Fred Welfare wrote:

>> The rather myopic theory, that the ultimate in progress has already been
>>  achieved, has been proven wrong over and over again. Capitalism itself is a
>>  relatively recent example of progress in human affairs. It wasn't the first
>>  such improvement, it won't be the last. It isn't the "end of history",
>>  despite what many conservatives would like to believe.
>>
>
>Myopic?? Are you suggesting we rewrite the constitution??

What constitution are you talking about?

>What we need is an immunization of the lifeworld from the economic
>system which continues to be maintained through the improved
>political and ethical competencies of each citizen.

That sentence conveys absolutely no meaning to me. Translation please?

>Why can't you define socialism? because the current forms of capitalism
>have already realized it?

I can define it. Socialism is the social ownership and control of the means
of production.

If you think that is what capitalism is, then maybe you can explain this:

>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 10:40:00 +1000
>Subject: LL:ART: Three families top 600m poor
>
>The Sydney Morning Herald
>http://www.smh.com.au/news/9907/13/text/world11.html
>
>GLOBAL INEQUITIES
>
>Three families top 600m poor
>
>Date: 13/07/99
>
>London: The combined wealth of the world's three richest families is
>greater than the annual income of 600 million people in the least developed
>countries, according to a United Nations report released yesterday.
>
>Economic globalisation is further polarising those such as Microsoft's Mr
>Bill Gates, the Walton family, who own the Wal-Mart empire, and the Sultan
>of Brunei - worth $US135 billion ($205 billion) combined - and the millions
>who have been left behind, the UN's Human Development report says.
>
>UN figures show that over the past four years, the world's 200 richest
>people have doubled their wealth to more than $US1 trillion. In the same
>period, the number of people living on less than $US1 a day has remained
>unchanged at 1.3 billion.
>
>"Global inequalities in income and living standards have reached grotesque
>proportions," the report says. Canada ranks number one again for quality of
>life, while war-ravaged Sierra Leone stays bottom of the table. Australia
>is ranked seventh.
>
>To counter the downside of globalisation, the UN recommends a forum of
>business, trade unions and environmental and development groups to counter
>the dominance of the leading industrial nations; a code of conduct for
>multinationals; and the creation of a legal centre to help poor countries
>with global trade negotiations. - The Guardian
>
>This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or
>mirroring is prohibited.
>
>
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