Capitalist mantras

I came across this cartoon some weeks ago and then found it again today. It fits well with my 'advert' here for Stroud-based Molly Scott Cato's Blog about Green Economics.

Greens have been seen by some as negative and not putting forward alternatives - I certainly find it a challenge to write to the press about an issue in less than 250 words - often saying why something is not working takes nearly all the space meaning there is little room to present the green alternative/vision - but it is just not true to say those green alternatives are not there...we are virtually the only party with a philosophical basis to our policies - and do not consider policies in isolation - when we look at health policies we look at all aspects from food additives and chemicals in the environment to transport policies to how drug companies operate etc - and as Molly writes in another Blog:

"Such a vision offers greater community and personal satisfaction: a world where conviviality replaces consumption, where local identity replaces global trade, and where community spirit replaces brand loyalty."

See also a Comment I wrote for The Citizen earlier this year - things are definiately changing - there are many positive signs around - see earlier Blog re Transition Towns, the national poll increases in those saying they will vote Green and the medias greater willingness to tackle these issues etc etc. Yes I know we still have a long way to go but we are at last talking about the alternatives and options - Milliband even mentions tradeable personal carbon allowances, our Council is at last talking renewable energies, carbon neutral homes is also on the menu...

Anyhow in Molly's most recent piece she has a bit on capitalist mantras - that's what I was intending to write about but seem to have got side-tracked above - I strongly recommend reading her full Blog (12th Dec 2006) which talks about how capitalism isn't just a powerful economic system but also a system of ideas - here are some she picked out with some alternatives.

There is no such thing as a free lunch → Food is for sharing
You can’t get something for nothing → Unless you are a shareholder or landowner
Everybody has a price → Generosity is its own reward
Time is money → My time is my own
Nothing in life is free → The best things in life are free
Money makes the world go round → Love makes the world go round
We need to protect our wealth → We need to rely on the love of others
If it isn’t hurting it isn’t working → If I can’t dance I don’t want to be part of your revolution

She is urging people to make further suggestions.