered upon, the WASPI women (Women Against end up having to pay the cost of looking
Wonderland rabbit hole that technology European regulators have got this absurd faced down with mass action by the State Pension Inequality).The Tory after such workers one way or another
has opened up. But you can see the superfluity down to three charger trade unions in the 1990s.Small changes government brought in legislation to (either in higher wages to working
fascination. Suppose they remade The types, but Apple has been deliberately in pensions mean vast effects on the raise the retirement age for women family members with dependents, or
Maltese Falcon, or Casablanca, with uncooperative. ‘A common charger life expectations of millions of workers, through charity).
today’s budgets and production values, should fit all mobile phones, tablets, and whilst they are for many far in the Legally, pensions are commitments
but with the original actors? Wouldn’t Gun crossed with Death Wish for starters, e-book readers and other portable future, the understanding that one day with individuals, and past agreements
people pay good money to see that? then Mary Poppins and Terminator. All devices,’ says the European Parliament we will all be too old and tired to be
(bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51137069). cannot be unilaterally altered. They form
Or you could do mash-ups of different ideas copyright SPGB, by the way, and we
able to work looms large for each of a part of wages which employers agree
classics, featuring actors and storylines will sue. But this self-evident truth flies in the face
us. Further, that sliver of comfort and to pay when they take on staff – like
who never met in real life. Think Gaslight Then there’s the wages factor. At the of capitalist reality, where competition
moment they have to use live actors who constantly bucks any trend toward leisure is a quid pro quo incentive to the cartoon character, they will gladly
crossed with Diabolique. Gone With The
will then be digitally converted into Bogart standardisation. In socialism, production keep on working until we can get out of pay us Tuesday for a hamburger today.
Wind crossed with Cold Mountain and Red
or Gable. Given that half of most films is would not be atomised by a farcical war the exploitation system. All of their efforts to structure pension
Badge of Courage. Or recast classic roles
to see how other actors might have done CGI nowadays anyway, you could shoot of competing interests, so parts could be Likewise, in this country, and also payments this way and that is about
it. What would James Stewart have done the entire thing in CGI and then you can interchangeable, repairable, recyclable, little reported, tens of thousands of trying to minimise the individual and
with 12 Angry Men, or Peter O’Toole with dispense with the bodies too, and just and standardised, while minimising waste university workers have been striking. collective cost to employers.
Psycho? pay voice actors. If the tech continues to and environmental impact. Common This despite the tightening of laws over The pensions issue is not about us
Ok ok, now starting to sound like the improve, with a big enough library of voice sense, right? Not in capitalism. calling strike action, which require a living longer, but is the class struggle red
pub film buff bore. But you have to admit, samples you can probably get rid of them PJS double majority both of turnout and of in tooth and claw.
there’s something horribly amusing about too. Your entire production team could those eligible to vote in the strike ballot PIK SMEET
4 Socialist Standard February 2020 Socialist Standard February 2020 5
Open Letter to David Attenborough
Your recent TV series Seven Worlds, One Planet has done much to highlight the plight of many species of endangered wildlife. Nobody
could fail to have got the message, from this and previous series, that wildlife the world over is suffering from the effects of global
warming, from the ingestion of plastic and other toxic waste products, and from dwindling habitats resulting from activities such as
Life without socialism
tree felling for lumber and palm oil or from deliberately started forest fires.
As your impassioned pleas for more to be done become more and more relevant, we agree that human activity is largely to
blame. However, it is not humans per se who are the culprits. Those causing the damage are constrained by the demands of global
money-making. Large-scale industrial activity is subject to the profit imperative, and as long as profits are to be made from cutting
down forests, producing harmful, non-recyclable products and spewing toxic waste into the atmosphere and waterways, small-scale
attempts at recycling and conservation will come a very poor second. Over 70 percent of harmful global emissions are produced by
around one hundred companies, and climate change conferences, for all their apparent earnestness, by and large achieve nothing
because the measures they suggest will be bad for business. Even the emerging ‘green’ industry can only operate within the bounds of
what is profitable, which is to say, not in the interest of the many.
This is not to belittle the dedicated efforts of conservation groups and wildlife lovers across the globe in trying to stem the tide. But
SOCIALISTS the restraints of a sick
their work is addressing the symptoms, not the cause, as are the efforts of the general public in refusing to buy products such as palm
SOMETIMES forget maturity born of slavery.
oil and dutifully recycling our cereal packets and milk containers. All such activity merely scratches the surface: the problem is global
what it’s like not And what of the
and needs a global solution.
to be a socialist. few who become
So why not go for the jugular? If we tackle the disease itself – capitalism – rather than its symptoms, and if more of those who care
We search in vain ‘successful?
passionately about the environment join the campaign to eliminate profit-based society and replace it with common ownership of
for memories that Politicians, sportsmen,
the world’s resources along with true democratic decision making, then we will be well on the way to a permanent solution, with the
pre-date our political businessmen and
happy effect that humans, along with other animals, will be liberated from the stranglehold of capitalism.
