Is violent protest justified in a democratic society? Do minority groups have the right to use force to make thier point when politicians are elected by the will of the majority? Surely this is a denial of equal political representation in favour of a politics of power. Shouldn't the electorate respect the outcome of any voting procedure? After all, aren't they all free to express thier own opinion in a peaceful way, at the ballot box?
The genius of Capitalism is just this: that it allows most under its influence to feel free, whilst simultaniously leading each individual into a cell where they are both slave and master. Capitalism is the most subtle of dictatorships. Our very own will must answer to the most tyrannical of regimes: that of our own inflamed desire and greed. The genius of capitalism is to create millions of independent tyrannical states in every man, woman, and child, while basking in the ever weakening glow of liberal democracy. We are encouraged to regress to an earlier, childhood stage of egotism, where we want, want, want, and want it NOW. How does this equate with freedom? How can I be free when I am socialised from the womb to indulge my own desires at the expense of anything more noble? How can I be free to support issues which threaten the fullfilment of my materialism? Life is so comfortable...... I'm free to change it..... but..... I seem to have exchanged my will for the apathy of luxery.
This is why the political situation is so difficult to change; because capitalism is a subtle dictatorship under the guise of freedom. The populace is seduced, entranced by novelty and affluence. The tyranny is in my own heart, and it's up to me to overthrow it. The biggest problem facing the world today isn't George Bush, or any of the G8 leaders. They were only on that ship because we've been there to make it float. The biggest problem facing the world today is me.
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