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<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT size=4>To our Indian
comrades</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>Your problems are our problems in Europe. Some alternative to
capitalism has to be based on our experiences since Karl Marx. No doubt, the
alternative is democracy and the free development of each as the condition
of the free development of all. No doubt, this goal can only be achieved by
masses who are deeply convinced of their stance because of their individual
experiences.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>There is, however, some doubt on sole reforming capitalism, sole
welfare state. As you see, this strategy led to the widening gap between the
poor and the rich, national and international. That's Arundhati Roy's fear,
that's her legitimate motif. But - apart from the military imbalance - military
solutions aren't solutions because they lack the consent of the mass, of the
enlightened mass. This is Sukla Sen's legitimate motif.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>How to come out of this dilemma? By leaving capitalism aside,
leaving barter, money, market aside because this necessarily ends up in
capitalism. By initiating und supporting global movements that are currently
underway:</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<OL>
<LI>
<DIV align=left>"We don't want to become rich. We just want to have a good
life. We don't want to exercise power on other people."</DIV></LI>
<LI>
<DIV align=left>"Everybody has a right to live (without anything in return
beforehand). Everybody has the right of some Unconditional Basic Income (UBI),
i.e. 1500 € net per month in Germany."</DIV></LI>
<LI>
<DIV align=left>"In this region, we provide our living by a net of
agricultural cooperatives sharing their produce. Self-sufficiency is our
economic level."</DIV></LI></OL>
<DIV align=left>Thus you are instigating people's self-confidence which is the
key to some alternative to capitalism, and you cut the ground from under
capitalism which is barter. Suddenly, two developments are competing in the
history of mankind, and capitalism will be debunked as uncapable of free
competition. You no longer have to rely on state, social welfare, market, money,
government, Arundhati Roy. And you have the consent of the enlightende mass,
Sukla Sen.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>It is true that UBI is a demand to governments in office. But
it's most likely to be realised because capitalism regards it as cost-saving and
promoting efficiency. Culturally, however, it's a historical change because it's
instigating people to self-production and self-government without the need of
barter and money. In the end, they will say to their state and government:
"Thank you, you've met your obligations. We no longer need UBI. You may
go."</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>The cultural turn: It's a stop to fatal economic competition, to
fragmenting communities, to the alienation of man. Encouraging people to be more
creative and productive than in capitalism. Every income beyond UBI is regarded
as obscene. The Western standard of living stays with that of Germany in 1969,
not the technology though. The surplus is given to the Third World for
supporting their UBI. People govern themselves by Round Tables at each level
(neighbourhood, district, town, region), members of which can be voted in and
out any time. No need for political parties, nor for trade unions. No desire of
power over somebody else. They have compassion and solidarity with other people
on earth who feel likewise. Everybody is free to labour or not to labour. Each
step a voluntary step. Picking up people who already live like this, attracting
people who yearn for it. Only masses who have gone through this culture will not
relaps into bourgeois culture.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>The main agent of social change is providing opportunities (by
the UBI) to the people to reflect on their basic needs and on their right
to live.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=right>Karl-Heinz Thier</DIV>
<DIV align=right><A href="http://www.kthier.de">www.kthier.de</A></DIV>
<DIV align=right><A href="mailto:K.Thier@gmx.com">K.Thier@gmx.com</A></DIV>
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