consciousness celebrities of every kind
Hoping that in your next series you invite people to join the movement to replace capitalism with world socialism.
because memories will rationalise the years
Yours,
are always filtered of ruthless competitive
ROD SHAW
and coloured by our ambition or just dumb
present values and luck that has lifted
perspectives. But them into the ranks of
it is important for capitalism’s totems and
us to try and see their brief 15 minutes
the world as others of fame. If they are
do – as we once did lucky they will fade
ourselves – so that quietly into obscurity
we can effectively but many will be hunted
communicate with and deconstructed by
those who oppose or misunderstand us. other wage slaves who just long for the a media who’ll stop at nothing to find the
In the absence of reliable personal pre- day to end. This simulation of pleasure scandal and corruption that inevitably
socialist memories we have to rely on our is purchased by the alienated labour attends success within a sick society and
COOKING THE BOOKS imagination. What must it be like to live in of others just like you. Everything you which alone can guarantee high sales
a world without meaning or purpose? This consume is only available because it for the media. The broken dreams of
may seem an unduly harsh judgement but makes a profit for a tiny minority whose the majority seem to create in them an
Not for the squeamish short-term. Looking after the longer-term methods of generating energy – nuclear remember this is the imagination of one lives are even more meaningless than insatiable hunger to vicariously enjoy the
According to a report in City AM (19 prospects for profit-making is left to the and renewable – are more expensive, who is convinced that his or her role in the yours. Consumerism demands these destruction of those who appear to have
December), the Bank of England is state. and so burned they will be, fuelling global resolution of the class struggle is, at this fantasies because it has nothing else to realised their own ambitions.
planning to stress-test banks in 2021 Global warming, if it gets out of hand, warming. historical stage, the only truly worthwhile offer. This is how socialists see our world. But does seeing the world ‘as it really is’
to judge to what extent they can will represent a threat to profits, not so This was neatly illustrated by an activity. Everything else is a distraction. Now let us try and imagine how non- provide a sense of achievement or even
withstand a climate-related crisis. much in terms of reduced profit-making article in the Times the day of the Bank’s Of course socialists enjoy sports, the arts socialists see things. some measure of happiness for a socialist?
Apparently this is to see if they are over- opportunities as in terms of the taxes announcement. Entitled ‘If you’re not and personal relationships etc. but these Finding a ‘significant other’ and securing Certainly we can take some pride in
reliant on investments in businesses the state will have to levy, ultimately on squeamish, Big Oil pays’, it explained: are always secondary to the quest to a well-paid job seem to be the main overcoming the conditioning imposed on
that contribute to global warming, in profits, to pay, for instance, for building ‘On environmental grounds, some regain our humanity or, more precisely, priorities of most non-political individuals. us by the culture into which we were born
particular fossil fuels, which could lose seawalls and other defences against a readers may be uncomfortable buying to reinforce and build on what remains This is the underlying motivation that but the subsequent obligation to partake
value or even collapse if a climate crisis rise in sea level or to move people from Shell shares, as this columnist is. But they of it. Despite the best efforts of the projects the individual on a trajectory in the political struggle can take its toll.
forced the government to suddenly curb flooded areas. are pretty compellingly valued, trading at powerful and parasitical they can never of conformity and slavery which they The immense frustration of continually
their activities. Mitigating global warming will provide just over 11 times forecast earnings for entirely destroy our social and moral hope will eventually bring fulfilment and leading horses to water but not being
This could just be the personal some new profit-making opportunities, a divided yield of 6.5 per cent. In every characteristics. happiness. The dream seems elusive and able to convince them to drink can erode
whim of the outgoing governor, Mark as from investing in the technologies other way they are an obvious buy’ (18 The most dominant form of distraction always just beyond their reach but they the soul of even the most firebrand of
Carney, who is leaving next month to of alternative ways to generate energy; December). and, paradoxically, of escapism is the have committed their life to it and to turn revolutionaries. We can take little comfort
become UN Special Adviser on Climate of extracting carbon dioxide from the Small investors being squeamish won’t reality of making a living. This financial back would mean that all of their efforts in our correct analysis and subsequent
Change and Finance. But it does tell us atmosphere; and of alternative uses for alter this. Only the state, acting in the imperative can be so all consuming and and dedication have been wasted. Then, politically astute predictions in the face of
something about capitalism: action on fossil fuels. This is the logic behind those longer-term overall capitalist interest, can overwhelming that whole lifetimes are to make things worse, they meet a bloody the suffering of the world. Like Cassandra
a threat to business-as-usual such as who argue that the way to deal with do anything about it, as by subsidising lost making profits for the parasite class. socialist who tells them just that! But we seem cursed with an insight that so
climate change is only going to be taken the threat of global warming is ‘more alternative methods until they become This level of pressure, we are sometimes they can’t go back: the next job, the next few can or want to hear. The return to a
if there is some threat to profit-making, capitalism’, i.e., leave things up to private the more profitable. Only then can the told, leaves no time for political activities. relationship, the next therapist or political life of illusions sustained by a consensus
whether short or long term. Capitalism capital in search of profits. naked capitalist pursuit of profits take Even what little opportunity people leader will give it all meaning. There then born of ignorance is forever denied to
runs on profits and decisions as to what But, even from capitalism’s point of over. It’s not the rational way to deal with have for quality time is defined by the occurs a measure of cynicism that reflects us; we have torn apart the veil of lies
is produced, and how much, how and view, this won’t do. As long as generating the problem but it’s the most that will be entertainments controlled by their rulers the failure to achieve the goals that and deception and can only continue
where, are taken by capitalist enterprises energy by burning fossil fuels is profitable attempted under capitalism. – meaningless soap operas, unending society imposes. They see in the playful the fight against the oppressors of the
according to what they calculate is it will attract capital investment, and it will football seasons, empty pop music, and naïve activities of their children a freedom that only the light of reason can
profitable for them in the relatively be profitable as long as the alternative overpriced restaurant food etc., etc. painful reminder of their own hopes and illuminate.
