world bank : hypocrisy of capitalism

[sanctus]

I just read that the world bank is considering to finance a new project in Laos for constructiong another huge water dam (adding to the ones in China), which is by no means ecological neither socially positive (the world bank itself says that about 40'000 people will lose their basis of survival ).

I imagine the reason they give is to help a developping country to become an industrialized and capitalist one, saying that this is the good way.

To me all this seems hypocrite, they say that they are interested in the well being of the people of Laos (which maybe-I don't believe it- in long term becomes true), while they want just to assure the presence of enough energy for industries of developped countries for putting their production there (as it is cheaper, there not many ecological controls and laws...).

What do you think?

[Aki]

Well I guess it's a win-win situation, the construction of the dam will give many people of Laos a job, while the world bank get what they want.

[sanctus]

Yes it's a win-win situation for the rich, as they are the only ones who had the change to study and be qualified enough for the "new jobs". The poor they are deplaced, have to leave their village, find a new basis of existence; that means they become poorer.If you cal this a win-win situation,I call it a rich-poor gap widening situation.

[alexander]

but thats what capitalism is all about, the elimination of the middle class... the rich get richer as the poor get poorer, thats why the system stinks so much, really, there a wonderful description of capitalism in action by Marks in the beginning of Das Capital.

This is the same problem with software patents, allowing big corporations to patent code and noone else can use it without their permission eliminating all the little inovative companies, and making the regular programmers slaves who have to pay to do what they do the best...

[Freethinker]

Yes this is a pefect example of Capitalism at it's highest level. After all the source is a BANK. Banks are in the biz of lending money. Poor people can't get the loans, so naturally any research they do is aimed at justifying things that will give them the chance to laon money to the wealthy.

So what if a few tens of thousands lose their homes? They didn't ahve morgages on them, why would the bank care?

Ecology? Birds don't borrow money!

Win Win? Yes the Banks win and big biz wins. Screw the little guy. What value is he?

I think the G Bush election theft (again) is bad news for the world in each of these cases. Big Biz is running the world.

[alexander]

Big Biz wants to run the world, it gains more power, but sometimes is held back by some of the little guys that have some power to fight...

[sanctus]

Don't you believe in the possibility of a social capitalism? An example of this is a swiss bank called "Alternative Bank", they do all the capitalistic stuff, i.e investing money and so on, but they invest only in socially and ecologically acceptable things.


P.S.: Alexander, it should be "Das Kapital" with k

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by sanctus

Don't you believe in the possibility of a social capitalism?

I do believe in "oxymorons".

Originally Posted by sanctus

An example of this is a swiss bank called "Alternative Bank", they do all the capitalistic stuff, i.e investing money and so on, but they invest only in socially and ecologically acceptable things.

Yeah...and who gets to decide what's acceptable?

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by sanctus

P.S.: Alexander, it should be "Das Kapital" with k

And MarX.

[sanctus]

What are oxymorons?