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America entered history when Explorer Columbus discovered it in 1492. In the following decades/centuries, waves of immigrants from various countries of Europe populated it. The leadership of immigrants inspired by the Industrial and French revolutions has made capitalism and democracy, the DNA of the country.
History of America begins with the capitalist/vaesyan era, without any preceding ksatran (warrior), vipran (intellectual) eras or a period of classical feudalism. Eviction from their homelands and undeniable injustice to native Red Indians is a part of history. That apart, the USA, in its early vaesyan/capitalist phase, played a decisive role in ending World War II, standing with the claimants to the Free World against Fascist forces. Earlier, Abraham Lincoln, a white President led the Civil War to abolish the practice of slavery of Blacks, -- helpless and unorganised -- grounded on the humane belief in the principle of equality of all human beings. In between President Roosevelt dealt with the fatal economic 'depression', pioneering labour welfarism, and saving capitalism by reinventing it.
At the end of World War II in 1944, with the devastation of Europe, the USA emerged with 50 per cent of the global GDP and unmistakable Global leadership.
Fast forward to the 21st century. After 70 years, the US with its strategic geo-political advantages, continues to dominate with a 20 percent share of the global GDP. The importance and influence of the US are unmistakable, and equally, the relevance of Prout Ideology in its future.
Today, the US is in its penultimate phase of the capitalist/vaesyan era. Ongoing and increasing concentration of American and global wealth in the hands of a few and increasing misery of rest of the billions of humanity; the nation of immigrants expelling fresh immigrants; highest global rate of jailed citizens (2.2 million); military-industrial lobbies keeping fires of war alive half-way across the globe; poverty of millions; demonisation of ethno-religious minorities; denial of climate change; indifference to nuclear madness; Wall street lobbies funding politics to dictate favourable Laws; debt traps bleed/exploit the working classes and the bail-out is, for banks.
Now, all this, in the name of 'America First'. The 2008 Recession signalled the failure of capitalism. In a few months, now, another bigger Recession is predicted. The trade wars are a part of it. In the inevitable de-globalisation, the country has returned to modern nationalism co-opting identity politics of exclusion; manufacturing 'consent', diversion and deception by a captive media to keep the wheels of capitalist exploitation moving. Cycles of crises are invented to divert attention from the hidden agenda of Presidential favours to crony capitalists.
Counter Currents in the US
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1. More than 180 CEO's of big business, including the chiefs of Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase, overturned three decades of orthodoxy to pledge that their firms' purpose was no longer to serve their owners, but customers, staff, suppliers and communities too.
(The Economist, Dt. 24th August 2019)
2. Dr Richard D Wolff is attracting increasing support from Americans. for his well-argued case for ending capitalism and replacing it with worker's Coops, similar to the Proutist economy's chief and default organisational principle of 'enterprise'. Opposition Labor Leader, Corbyn in Britain, Bernie Sanders, Presidential hopeful in America are advocating worker-owned Corporates.
3. In the country that has great influence on economic thought, Proutists are giving voice to economic democracy and neohumanist alternative futures for America and the world, as an intellectual force.
Prout ideology and its perspective on oligarchy, particularly in the US context
1. Prout Ideology: an alternative socio-economic vision
The Progressive Utilization Theory, or PROUT, developed by Indian philosopher Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, proposes a socio-economic and political system as an alternative to both capitalism and communism.
At its core, PROUT emphasizes:
- Maximum utilization and rational distribution of all resources (physical, mental, and spiritual) for the welfare of all beings on the planet, including humans, animals, and plants.
- Guaranteeing the minimum necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education) to everyone.
- Decentralized economies based on worker-owned cooperatives and local control of resources, aiming for regional self-sufficiency.
- Emphasis on economic democracy as opposed to solely political democracy, which PROUT sees as insufficient to prevent exploitation and extreme inequality.
- Moral and wise leadership (Sadvipras) dedicated to the welfare of all, guided by Neohumanist values of love, care, and compassion.
- A World Government structured as a confederation of nations with a focus on solving global problems and protecting the rights of all living beings and the environment.
2. PROUT's stance on oligarchy
Prout fundamentally opposes the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, which is the definition of an oligarchy. This stance is rooted in the belief that such concentration leads to exploitation and hinders the all-round development of individuals and society. PROUT specifically criticizes capitalism for its tendency to centralize economic power and generate extreme income inequality.
3. Allegations of oligarchy in the USA and PROUT's counter-arguments
Arguments suggesting the US operates as an oligarchy focus on the disproportionate influence of the wealthy on politics and policymaking. Critics point to:
- Campaign financing laws, which allow significant corporate and individual contributions, potentially influencing election outcomes.
- Lobbying efforts by wealthy corporations and individuals that shape legislation to benefit their interests.
- Studies like those by Gilens and Page (2014), which found that the preferences of economic elites have a much greater impact on policy than those of average citizens.
In contrast, PROUT would argue that:
- The US' reliance on a centralized, profit-driven capitalist system inherently creates a tendency towards wealth concentration and potentially limits genuine democratic representation, according to Wikipedia.
- Real democratic control over economic decisions is absent in the US, where powerful economic actors dictate policy to a large extent.
4. PROUT's proposed solutions to counter oligarchic tendencies
PROUT offers a different approach to address issues such as wealth concentration and unequal distribution:
- Limiting the accumulation of wealth by individuals, potentially through measures like a cap on earnings, ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources.
- Implementing economic democracy through decentralized planning and cooperatives, placing economic power in the hands of local communities.
- Prioritizing the production of essential goods and services rather than luxury items to meet the needs of all members of society.
- Promoting local control of resources and fostering regional self-reliance to prevent the exploitation of underdeveloped areas by centralized economic powers.
- Encouraging a morally and ethically-driven leadership committed to social justice and the welfare of all.
- Moving towards a World Government based on coordinated cooperation to address global inequalities and exploitation effectively.
In conclusion, PROUT ideology offers a strong critique of systems where wealth and power are concentrated in a few hands, aligning with concerns regarding oligarchic tendencies in countries like the US. It proposes a comprehensive system of decentralized, cooperative, and ethically-driven governance to counteract these tendencies and promote a more equitable and sustainable society.
LOCALISE THE ECONOMY ;
GLOBALISE HUMANITY
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