Holidays are spent being catered for by dreams and become impatient to impose WEZ
6 Socialist Standard February 2020 Socialist Standard February 2020 7
Contact details website: www.worldsocialism.org/spgb email: spgb@worldsocialism.org
UK BRANCHES & CONTACTS LU2 7LP. Gabalfa, Cardiff, CF14 3LG. 02920-615826.
Redruth. Contact: Harry Sowden, 5 Clarence botterillr@gmail.com
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North London branch. Meets 3rd Thurs. 8pm at 219293. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Ave, NW5 East Anglia. Contact: David Porter, Eastholme,
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nlb.spgb@gmail.com 582533. Richard Headicar, 42 Woodcote, Firs Contact: J.M. Morel, Calle 7 edif 45 apto 102,
South London branch. Meets last Saturday in Rd, Hethersett, NR9 3JD. 01603 814343. Multis nuevo La loteria, La Vega, Rep. Domini-
month, 2.30pm. Head Office, 52 Clapham High
St, SW4 7UN. Contact: 020 7622 3811.
West London branch. Meets 1st & 3rd Tues.
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Cambridge. Contact: Andrew Westley,
cana.
AFRICA Nigeria: need poverty
exist?
8pm. Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace wezelecta007@gmail.com. 07890343044. Kenya. Contact: Patrick Ndege, PO Box 13627-
(corner Sutton Court Rd), W4. 00100, GPO, Nairobi
spgb@worldsocialism.org IRELAND Zambia. Contact: Kephas Mulenga, PO Box
Cork. Contact: Kevin Cronin, 5 Curragh Woods, 280168, Kitwe.
MIDLANDS Frankfield, Cork. 021 4896427.
West Midlands regional branch. Meets mariekev@eircom.net ASIA
last Sun. 3pm (check before attending). NORTHERN IRELAND Japan. Contact: Michael. japan.wsm@gmail. OF ALL THE myths report, nearly 80
Contact: Stephen Shapton. 01543 821180. Belfast Contact: Nigel McCullough. com prevalent about percent of Nigeria’s
Email: stephenshapton@yahoo.co.uk. 02890 930002 Africa, none is 190 million people live
AUSTRALIA
NORTH SCOTLAND Contact: Trevor Clarke, wspa.info@yahoo.com. promoted as widely on less than $2 a day.
North East Regional branch. Edinburgh branch. Meets 1st Thurs. 7-9pm. au as the idea that A report on inequality
Contact: P. Kilgallon, c/o Head Office, 52 The Quaker Hall, Victoria Terrace (above Vic- overpopulation is by Oxfam International
Clapham High Street, SW4 7UN. toria Street), Edinburgh. Contact: J. Moir. 0131 EUROPE the core cause of said one in 10 children
Lancaster branch. Meets 2nd Sun (Jan 3rd Sun), 440 0995. jimmyjmoir73@gmail.com Denmark. Contact: Graham Taylor, Kjaerslund
3pm, Friends Meeting House, Meeting House Branch website: 9, Floor 2 (middle), DK-8260 Viby J. African poverty. in Nigeria died before
Lane. Ring to confirm: P. Shannon, 07510 412 http://geocities.com/edinburghbranch/ Germany. Contact: Norbert. Nigeria has the the age of five. UN data
261, spgb.lancaster@worldsocialism.org. Glasgow branch. Meets 3rd Weds. at 7pm in weltsozialismus@gmx.net largest increase in puts Nigeria’s under-five
Manchester branch. Contact: Paul Bennett, 6 Community Central Halls, 304 Maryhill Road, Norway. Contact: Robert Stafford. population and is mortality rate at 100 per
Burleigh Mews, Hardy Lane, M21 7LB. 0161 Glasgow. Contact: Peter Hendrie, 75 Lairhills hallblithe@yahoo.com
860 7189. Road, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0LH. Italy. Contact: Gian Maria Freddi, destined to become 1,000 children – or one
Bolton. Contact: H. McLaughlin. 01204 844589. 01355 903105. Via Poiano n. 137, 37142 Verona. the third most in 10.
