In Reply to: Russian revolution? posted by Ashley Lavelle on July 04, 1996 at 08:56:27:
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> If we were to model a new system it would have to be one in which there is no avenue to gain power or authority. Community members would hold any necessary positions requiring decision-making. Maybe then this system could appropriately be termed democracy. Democracy being where the general public plays a meaningful and important role in the management of public affairs. These preconditions would inevitably rule out any form of centrally-planned economy such as the pre-1991 Russia. That the U.S.S.R. was ever referred to as socialist proves just how effective the Western adopted propaganda was in creating anti-socialist/communist hysteria. However as previously stated it is difficult if not impossible to specifically describe a system which will supercede capitalism. Presumably by actively seeking to change the world it will just happen. Any form of planning of this system may in fact impede the process.I agree completely. The reason that human society is in this state is that a small number of people (whether governments or corporations like McD's) hold huge amounts of power. A major step to solving our problems would be to get rid of centralised governments and restrict the size of corporations (perhaps with a sliding scale 'size tax' on their profits ??).
However, I believe that this process should not just be allowed to develop by itself. It is precisely people's apathy which allows politicians, generals and companies to grab and hold on to power. Complete 'freedom' is what capitalism is about, i.e. the freedom to trample all over everyone else to benefit yourself.
We cannot just 'let it happen', must all deliberately make up our minds what we want our society to be like, put it into action and _make sure it works_. This is the nature of a true democratic society, people consciously and deliberately controlling their own lives and relationships to others, rather than letting others control them.