Einstein was a pacifist, but that changed when the Nazis came to power. As one who had left Germany before things became really bad, he was aware of friends and colleagues who suffered tremendously under Hitler's Third Reich.
He was also a socialist, but with a wariness of centralized power, the abuse of which he saw in the Soviet Union. Despite that wariness, he knew in his heart the dangers of untrammelled, unfettered capitalism. Here is a paragraph from the book:
...unrestrained capitalism produced great disparities of wealth, cycles of boom and depression, and festering levels of unemployment. The system encouraged selfishness instead of cooperation, and acquiring wealth rather than serving others. People were educated for careers rather than love of work and creativity. And political parties became corrupted by political contributions from owners of great capital.
Looking at what our world has become, is there anyone who can disagree with that assessment?
I have been a constant supporter and believer in the sincerity of various Liberal and NDP governments in the goal of ending the scourge of poverty and inequality. Ending child poverty and depravation and widespread homelessness at times have seemed within sight. But now after 9 years of Trudeau, Liberal, NDP we’re in worse shape than ever and face a mean spirited angry opposition leader with no interest in rising above the current dismal realities.
ReplyDeleteThese are sad times.
John W.
When people like Poilievre count on Pavlovian responses to their rhetoric, we know that public discourse is heading for the basement, John. In terms of the nine-year reign of the Liberals, while they have done some good things, the fact that they are beholden to corporate titans is something we should never forget.
DeleteWhat got me worked up as I was reading your post was another TV news report on another Food Bank unable to keep up and dealing with clients who have jobs but can’t make ends meet. And local news is overwhelmed with pictures of homeless tent encampments and overdose deaths on the streets.
DeleteI remember when private, volunteer storefront food banks and tent communities of homeless in parks were unimaginable. What would Tommy think of this?
John W.
Despite the wealth of our nation, John, we are led to believe that some problems are intractable. The food poverty and homelessness you speak of are endemic in my area too, yet the solutions that would alleviate both are not even being contemplated by either our provincial or federal governments.
DeleteWe are not alone!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dspmCsq7ghw&t=22s
You can add this to our misfortunes.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/23/corporations-price-gouging-big-oil
Think our vote counts?
TB
Many thanks for both links, TB. Both are worthy of blog posts.
DeleteA bit off subject but Covid gave rise to the biggest price gouging I have seen in my 77 years!
ReplyDeleteUnfettered capitalism came to the masses .
Yes the mega rich benefited the most but even the proletariat managed to make their mark!
At the other end of the scale the really poor have become poorer with those that have little economic base suffering the most.
I forsee vulture capitalism having a field day?
TB
Unfettered capitalism, TB, despite their incessant claims of existentialist threats whenever an increase to corporate or capital gains taxes is discussed, rarely has a hungry day. The game is fixed, methinks.
Delete