Capitalism is a very wasteful society. When fruit growers have a more than bumper crop it is common to let some of it rot unpicked. When charities ask for the surplus they are told that to give it away would lower the price and that these charities at present pay for the crop that is picked. Here is a recent example in the retail clothing trade. "High Street retailer Primark has been criticised by charities for its policy of shredding damaged and unwanted clothes. Aid organisations have described the practice as "worrying" and "a shame" - saying items could be used to raise vital funds. Primark said the practice was common and was to protect consumers." (BBC News, 13 September) Overlooking the hypocrisy of Primark's "to protect consumers" remark, the purpose of all production inside capitalism is to sell goods in order to realise a profit. Capitalism isn't interested in protecting consumers or aiding charities. Fruit can rot while people go hungry and clothing can be destroyed while people go about ill-clad. That is how the capitalist system operates. RD
The Glasgow & Edinburgh Branches Blog. Towards a better understanding of the world, in order to change it.
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Paternalism is a common attitude among well-meaning social reformers. Stemming from the root pater, or father, paternalism implies a patria...
2 comments:
Exactly...Capitalism is all "for profit", and the "protecting consumers" cop-out is older than the pyramids. When will people wake up and realize that with many of todays present technological advances, we are more than ready to take control of many of the challenges that face our world today...What profit is there in that...If the thought of truly changing the world for the better doesn't make you feel happy... You must have been born with that silver spoon in your mouth, wondering - "whats in it for me???"
People with this mentality have no place in the future tomorrow brings. Plain and simple...
War on Want pointed to its research which revealed that workers making Primark clothes in three Bangladeshi factories earned well below a living wage - as little as 7p an hour for up to 80-hour weeks.
The charity also cited its research on another Primark factory in Bangladesh where workers toil up to 84 hours a week and earn as little as £19 a month – less than half a living wage.http://www.waronwant.org/news/press-releases/17064--clothes-price-rises-leave-workers-poor
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