Cumbria. Contact: Brendan Cummings, 19 peter.anna.hendrie@blueyonder.co.uk. Spain. Contact: Alberto Gordillo, Avenida del populated country
Queen St, Millom, Cumbria LA18 4BG. Dundee. Contact: Ian Ratcliffe, 12 Finlow Ter- Parque. 2/2/3 Puerta A, 13200 Manzanares. in the world. By Need this poverty
Doncaster. Contact: Fredi Edwards, fredi. race, Dundee, DD4 9NA. 01382 698297.
edwards@hotmail.co.uk Ayrshire. Contact: Paul Edwards 01563 541138. COMPANION PARTIES OVERSEAS 2015 one-fifth exist?
Liverpool. Contact: D. Whitehead, rainbow3@btopenworld.com. of Africa’s births The Danish Consul-
liverpool spgb@gmail.com Lothian Socialist Discussion @Autonomous Socialist Party of Canada/Parti Socialiste occurred in Nigeria General, Per
Centre Edinburgh, ACE, 17 West Montgomery du Canada. Box 31024, Victoria B.C. V8N 6J3 alone, accounting Christensen, has said
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST/SOUTHWEST Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA. Meets 4th Weds. Canada. SPC@iname.com
Kent and Sussex regional branch. Meets 2nd 7-9pm. Contact: F. Anderson 07724 082753. for 5 percent of that Nigeria could
Sun. 2pm at The Muggleton Inn, High Street, World Socialist Party (India) 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ all global births. produce food for some
Maidstone ME14 1HJ. Contact: spgb.ksrb@ WALES Block (East), Kolkata - 700086, 033- 2425-0208. In absolute terms, 600 million people
worldsocialism.org. South Wales Branch (Swansea) wspindia@hotmail.com
South West regional branch. Meets 3rd Sat. Meets 2nd Mon, 7.30pm (except January, Nigeria is projected through the application
2pm at the Railway Tavern, 131 South Western April, July and October), Unitarian Church, High World Socialist Party (New Zealand) to add from 2031 of the right technology.
Road, Salisbury SP2 7RR. Contact: Ray Carr, Street, SA1 1NZ. Contact: Geoffrey Williams, 19 P.O. Box 1929, Auckland, NI, New Zealand. to 2050 an additional 224 million babies poverty every year and still at the end of He said, ‘Let me say that the agricultural
Flat 1, 99 Princess Rd, Poole, BH12 1BQ. 01202 Baptist Well Street, Waun Wen, Swansea SA1 (21 percent of the births in Africa and 8 the year be every bit as rich as at the start. development potential in Nigeria is bigger
257556 or 07929627689. 6FB. 01792 643624. World Socialist Party of the United States.
Brighton. Contact: Anton Pruden, South Wales Branch (Cardiff) P.O. Box 440247, Boston, MA 02144 USA. percent of all births in the world). Oxfam pointed out that he ‘earns’ about than that of Brazil when Nigerian farmers
anton@pruden.me Meets 2nd Saturday 12 noon (January, April, boston@wspus.org On average, a Nigerian woman gives 150,000 times more from his wealth than engage in technology farming’ (tinyurl.
Canterbury. Contact: Rob Cox, 4 Stanhope July and October) Cafe Nero, Capitol Shopping birth to 5.5 children. In the conservative, the poorest 10 percent of Nigerians spend com/ybbybt7l).
Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 6AB. Centre, Queens Street, Cardiff. Muslim-majority north, the number goes on average on their basic consumption Nigerian experts point to the case of
Luton. Contact: Nick White, 59 Heywood Drive, Contact: Richard Botterill, 21 Pen-Y-Bryn Rd,
up to eight children. This is clearly more in a year (tinyurl.com/v5y3zz2). Dangote India, condemned by many experts in the
than most women want, let alone can could spend $1 million a day and still not 1960s to perpetual hunger. Today India is
afford. Women in northern Nigeria have run out of money for 46 years. producing the bulk of its own food.
little say in reproduction and require Corruption has long plagued Nigeria There are a number of reasons why
a signed letter from their husband to due to public officials feasting on funds the population boom in Nigeria is going
get family planning which is further generated from crude oil exports. Last unchecked, such as children being seen
undermined by cultural norms such as the year, Nigeria ranked 148th out of 180 as a status symbol and a retirement plan.
prevalence of polygamy, child marriage, countries on Transparency International’s But the lack of political will is uppermost.
teen pregnancy, poor education. corruption index. A report in 2012 found People who claim that too many people is
Wealth in Nigeria in the decade ending that it costs Nigerians $8.3 billion to pay the issue are shifting the blame from the
in 2017 increased 19 percent. These the salaries of those in politics yet only rich to the poor.
increases, Oxfam has noted, could have $7.4 billion was to be spent on developing ALJO
created an opportunity to improve the infrastructure. A Nigerian senator takes
lives of many. Yet, Oxfam pointed out, home well over a million dollars every
Nigeria has the worst score on social year in salary plus expenses and benefits.
spending, not only in Africa but in the Nigerian politicians get away with this in a
world. country where millions go to bed hungry.
