Big corporations can show us the way to do democratic socialism

In recent years there has been a surprising eruption of radicalism - the Occupy movement, #MeToo, School Strike 4 Climate, the Extinction Rebellion and Bernie Sanders campaigns. Fuelled by anger and hope, these movements have given voice to a passion for change - not just change in the people in charge, but change in the fundamental structures of power and privilege.

Ordinary people are at the mercy of the
gyrations of our current economic system.

Why is our government so unresponsive to people's needs? Why are the uncontrolled gyrations of global financial markets allowed to throw millions out of their jobs and homes? Why are powerful corporate interests able to veto global efforts to address the looming climate crisis? Why do women have to endure discrimination and violence at the hands of male bosses, clients, partners and strangers?

The emergence and urgency of such questions reflects a growing sense that we face multiple and deepening crises - in the economy, our workplaces, the political sphere, the natural environment, the social fabric of our communities and our international relations.

Our economic system is increasingly irrational, periodically stalling, throwing millions out of work and generating obscene levels of inequality in wealth and income. It produces much that we do not need and much that poisons the planet and us, while products and services that we desperately do need are not profitable enough for business to produce and so we go without.

Read the story from The Age by Paul Adler - “Big corporations can show us the way to do democratic socialism.”