Albert Einstein: Why Socialism?

[LiberalArkie]

Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones. The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights.

http://monthlyreview.org/2009/05/01/why-socialism/

[djean111]

1. Yep. This would sum up the current state of things -

Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights.

Luckily, we can still use Google and YouTube, and not depend on the MSM.

[gregcrawford]

3. "Luckily, we can still use Google and YouTube, and not depend on the MSM."

For now. The TPP reportedly has provisions that will adversely affect our freedom to access and navigate the intertubes.

Last Thursday and Friday on NPR's "Marketplace," host Kai Rhysdahl (sp?) interviewed Charles Koch. He asked the elder of the two politically active Koch brothers a few pointed questions, but it was mostly a puff-piece for poor, misunderstood Chuckie. Koch is notorious for being a pathological control freak. I am certain he exercised stringent control of that interview.

Many have offered cogent analyses of our current circumstances, and how we got here. But what we really need are SOLUTIONS. And does anyone really believe that the psychopaths at the top of the economic food chain will relinquish all that power and money without a fight?

Please...

There will be blood.

[tecelote]

2. A few pics...

[DhhD]

4. Workers really needed the Bush tax cuts for the weathly to be ended in January 2009 as

promised by President Obama, in his 2008 campaign. Next step should have been, return to taxing the wealthy like the Eisenhower Administration policy. Again, Private Capitalist separated the electorate from the legislature (see above).

Voters had the choice of Obama or Clinton, in 2008, we the people had no political rights. Now Democrats have the choice of Clinton or Sanders. Who controls Sanders? We the People. Who controls H Clinton? Same Private Capitalists and Foundation Merchants as in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014. Who controls Obama other than the veto?

[tecelote]

5. +1

[newfie11]

6. +++++++++infinity!

[TheKentuckian]

7. That feller was some kind of really smart person, huh?

[SoLeftIAmRight]

8. His book Ideas and Opinions...

is so full of wisdom

I have kept a copy close for 40 years

[aidbo]

9. Yeah... but what does he know? I like his hair though.

My favorite prediction of Einstein was Gravitational lensing, or Einstein rings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_ring . Which states that the bending of space by matter could focus light waves like a glass lens and results in cool pictures like this of a galaxy behind a star in the foreground. The light from the galaxy is warped into a near perfect ring around the star.