Transparency: The Capitalist Oxymoron

"We are condemned to be free." - Sartre

The website Capitalism.Org describes Capitalism as "a social system based on the principle of individual rights." The website goes on to categorically address the common concerns related to Capitalism as an economic and social system. The problem with the website reflects the problem with Capitalism as a whole: There is a category designated to 'morality,' but none that explore the broader issue of 'ethics.' All the jargon in the world can't change the fact that Capitalism = Exploitation, and in the midst of a political 'revolution' (not to be confused with an economic recession) that preaches the ambiguous ideal of 'transparency,' I think the American people would do well to re-examine the moral justification for upholding a Capitalist economic system. To illustrate my point, let me venture back to Capitalism.org -

Who is the poor man better off under: Mother Teresa or Bill Gates?
A Mother Teresa who hands them bowls of slop every day, so they can barely exist -- or a genius like Bill Gates who creates a fortune for himself by helping others to create fortunes for themselves, i.e., "where the first feeds them for a day, the second helps them feed themselves." Observe that it is the Bill Gates of the world who are not allowed to exist in India -- and the Mother Teresas who are.
-CAPITALISM.ORG

No, you're not crazy, the above passage is an argument for Capitalism that compares Bill Gates to Mother Teresa . . . and Bill Gates wins. First of all, that's messed up! But perhaps we should dissect the argument before we judge it too harshly. The Free-market enthusiasts say that the world of Mother Teresa is one in which the poor are kept enslaved by those around them - volunteers who would feed them "slop" and provide nothing but the very basics of clothing and shelter. The down-trodden are never afforded the opportunity or even the dream to rise up from their bondage and take hold of their potential. If taken to it's inevitable extreme, this argument advocates the abolition of all charitable programs, government and private alike. I guess that takes care of the 'ethical' aspect of Capitalism . . . just kidding. Under this 'Capitalist Ideal,' all people are created equal, because anyone can make money. In fact, making money is the only 'right' we have. All other laws and regulations must go through some democratic-majority-rules-style process. Let's look at California's highly controversial Proposition 8 as an example. Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition to amend the state of California's constitution. Basically, they voted on whether or not gays should have the constitutional 'right' to marry. Those in favor of the amendment won, needing only a simple majority. This decision had nothing to do with the sacredness of marriage, it had to do with money--because in a Capitalist country, money is the only thing that is revered. We can break this principle down theoretically in two easy steps. First, let's look at the idea that individual morality holds more weight than living in an ethical society. Capitalism assumes that each individual has the ability to take responsibility for their education and livelihood. What it DOES NOT take into account is the cultural, social, religious, and fiscal differences that exist within a large country like the United States. Going back to proposition 8, since the majority deemed homosexuality incompatible with their personal view of morality, they decided to deny them certain civil rights. Yet, when it comes to the financial sector, regulation is met with an uproar of angry white male voices. Secondly, let's break down Capitalism as a Utopian ideal. Ideally, Capitalism contains a body of people - all of whom act in their own self-interest. This self-interest creates wealth for the individual and in turn helps the economy thrive. So what is the individual moral tenet of Capitalism? GREED. Perhaps that's where Bill Gates and Mother Teresa differ. So what can we conclude from all this? Let me give you a hint - transparency is a far-away illusion for Capitalism. Oppression is a necessary part of our economy. Individual morality is a sick joke. WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

Stay Informed:A Socialist Reading List

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre
The Poverty of Philosophy by Karl Marx