Nature Vs. Survival

“Half a century of economic experimentation proved beyond doubt that tyranny cannot yield prosperity. … Socialism collapsed because it is a policy of unrestrained intervention. It tries to fix what is ‘wrong’ with the spontaneous, self-organizing phenomenon called capitalism. But, of course, a natural process cannot be ‘fixed.’ … Socialism is an ideology. Capitalism is a natural phenomenon.“ — Michael Rothschild in BIONOMICS: Economy as Ecosystem

I have to agree with this passage, especially the bolded statement at the end. Capitalism is undoubtably natural. Examples are found everywhere in the animal kingdom: Creatures that eat their own kind; Creatures that eat their own young; Creatures that defend their territory to the death; Creatures that have a harem of mates; Creatures that feed on their food sources until they are left with nothing and starve. Animals are without forethought or compassion. They further their interests, increasing their profit heartlessly at the expense of other individuals.

And what are humans but glorifyed animals; beasts who think they’re gods? We grub and steal and cheat, but who can blame us? Thoughtless greed is human nature. Animal nature. Capitalism is a natural phenomenon.

But that’s a bit demeaning, isn’t it?

I think that we have the capacity to change that vicious competition of nature into magnanamous cooperation. I think we have the capacity to carve out a system whereby most, if not all, members of humankind have at least their most basic needs met. I believe we can learn to manage our resources wisely without thinking about maximum profit, but maximum benefit. I believe we can go beyond the survival of the individual and begin to work toward the survival of the species, and the planet.

Optimistic? Naive? Well, it IS an ideology, an aspirational view of society. And when thet became a negative thing, something to be mocked and scorned, I am not quite certain. What I AM certain of, however, is that rather than limiting freedom, as Rothschild would suggest, socialism frees people from the oppression of others, and frees them from the grasping and scraping of an animal nature.