Difference between revisions of "Danton's politics"

All Western democracies are in fact social-democratic. The Keynesian welfare state, introduced in the United States during the great depression of the 1930s as a response to one of the cyclic crises inherent in capitalism, is a form of minimal social-democracy.

All Western democracies are in fact social-democratic. The Keynesian welfare state, introduced in the United States during the great depression of the 1930s as a response to one of the cyclic crises inherent in capitalism, is a form of minimal social-democracy.

Marx provided a useful diagnosis of the problems of capitalism, and a terrible prescription for their remedy. The model of the dictatorship of the proletariat, inherited from the Terror of the French revolution, led inevitably to the totalitarian regime of Stalin. The formal mechanisms of liberal democracy, including free speech, universal sufferage with multiple parties, and a "state of law," are necessary to protect human rights and freedoms, whatever the economic system. Furthermore, a liberal democracy recognizes the right to property ownership, and by extension the right to hire the labor of others and operate as a "capitalist," which is incompatible with state-enforced communism. The best way to work towards the ideals egalitarianism and cooperative endeavor is to promote these within the framework of liberal democracy.

Marx provided a useful diagnosis of the problems of capitalism, and a terrible prescription for their remedy. The model of the dictatorship of the proletariat, inherited from the Terror of the French revolution, led inevitably to the totalitarian regime of Stalin. The formal mechanisms of liberal democracy, including free speech, universal sufferage with multiple parties, and a "state of law," are necessary to protect human rights and freedoms, whatever the economic system. Furthermore, a liberal democracy recognizes the right to property ownership, and by extension the right to hire the labor of others and operate as a "capitalist," which is incompatible with state-enforced communism. The best way to work towards the ideals egalitarianism and cooperative endeavor is to promote these within the framework of liberal democracy.