Question ?

[Skyybird]

Does the fact that our respective governments are now in effect nationalising these companies via the provision of state funding signal the end of capitalism as we know it, has capitalism as we know it had its day, and if so what is the viable alternative ?

I feel a whiff of Animal Farm circling my thoughts here. In fact I have been in the 'library' (my book cupboard but it sounds good!) looking for suitable references.

I've come to the conclusion that we have come full circle. Margaret Thatcher broke up the national companies in the 80's to improve the profit making capacity of the largest organisations, regionalised and localised. It took a huge weight out of the governments resposibilities since they were no longer able to afford (is it afford...or is it couldnt be bothered?) to repair and replace out of date machinery and equipment. We are still paying the bill for the repairs and upkeep of the railway system and public transport regeneration.

Electricity and Gas have never been so expensive. We have the resources and techonology in this country to be much more environmentally and economically friendly with electricity. Perhaps a Nationalised company could have the financial power to harness this technology and use it for the benefit of the people.

As has been the case in many civilisations, capitalism and greed have ruled, mistakes have been made, the bill can not be paid.

The NHS is failing in a big way to keep up with technology because the money is being spent in all the wrong places. Attempts to localise the funding and privatise various parts of the healthcare facilities across the UK have failed because they are merely given lip service.

Maybe you are right...capitalism is dying, Communism is on the horizon, and for once we didnt need a bloody revolution? Instead we are paying with our pensions, our utility bills, our property, our food bills, our health, our environment!


But beware...

"Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer— except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs."

Four legs good, two legs better!

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS. (my favourite quote from the whole book!)

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

Communism will never survive, human nature and competitve drive will never be harnessed by the greater good, because the greater good with time becomes greedy and blinkered.

*smiles* excellent question!