And we've written on this blog of the way that modern electronics production relies on getting minerals in exploitative and violent conditions.
One of the wake-up calls of the pandemic has been that carers in nursing homes are working multiple jobs at various homes, just to make ends meet, thus increasing the likely spread of disease. It's never been a secret that agricultural workers, people who work elsewhere in the food supply chain, cleaners, gig economy workers, and others work long, long hours in sometimes brutal conditions for little pay - often working multiple jobs. Here the details get a little fuzzy, about whether that wealth has to improve everyone's lives or what exactly.įrom a practical point of view, I think it's fair to say that if actual contemporary western capitalism creates wealth, it is doing so in a system that relies on horrible and exploitative conditions for many. People talk about the various justifications and injustices of capitalism in many ways, but one common one has to do with overall prosperity: more wealth is created by capitalism than in alternative systems, it is argued, and this wealth improves people's lives. The story describes a beautiful well-functioning town in which almost everyone is well and happy, but in which all the good things depend on the utter misery of one small child - a child who is forever locked in small basement room in squalid conditions and constant suffering. Often when I think about the dysfunction of capitalism, I think about the short story " The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas," by Ursula Le Guin.
The richer classes are finally like - "wait - my food and well-being depends on these people! Are they OK? What if something happens to them?!"
The pandemic crisis is prompting a lot of reflection about the dysfunctions of a capitalist system, which I guess is a good thing, though I'm pessimistic about much in the way of positive change. Content warning: this post gets a little dark by moments, so if you're not in the right frame of mind, maybe read it later, or don't read it at all.
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