Surely that is now standard macroeconomics as a result of socialists and social democrats in general pushing for it to become standard. And that it was not so up until the 1920s and 1930s in many countries. For example the 'Share Our Wealth Society’ of Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long, who in 1935 was assassinated for his plan to, indeed, share the wealth. Or the capitalist and conservative, The Liberty League, which also attacked the New Deal as a form of socialism, using weak points very similar to those being made now.
So, essentially, plans to redistribute wealth ARE from the left, and its a very good thing too... we would be in a far worse world now if it was not for all these left wing folk pushing for that since the early 19thC. Most of what we like about society is largely the result of previous socialists, unionist and liberals pushing for it. Such a low cost national health system or pensions for those injured in war. And almost all these things were strongly resisted by capitalists.
And this watered down policy of the LDP is a good example of how its very difficult for capitalists to reform capitalism to the extent that is no longer an abusive system. It's like asking school bullies to police other school bullies.
Nowadays the common push in many countries for 'a new form of capitalism' is, i think, a positive sign. At root it shows that more and more people see that capitalism doesnt work well. The problem is a lack of vision and courage to take the action that will actually establish a decent system for all. And the powers against fundamental change are still strong. Still, since the various wishy washy reforms are very unlikely to make much difference we may yet see a majority of people come to think what we really need is to 'reform capitalism completely out of existence', and organise ourselves in a different and better system. Which is possible.
Surely that is now standard macroeconomics as a result of socialists and social democrats in general pushing for it to become standard. And that it was not so up until the 1920s and 1930s in many countries. For example the 'Share Our Wealth Society’ of Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long, who in 1935 was assassinated for his plan to, indeed, share the wealth. Or the capitalist and conservative, The Liberty League, which also attacked the New Deal as a form of socialism, using weak points very similar to those being made now.
So, essentially, plans to redistribute wealth ARE from the left, and its a very good thing too... we would be in a far worse world now if it was not for all these left wing folk pushing for that since the early 19thC. Most of what we like about society is largely the result of previous socialists, unionist and liberals pushing for it. Such a low cost national health system or pensions for those injured in war. And almost all these things were strongly resisted by capitalists.
And this watered down policy of the LDP is a good example of how its very difficult for capitalists to reform capitalism to the extent that is no longer an abusive system. It's like asking school bullies to police other school bullies.
Nowadays the common push in many countries for 'a new form of capitalism' is, i think, a positive sign. At root it shows that more and more people see that capitalism doesnt work well. The problem is a lack of vision and courage to take the action that will actually establish a decent system for all. And the powers against fundamental change are still strong. Still, since the various wishy washy reforms are very unlikely to make much difference we may yet see a majority of people come to think what we really need is to 'reform capitalism completely out of existence', and organise ourselves in a different and better system. Which is possible.