Capitalism is a failed ideology

There are many misconceptions about politics and the current state of the world. When one eavesdrops on twitter commentary it is hard not to smile. I didn’t need to watch the Vincent Browne show last night. From the twitter timeline it was obviously a discussion regarding property tax and other matters of finance.

Funny isn’t it how we have all become dazzled by the economy above all else. The right wing controlled media have managed to keep the economy at the top of the pile. So much so –that it is now obvious that many people feel they are citizens of an economy rather than a nation.

The neoliberal spin is good and non-stop 24hrs a day. Yet for all its might this ideology has one fatal flaw, it doesn’t actually work. Alright it does work for some people. But they are usually super wealthy or belonging to some high powered multinational enterprise. It doesn’t work for the vast majority of us.

Neo-liberalism has been central to our political system since the foundation of the state. Indeed it was most likely a condition under which we secured our statehood. We declared as a neo-liberal colony of the United States and Great Britain.

Thus we have given away our natural resources, oil and gas, and of course our massive fishing industry as been rendered unproductive. We have suffered under corrupt political regimes, and we were the victims of the heinous Catholic Church.
After our most recent capitalist tragedy, whereby the citizen is flogged with austerity to pay off bank gambling debt, did anything change?


No surprisingly nothing. People are still twisted against any real alternative—especially any brand of socialism. The spin is that socialism is grey and uniform. Business and entrepreneurs would not thrive. We in Ireland are too small and we would be shunned by our customers abroad.


Socialism is not anti-business! The difference between the capitalist ideology and the socialist thesis is essentially about control. Under capitalism the individual is feted for success. Under socialism all progress is guided by the citizen for the citizen. We are born into the collective of citizenship—nationhood. Our citizens enjoy a free world class health care system—from the cradle to the grave. Also we enjoy a free world class education system at all levels. We provide the infrastructure for economic growth.


In return the citizen works for the collective. Take an entrepreneur with a sound business proposal. The enterprise would be funded by his fellow citizens. If it proceeds and it is successful. Our entrepreneur will pay his just rate of tax and his company would pay a profits tax. Depending on the scale of the business this entrepreneur may become very rich. Yet all is fair and equitable for all parties, and the state is rewarded as it should be.


However us citizens would have reclaimed our natural resources creating huge wealth alongside of creating indigenous industry. We have a huge food processing potential, alongside of farming and fisheries. Socialism is not grey uniforms but a radical way of reforming our nation. Protecting our citizens and creating wealth, so as to be no longer slaves to the capitalist markets.


People talk of cloud Cuckoo ideology. These are apologists for a failed system that has never worked for all the citizens of a nation. Wherever you go in the world and witness strife. It is caused by the excesses of capitalism.


So the next time twitter people complain bitterly about property tax or stealth taxes—take a look at the ideology of the parties in power. Individuals are not the creators of policy—ideology is!