Instead, the increases in GDP have In Nigeria more than 60 percent of the
essentially benefited only a select few. population live on less than a dollar a
There are currently 29,500 millionaires day. The unemployment rate stands at 23
in Nigeria. The five wealthiest Nigerians percent. According to reports Nigeria has
hold a combined fortune worth $29.9 overtaken India as the world’s poverty
billion, for just about a $6 billion average. capital. A study estimated that 87 million
Nigeria’s single richest individual, Aliko people in a country of nearly 200 million
Dangote, Oxfam calculated, annually earns were living in extreme poverty, compared
enough income off his wealth to take 2 with 73 million people in India. According
million poor Nigerians out of extreme Aliko Dangote
to a 2018 African Development Bank
8 Socialist Standard February 2020 Socialist Standard February 2020 9
Green New Deal: No Go
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e have seen wildfires in California and Australia. catastrophe. What is required is collective political action by absorbed by the atmosphere, along with deforestation, pulling capitalism out of recession during the last economic
Hurricanes have been ripping apart areas from grass-roots movements to achieve a radical overhaul of the resulting in fewer trees to soak up the extra carbon. Over the downturn, a form of ‘Green Keynesianism’. Klein holds up the
New Orleans to the Caribbean leaving devastation current economic systems. She draws inspiration from the last thirty years or so, when many countries deregulated and US Congress New Green Deal resolutions as proposed by US
and death in their wake. Severe drought has been inflicted on campaigning groups against climate change. There are the privatised their industries, global trade has expanded and at Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey as the
countries from Bangladesh to South Africa. Closer to home, we global school strikes, where young people are demanding the same time global emissions have escalated. Klein notes way forward. They call for ‘huge investments in renewable
have witnessed devastating floods in Cornwall and Yorkshire. more action by politicians on the environment. Klein makes that in the same period, often referred to as ‘neoliberalism’, energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation’ and for
The increasing frequency and power of these disasters have the interesting point that these school children didn’t just social and economic inequality has also arisen. She recognises the US to reach net-zero emissions in one decade. Workers
shaken the notion that these are merely acts of nature, about read about climate change, but many of them have actually that climate change and other social issues, such as social, who transfer from high-carbon industries to green ones
which we can do very little. These changed weather patterns experienced it, whether it is the severe droughts in South gender and ethnic inequalities, have the same cause, which have their wages and benefits protected, and everyone
are clearly evidence of what the majority of is capitalism which accumulates wealth in the hands of a who wants to work should have guaranteed employment.
climate scientists have been warning for some tiny minority, and therefore does not accept the argument No specifics are given, as Klein describes it as a ‘work in
time that the global warming crisis is upon us sometimes put forward that the climate issue must take progress’ with communities, many of which are indigenous
and humanity needs to act now to avoid a global precedence over everything else. Any action to resolve climate and ethnic minorities, that have borne the brunt of climate
catastrophe. Even some representatives of global change must equally tackle other social problems. This is also change destruction, providing input into the process. They
capitalism are worried. Kristalina Georgieva, known as intersectionality, where separate campaign issues also throw in reforms – free universal care, childcare, and
the managing director of the International come together in one struggle. higher education. It is not a politically organised working class
Monetary Fund, addressed the most recent She also makes the interesting point that capitalism has only that will be the agency of these changes, but the state run
international climate change conference (COP25) existed for a small period of human history and that humans by a ‘progressive’ Democrat government headed by Bernie
last December and is pushing for a higher carbon can adapt to live in different social orders. She criticises those Sanders or Elizabeth Warren. In the UK it would have been
tax (‘Tackling climate risk is just what IMF should economists who put forward the view that humans are ‘selfish, a Labour government headed by Jeremy Corbyn with the
be doing,’ Observer, 1 December). You need to be gratification-seeking units’ and historians who espouse the British equivalent of the Green Industrial Revolution – that is
either very delusional or be profiting from the Great Man theory of history. until the results of the December General Election put paid
fossil fuel industries or just be Donald Trump to Despite these insights, Klein doesn’t advocate the abolition to this possibility. This progressive state would not abolish
deny there is a climate crisis. of capitalism and its replacement with socialism. To see why, the corporations, but bring pressure to bear on them. It may
So the launch of Naomi Klein’s latest book we need to work out what Klein means by capitalism. She refuse to issue permits for fossil fuel companies to build
On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal doesn’t give a specific definition. However, when discussing pipelines and export terminals. Like with the New Deal,
(Allen Lane, £20) can be considered as rather how some climate change deniers compare action to combat the government would be backed and influenced by social
timely. Naomi Klein is a writer, journalist and climate change with so-called communism, Klein remarks that movements.
