Mixed Economies

The worst thing you can do is underestimate your enemy. Capital is in high gear right now figuring out a spin to counter "The 99% Spring" and a time tested technique is good cop-bad cop. Bad cop- Republican presidential candidates and they're hyper-market fundamentalism. Good cop? The new Benefit Corporations, social entrepreneurialism, corporate responsibility, social democracy and mixed economies.

These new capitalists wag their fingers at the hysterical old school "ideologues" and say "We have learned from Occupy and are ready to improve ourselves". Last night the Newshour did a big piece on the B Corporation, foregoing the imperative to maximise shareholder profit in order to Be Better People. Younger, hipper, more collaborative and socially responsible, they turn to us guilt-ridden consumers a la Ben And Jerrys and say: Buying from us will help save the Planet. Zizek has referred to this as Cultural Capitalism, they donate one pair of eyeglasses to The Poor Other for each one you buy. Our conscience is salved. Change was so easy! This is wonderful!

This shit is nothing new and most corporations have a PR campaign in place to show how much they donate and recycle and hire the handicapped. And their progressive enablers such as Yes Magazine or The Nation or Mother Jones or MSNBC have incredible resources to insure this is the direction Occupy energy is directed. The old will be made to look new. Realism will prevail. The theme at the Davos gathering this year was The Great Transformation! (David Korten blushes)

What is disheartening is to see Naomi Klein go this route, thinking she is pushing 350.org to the left when in fact their Realism is infecting her. She can point to Scandanavia if she likes but how do China and India figure in? How do you keep Capital from undermining public owned entities just as they have done for the last 40 years? Why keep going through this?