Democracy and Citizenship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Democracy and Citizenship - Essay Example Specifically, the form of globalization that characterizes the current economy is one that seeks to establish one universal, synthetic culture that is entirely open to capitalistic rigidness, while at the same time rejects and erodes the older, deeper culture and traditions of individual societies and peoples. This hurts the world at a local level, and is bad for the greater population—for this general reason, I support the community economy as an alternative. Harvey’s critique of the system that the world depends on today points out how neoliberalism and capitalism have affected what society’s priorities are. He says that countries using such a system â€Å"typically favor the integrity of the financial system†¦ over the well-being of the population or environmental quality† (Harvey 71). This is a concept that I fundamentally disagree with, as I see it as a violation of business ethics and a lack of concern for two things that are of utmost importanc e—human life, and the condition of the planet we inhabit. Harvey also describes how neoliberalism enforces a redistribution of resources. This redistribution, however, is not the type that is favored by more communal systems, such as Marxist theory, but instead works quite the opposite. While many people may be conditioned to believe that capitalism is completely naturally in allowing money and wealth to flow where it is earned, it can accurately be said that, just as socialism may redistribute resources to the poor according to need, the neoliberal system is a redistribution of wealth to the upper classes (Harvey 9). Beyond the manipulation of wealth, neoliberalism also robs the population of some of its sovereignty. While citizens entrust their government with basic functions and resources, neoliberalism encourages the government to redistribute those responsibilities and resources to private corporations (Harvey 77). This is, in a sense, taking power from the hands of the government, which represents the whole population, and placing it in the hands of the few who have a private interest in profit. Indeed, this is a complete contradiction in my view. Harvey’s critique continues along these lines. He highlights two particular misgivings about the current system, one being the capitalist fixation with technology as a solution for everything. In reality, he says, technology is tied to the destruction of the environment, social breakdowns, and crises (Harvey 69). The even greater problem, however, is that neoliberalism has become so ingrained in law and society that it has created an inescapable web, making it extremely difficult for society as a whole to undo what groundwork has been laid (Harvey 63). These all demonstrate the complete lack of consideration in the modern economy for the community, for local benefit, and for human happiness. I do not support such an approach, as I believe in having a consideration for the well-being of all people, in following the Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have them do to you, and in promoting the concepts of liberty and happiness rather than an unequal socio-economic systems that brings wealth and power into the hands of the few. The benefits of the community economy, as an alternative to capitalism, are superfluous. Many movements exist already that are rooted in the community eco