activist and first made her mark as a leading ‘the Soviet-era state socialism was a disaster for the climate’ The Green New Deal will not replace the market system, on
figure of the ‘anti-capitalist’ movement twenty (p.79). Again, when referring to the Soviet Union, we learn on the contrary, according to Klein ‘Markets play a role in this
years ago. The book was published on the p. 251 that ‘we have to be honest that autocratic industrial vision, but markets are not the protagonists of this story –
twentieth anniversary of her first book, No Logo, socialism has also been a disaster for the environment’ and people are’. And as can be seen in the above paragraph, there
which explored the rise of global corporations when mentioning Venezuela on the same page ‘Venezuela’s will be no change to the employer and employee relationship
and their effects on the environment and petro-populism is a reminder that there is nothing inherently that is a feature of capitalism.
workers, particularly those who live in poor green about self-defined socialism’. She does praise the The climate crisis cannot be resolved within a nation state,
third world countries. In her new book, she environmental policies of countries such as Denmark, Sweden but requires a global solution. Klein recognises this, and
recounts her own experiences as a climate and Uruguay that have a ‘democratic-socialist tradition’. From envisages every country will implement their own version of
activist and how, two years ago, she was arrested these comments, we can safely infer that when Klein talks the Green New Deal. When she talks about the rich countries
at a protest against the Keystone tar sands about capitalism she is referring to private capitalism, in developing their green deal earlier so as to allow for poorer
pipeline in Washington DC. She is co-founder of a particular the large corporations and the banks. ones to transition more slowly, this implies that there will be
Toronto-based climate project group called Leap, which brings Africa or the toxic air pollution in Delhi, India. In the same We, on the other hand, define capitalism as a global society global cooperation. This is a tall order in a society where every
together people from different backgrounds to campaign for way socialists argue that workers don’t come to socialism by where the means of production are owned and controlled by a nation state competes for markets, sources of raw materials
climate justice and other reforms. just reading about it, but by their experiences of the social minority class to the exclusion of the majority of humanity, the and strategic routes. Recent history is not encouraging. The
The book is made up of a collection of essays, reports and problems they face within capitalism. She says that it is working class, who have to seek employment by the owning or US is in a trade war with China, there is the re-emergence
lectures spanning the last decade. Its central tenet is that the pressure from this activity, along with other movements, such capitalist class. Production is geared to profit and businesses of the cold war between Russia and the West, and the UK is
planet is facing a climate emergency and we are running out as the Sunrise Movement and Extinction Rebellion, that will compete with each other in the marketplace. Concerns about arguing with its European neighbours on how to exit from the
of time. To back this up, Klein refers to a report published by bring about change. As to be expected, much of the focus is on the environment and human welfare must take second European Union. Not to mention that the international climate
the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October Greta Thunberg, the 16-year old schoolgirl who is lauded as a place. Nation states have to look after the interests of their change conferences over the last thirty years have not exactly
2018 stating that global emissions of greenhouse gases need leading spokesperson of this youth movement. respective capitalist classes and this leads to rivalries between been rip-roaring successes.
to be cut in half within 12 years (11 years from the date of Klein rejects the use of technology, also known as geo- them which can end in military conflict. Socialism, which will To curb the pressure on the Earth’s resources, Klein argues
the book’s publication) for us to stand a chance of keeping engineering, to fix the environment. This can be done in a need to be established by a socialist working class after taking we need to end the wasteful consumer lifestyle. To achieve
global warming within the target increase of 1.5C since pre- number of ways. One way is to inject the upper atmosphere political action to abolish capitalism, is a society of common this, she suggests a shorter working week so that workers
industrial times. with sulphur with the aim of deflecting some of the sun’s ownership, where the means of production are owned by can enjoy publicly-funded arts and urban parks, rather than
rays into space in order to cool the planet, and another is everyone and the state has been abolished and there is no spending their wages on cheap disposable consumer goods.
Capitalism indicted, but what is capitalism? to fertilise the oceans with iron dust to create algal blooms need for the use of money. Our vision of socialism is often dismissed as being utopian.
As in her previous book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism which would soak up more carbon. However, tampering with There is a lot of informative material and useful analysis in
vs the Climate, she blames capitalism for the climate crisis, nature’s ecosystems, she argues, would be likely to have Green Keynesianism this book, but its contention that the New Green Deal can
and consequently argues that tinkering around with the adverse consequences. Klein advocates the New Green Deal instead. It is clearly resolve the climate crisis and social and economic inequalities
existing economic system, with measures such as increasing The Earth’s temperature has been rising since the industrial not based on the principles of socialism, but, as the name within the capitalist market system really is utopian. Only the
the carbon tax, is not enough. Changes in individuals’ revolution, the cause of which has been the burning of fossil suggests, is inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal abolition of capitalism and its replacement with socialism can
personal lifestyles, such as eating less meat and using public fuels, oil and coal, by capitalist industry, releasing more drawn up during the 1930s Depression and the Marshall Plan achieve this.
