A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM

A common fallacy about capitalism is that the problems are geographical not social. Some areas of the world may have endemic problems like Africa or Asia but here in Europe we are OK goes the argument. This is of course nonsense - take the example of South Africa. "More than a quarter of all South Africans are jobless, according to official statistics. More than 65 percent live on less than 550 rand ($75) per month, or $2.60 a day. And yet, the gross domestic product, on a per capita basis, is $10,700. What those figures suggest is that South Africa isn't a poor country: It's a country where the wealth is concentrated in a few hands.(Christian Science Monitor, 6 August) Capitalism is a worldwide social system - its problems are worldwide, so is the solution to these problems. RD