David Simon on the American horror show

[James.]

Anyone who has read his books (as well as watched The Wire) will know this guys knows a thing or two about the reality of urban life in the US. Very interesting article that makes you wonder if we're heading the same way.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/david-simon-capitalism-marx-two-americas-wire

[Zingari]

An excellent article , my favourite paragraph .

I've tried to put this point across a few times but not so well 

 

Labour doesn't get to win all its arguments, capital doesn't get to. But it's in the tension, it's in the actual fight between the two, that capitalism actually becomes functional, that it becomes something that every stratum in society has a stake in, that they all share.

The unions actually mattered. The unions were part of the equation. It didn't matter that they won all the time, it didn't matter that they lost all the time, it just mattered that they had to win some of the time and they had to put up a fight and they had to argue for the demand and the equation and for the idea that workers were not worth less, they were worth more.

[Webbo]

I can't be bothered to write an essay but this is my opinion. The problems facing the western world today are not the result of neo-liberal policies or an increase in selfishness and greed.

 

The main culprit is globalisation, third world countries whose economies were held back by ideology, corruption, lack of education and even foreign imperialism all now  want their share of the pie. Poverty stricken people are quite happy to work 12 hours a day in a factory for $2 when the alternative is 15 hours a day in a field for less. Capitalism is very slowly raising these people out of poverty and who are we to say that that should stop? They have as much right to work themselves into a better life as any of us. Unfortunately their small increase in prosperity come at our expense, money doesn't recognise borders, if you can make more profit building your factory abroad then you'd be silly not to.

 

We have to accept that there won't be a job for life anymore, living standards are not necessarily always going to rise. We might have to accept being a little worse off just to stay in employment.

 

Even if we wanted to we can't stop globalisation. We could refuse to buy goods from low wage economies but we can't make other countries do the same. If our companies can't buy cheaper goods they'll in turn become more uncompetitive.

 

In short there are no easy answers.

[Finnegan]

I'm not sure there's no easy answers, Webbo. We don't need to all be whoresto capitalism. That Richard Briers made it work whilst still smashing Felicity Kendall.

Where there's a will there's a way.

[Webbo]

I've just had the front lawn block paved, where am I going to tether the goat?

[The God Emperor]

I can't be bothered to write an essay but this is my opinion. The problems facing the western world today are not the result of neo-liberal policies or an increase in selfishness and greed.

 

The main culprit is globalisation, third world countries whose economies were held back by ideology, corruption, lack of education and even foreign imperialism all now  want their share of the pie. Poverty stricken people are quite happy to work 12 hours a day in a factory for $2 when the alternative is 15 hours a day in a field for less. Capitalism is very slowly raising these people out of poverty and who are we to say that that should stop? They have as much right to work themselves into a better life as any of us. Unfortunately their small increase in prosperity come at our expense, money doesn't recognise borders, if you can make more profit building your factory abroad then you'd be silly not to.

 

We have to accept that there won't be a job for life anymore, living standards are not necessarily always going to rise. We might have to accept being a little worse off just to stay in employment.

 

Even if we wanted to we can't stop globalisation. We could refuse to buy goods from low wage economies but we can't make other countries do the same. If our companies can't buy cheaper goods they'll in turn become more uncompetitive.

 

In short there are no easy answers.

I'd say alot of the west's problems stem from the incredibly irresponsible way the state has managed currency. since coming off the gold standard the value of the pound has decreased by 97%.

think about how much better off low income families would be if their money was able to go 97% further. get rid of the income tax too and then 2 incomes per household ceases to be a necessity for middle income homes, leaving more jobs available per household.

But sound money doesn't buy votes or fund wars.

[Captain...]

I can't be bothered to write an essay but this is my opinion. The problems facing the western world today are not the result of neo-liberal policies or an increase in selfishness and greed.

 

The main culprit is globalisation, third world countries whose economies were held back by ideology, corruption, lack of education and even foreign imperialism all now  want their share of the pie. Poverty stricken people are quite happy to work 12 hours a day in a factory for $2 when the alternative is 15 hours a day in a field for less. Capitalism is very slowly raising these people out of poverty and who are we to say that that should stop? They have as much right to work themselves into a better life as any of us. Unfortunately their small increase in prosperity come at our expense, money doesn't recognise borders, if you can make more profit building your factory abroad then you'd be silly not to.

 

We have to accept that there won't be a job for life anymore, living standards are not necessarily always going to rise. We might have to accept being a little worse off just to stay in employment.

 

Even if we wanted to we can't stop globalisation. We could refuse to buy goods from low wage economies but we can't make other countries do the same. If our companies can't buy cheaper goods they'll in turn become more uncompetitive.

 

In short there are no easy answers.

 

I don't think globalisation is the problem per se, it is the inability to react and respond to a global market and global economy, and make policies and plans that reflect that.

[Guest MattP]

An excellent article , my favourite paragraph .

I've tried to put this point across a few times but not so well 

 

Labour doesn't get to win all its arguments, capital doesn't get to. But it's in the tension, it's in the actual fight between the two, that capitalism actually becomes functional, that it becomes something that every stratum in society has a stake in, that they all share.

The unions actually mattered. The unions were part of the equation. It didn't matter that they won all the time, it didn't matter that they lost all the time, it just mattered that they had to win some of the time and they had to put up a fight and they had to argue for the demand and the equation and for the idea that workers were not worth less, they were worth more.

 

Yeah I agree with that, it just goes to show it doesnt matter how powerful you are never overplay your hand and lose the support of your most loyal followers, it wont end well for you and you'll probably lose any influence you had from your own greed,.

 

Scargill has a lot to answer for, though he still has his two houses so I doubt he's really that bothered.

 

Agree with Webbo on globalisation but we also should take some responsibility ourselves, most people have decided to live beyond their means for a long time (myself included) and not we are all going to pay for it for a long long time, unless you are super rich be prepared for some tough times ahead.

 

Anyone who is a fan of Chase had to read his book Killing on the Streets as well, the amount of it that connects into the Wire is obvious.

[Mack]

What if we just all rejected the system and said no more?