transport rather than driving cars, will not avert climate greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and methane, than can be enacted after the Second World. It was mooted as a way of OLIVER BOND
10 Socialist Standard February 2020 Socialist Standard February 2020 11
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hat if there was a way to make capitalism just an efficient way to saying. We see examples that pain trouble us, since it increases our pleasure (profit)?’
environmentally friendly and more economically distribute useful goods to of this every day. But (section 5 p.381).
robust, in a way that benefited workers in people? understanding the The capitalists of our own day, addicted to the pleasure of
particular? Liberals like Bernie Sanders and celebrity Even if the market method behind this mad profit, are just as little troubled by the environmental pain
congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (‘AOC’) are claiming economy were nothing behaviour requires that their system is inflicting. They behave as if natural resources
that a ‘Green New Deal’ would do just that. more than an alternative we identify the ultimate were infinite – and will push every limit unless forced to
In February 2019, AOC introduced to Congress a non- way to distribute use source of profit. do otherwise by ‘society’. And even when society does curb
binding resolution, titled ‘Recognizing the duty of the Federal values to human beings, it From Marx, we learn some of the worst excesses of capital, the manner of (state)
Government to create a Green New Deal’. In it, she touts the would still pose problems that profit is not some intervention is governed by the same logic of profit.
Green New Deal as an ‘opportunity’ to ‘create millions of good to the environment. This trick of ‘buying low, In that same chapter on the working day, Marx depicts
high-wage jobs’, ‘provide unprecedented levels of prosperity is because in producing and selling high’ or the how the English state intervened to impose legal limits on
and economic security’, and ‘counteract systemic injustices’ for the market, rather than result of the frugality of the length of the working day. Since this reform was clearly
while also securing ‘for all people of the United States for directly to human beings, capitalists, as economic in the interest of workers, and was initially opposed by many
generations to come’ such benefits as ‘clean air and water’, there are many unknown textbooks might claim. capitalists, it might seem a case of an enlightened policy based
‘climate and community resiliency’, ‘healthy food’, and a and unknowable factors. Rather, profit can be on sincere concern for one’s fellow human beings.
‘sustainable environment’. Any commodity traced to the additional But if this was a case of ‘seeing the light’ it was only in the
The economic claims for the Green New Deal are based on producer (whether an value generated in the sense of English capitalists finally realising that the ‘unnatural
the Keynesian belief that government-funded infrastructure individual, a corporation, production process. extension’ of the working day had the side-effect of driving up
spending can generate economic growth and overcome crisis. or a state-run firm) must This ‘surplus value’ is the value of labour power. Marx explains that, since the value
Since many articles in the Socialist Standard to date have rely on past experience the difference between of labour power includes all of the costs necessary to raise
exposed the limits of Keynesianism, the Green New Deal as and recent trends to (1) the labour time and train a worker, if a worker is worn out prematurely from
economic policy will be set aside here to focus instead on its determine what to workers actually expend extremely long working hours, the reproduction costs for his
underlying assumption that capitalism can be transformed produce and in what quantity. Whether the production in the production process and (2) the amount of labour time labour power will be spread over a shorter period of time, so
into an environmentally sustainable system. decisions taken will match the reality of the market today can embodied in the commodities the workers themselves must that its daily value increases. Marx compares this to how ‘in
What is it about the nature of capitalism that makes it far only be known at the point of sale. consume to reproduce their capacity to labour, which Marx a machine the part of its value to be reproduced every day is
more destructive to the environment than other modes of Many things can go wrong. The demand for a commodity terms ‘labour power’. greater the more rapidly the machine is worn out’.
production? This is the core question to be examined here. might not be as strong as expected; or even if there is In other words, as long as (1) is greater than the value of (2),
demand, the price could be too high for a sufficient number of surplus value (and hence profit) can be generated. This occurs Threat to profits
Transforming nature consumers to afford. Competitors might enter the market for even when workers are paid a ‘fair wage’ that corresponds In pursuing their Carpe lucrum approach of seizing the day
At the most general level, capitalism is no different from any high-selling products, resulting in a glut of new products. Or to the value of their labour power. This exploitation of labour (from workers), the English capitalists ended up depleting the
other form of society that has existed (or could ever exist), a financial crisis could break out just as goods are coming off as the basis of profit accounts for the merciless drive of source of their own profits. The legislation to limit working
insofar as human beings must transform the materials that the assembly line. And so on. Marx thus describes the sale of capitalists to extend the working day, so as to squeeze out hours only emerged when the majority of them finally
exist in nature to create useful things that satisfy their own the commodity as the salto mortale of the commodity. If the every last drop of surplus value. concurred that ‘the interest of capital itself points in the
needs. This is accomplished through labour, which Marx commodity falls short in this fatal leap, it can end up on the The desire for surplus value also drives capitalists to direction of a normal working day’ (ch.6 p 272).
describes as ‘a process between man and nature, a process scrapheap. Here we have one fundamental cause of the vast increase the intensity of labour. If an individual capitalist is A similar dynamic is at work with regard to environmental
by which man, through his own actions, mediates, regulates, squandering of natural resources under capitalist production. able to raise the productive power of labour by introducing legislation today. As always, each individual capitalist firm
and controls the metabolism between himself and nature’ new technologies or machinery, so that products can be will pursue its own profit with extreme singlemindedness.
(Capital, Penguin edition, ch. 7, p. 283). He points out that this Unrelenting drive for profits produced for less labour time than the current average among Not surprisingly, this can result in all sorts of damage to
‘appropriation of what exists in nature for the requirements of But the wasteful nature of the market, as mediator between competitors who have yet to do the same, then the capitalist the environment. But the state is most likely to introduce
man’ through the activity of human labour is the ‘everlasting producer and consumer, is hardly the only negative can sell commodities at a price that undersells rivals but still legislation to push back against those destructive tendencies
nature-imposed condition of human existence’ that is environmental factor associated with capitalism. A far secures a profit (i.e., below the average price on the market when they also pose a threat to profitability – whether that of
‘common to all forms of society in which human beings live’. more fundamental cause of the destruction of the natural but above the individual commodity’s value). other (more powerful) capitalists or of the system as a whole.
Since human beings must ‘appropriate’ materials from environment is the system’s unrelenting drive toward profit. Capital’s unceasing drive to push the outer boundaries of Moreover, many of the reforms and laws that have blunted
nature to live, perhaps no society could be described as truly The essence of capitalism is not commodity (C) producers the duration and intensity of labour to obtain greater profit the destructive force of capital did not prove to be ‘sustainable’
‘friendly’ to the environment. Certainly past societies have selling their wares and then using the money (M) to buy the underlies the environmental devastation under capitalism. under the profit system over the long-term. More than a
also damaged the environment in their pursuit of natural useful things they need (i.e., commodity circulation: C–M–C), Capitalists treat the resources of nature, like their expendable century and a half after the struggle to limit the working day
materials to satisfy human needs. One example is the soil but rather the investment ‘human resources’, as mere in Europe and North America, long working hours remain
depletion and erosion in ancient Greece and Rome resulting of money in commodity inputs for generating profit, widespread there and throughout the world. Social welfare
from deforestation. However, it should be equally clear that, production as a means of indifferent to natural and systems that were expanded during the long post-war boom
compared to earlier forms of society, the damage to the generating more money (i.e., the human limits. Over a century are being dismantled today under less favourable economic
natural environment in the period since capitalism arose as a circuit of capital: M–C–M′). and a half ago, in his terrifying and demographic conditions. And we could add that the ‘Kyoto
global system is far greater in scale. Whereas the human capacity chapter 10 on the working day Protocol’, introduced to great fanfare in 1997, has proved to be
A key aspect of capitalism that sets it apart from past to consume use values has an in Capital, Marx described this a farce.
societies, and partially accounts for its fundamental inability upper boundary, the desire heartless attitude of capitalists Experience should have taught us by now that the concern
to be ‘sustainable’, is that products of labour under this for profit is without limits; as (as the personification of capitalists and their politicians have for protecting natural or
system are only able to satisfy human needs after first passing Marx explains in Capital: ‘Use capital): human resources is only to the extent necessary to allow for
through the market, where they are bought and sold. Products values must therefore never be ‘Après moi le déluge! is the their continued exploitation. And usually resources have to
thus have both a ‘use value’ as objects that satisfy needs treated as the immediate aim watchword of every capitalist be on the verge of depletion before any action will be taken to
and an ‘exchange value’ on the market (expressed in price). of the capitalist; nor must the and of every capitalist nation. protect them.
Marx uses the term commodity to refer to products of labour profit on any single transaction. Capital therefore takes no Clean air and water, healthy food, and everything else that
as the unity of those two elements. Of course, commodities His aim is rather the unceasing account of the health and the should be a human right, and would be in a truly sustainable
(and money) existed within other forms of society, but only movement of profit-making’ life of the worker, unless society social and natural environment, remain luxuries for many
under capitalism do the vast majority of products take the (ch.4, p,254). forces it to do so. Its answer to under capitalism. Environmental and economic reforms
commodity form, so that wealth presents itself as an ‘immense That the ‘boundless drive the outcry about the physical premised on the continuation of the profit system, like the
collection of commodities’, in the opening words of Capital. for enrichment’ of capitalists and mental degradation and Green New Deal, will never fulfil their promise of delivering
What makes widespread commodity production so could result in environmental premature death, the torture sustainability, prosperity, and personal security.
potentially harmful to the environment? Isn’t the market destruction goes without of over-work, is this: Should MIKE SCHAUERTE
12 Socialist Standard February 2020 Socialist Standard February 2020 13
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