From The Guardian Letters
David Cameron believes he is on a crusade to drive a new “moral capitalism”. He should read Will Hutton on stakeholder capitalism and look to Germany, where employee representatives engage in corporate decision-making including levels of executive pay, local banks provide long-term support to business, apprenticeships remain common, stakeholders include suppliers and distributors, and community engagement stems from a responsibility to protect the interests of all employees.
The ghastly alternative of shareholder capitalism engineered by Conservative governments in the 1980s, and cravenly supported by New Labour, has destroyed UK manufacturing and turned the country into a spivs’ paradise, with investment banks and hedge-fund managers holding everyone, including the government, to ransom. Where is the moral compass in gambling on corporate failure? Or in ensuring that one of the few profitable UK manufacturing sectors left is an arms industry mostly in partnership with the US, a war-exporting economy?
Shareholder capitalism regards share value as the only criterion for success, encouraging foreign takeover of businesses like Cadbury’s that for 176 years had applied Quaker principles. Asset-stripping has become a national sport, devastating families and communities. It is inconceivable that Cameron will reverse this ruinous crusade on behalf of the super-rich parasites who have devastated the UK economy.
The tragedy is that the stakeholder model remains under attack throughout the western world. Without a multilateral turnaround by all OECD countries, beginning with the closure of tax havens and the imposition of a financial transaction tax, and the establishment of a World Environment Organisation possessing common powers and veto alongside the World Trade Organisation, we are heading towards an economic, environmental and social meltdown.
Simon Sweeney
University of York
…but if Germany’s EU collapsed and was no more, Germany would resort to protectionism and pull the rug from under all competitors. Worker relations would also go down the pan.
A bit like your dreamboat vision of Britain out of the EU (UKIP/BNP) and David Cameron’s semi retarded attempt at doing so via the SUN (not true, he’s just bunged the IMF all our money for bailouts he denies exist).
Your politics is haphazard and has no clear flow of continuity.
You want yor cake, you want to eat it all and you want to share none.
Are you now prepared to suggest that Germany has got it right?
‘it’. Heaven spare us from simpletons with easy answers. Gary Elsby is a master… (finish that yourself)
Bob, you really do seem to attract them don’t you? At one time you used to have that right-wing berk Newmania, then there’s Duffy – at least he’s not illiterate – and now this idiot Elsby bloke who is a typical lover spurned. I used to see him from time to time on Dale and Guido, popping up fiercely defending everything New Labour did, and praising Gordon Brown to the hilt.
As you say Bob, it’s not difficult to see why he now spends all his time standing on his head and saying the opposite. I’m not a Labour Party member myself, but political opportunists like Elsby make me sick. Their hypocrisy is what turns most ordinary people off politics.
….and your question of policy is?
criticism for criticism sake is pointless, just like your awful insults.
Dear dear Bob, the Tories want the EUHR gone and want anything to do with the social chapter destroyed.
You want the EU gone (pound to a penny you cherry pick the above) because its a Tory businessman’s plot to persecute the working classes (some spurious Russian novel somewhere).
Now in a few words, why do you reckon most Labour members would rather have the EU than not have it?
Germany being the eternal economic powerhouse miracle calling the shots.
What a truly wonderful example of incoherence and rambling nonsense. A real Elsby masterpiece.
Firstly, I don’t want the EU to be abolished, and I challenge you to prove where I have even vaguely said that. Secondly, if the EU wants to keep its High Representative, that is up to them, I can’t say I care too much one way or the other.
Good many people are starting to think differently now and think of an alternative rather than the mantra of Thatcherism that has plagued this country and the US for to lang. It is about time the head of the Labour Party started to to get this and push it strongly. People will listen if strong conviction is there.
By the way I was in the local village pub last night with die hard Tory farmers and farm workers. I was very surprised to here some of them say that they believe certain things should be nationalised such as the railway system and water. I was very surprised to hear that from them indeed.
Come on. Have some backbone. The crowd love someone who sticks to their principles.
What like, “You won’t let me be the captain, so I’m going to take my ball home, and squeeeem and sqeeem.” The Gary Elsby principles?
How about answering some questions Bob?
We promise not to torture them out of you.
The problem, I’m afraid, is trying to translate your obscure ramblings into something resembling the English language? Which questions? You suggested I wanted the European Union High Representative gone, but I’m afraid I’ve never even mentioned the position. You said I wanted the EU abolished. I asked you to tell me where I have ever suggested any such thing.
How about answering a few yourself?
Bob, are you a typical politican, or are you acting like one?
It’s well known you want Britain out of the EU.
You can twist it all you want but your disjointed arguments praise the political/worker structure of the powerhouse EU bloc but consistently refuse to acknowledge their relationship with the wider EU.
And you, indeed, are a typical fool. You will find no evidence of me saying I want Britain out of the EU, and certainly no reference to the EU High Representative. As ever, you confuse issues with simplistic posturing and no analysis. Why am I not surprised?
Norman Tebbit, a man you closely associate yourself with regarding Europe must cringe with embarrasment at how you weasel with words.
This part of Labour is good, this part of Labour is bad and you ask the help of Norman to support your view.
Only in Sandwell, Bob, a cradle of democracy (with Norman’s approval, of course).
You are truly stupid, Gary. I closely associate’ myself with Norman Tebbit on the lack of democracy in the European Union. It is a view shared by the Campaign Group of Labour MPs too, so I have no problem with that. Your simplistic one-dimensional view would mean that if you discovered that Norman Tebbit supported Stoke City football club then everyone who supported Stoke City football club would share Tebbit’s views on everything. It is playground philosophy.
Now, back to the questions you abjectly fail to answer. Where have I ever said Britain should leave the EU? When have I ever referred to the EU High Representative?
In your own time….
So now you admit to aligning yourself to the Norman Tebbit view of the EU.
It does not surprise me at all.
You now support your (and Norman’s) view by aligning yourself with the ‘Campaign Group’ of Labour MPs of which you will now give us a figure, a number, or a percentage of:
1. Labour MPs
2. 650 MPs.
Talk about minority and isolation.
By the way, how’s the total destruction of EU rights and worker rights coming along Bob?
Surely, Norman’s coaching skills are legendary?
Personally, being a true and proper Socialist, loyal to the core, I think Norman’s views are s**t and his views on Europe are s**te and what he wants to do for the workers and Trade Unions are truly f****d up.
No doubt you’ll agree with him and not us, but there you go.
Sandwell, gee up.
The sort of pathetic response I anticipated. Try reading what I write, then engage your brain, then try to type.
I agree with Tebbit that the EU is undemocratic. Clearly you think that having a situation where appointed unelected officials introduce legislation is a model of democracy. Well, I don’t. I argue for democracy in my Ward, in mybCouncil, in my country and in Europe, and I agree with all thoSe who argue the same. You obviously pick and choose. No democracy in Stoke which stops Gary standing for MP = bad… No democracy in the EU = good.
Italy has a prime minister elected by no-one, but foisted on the country by the EU and the European banks. A slightly bigger affront to democracy that some half-wit in Stoke being excluded from making a tit of himself and the Party, but guess what? I still think that was wrong.
Now, about those questions you refuse to answer, because I will not respond to. Your questions if this dialogue is one way and you refuse to account for your gibberish…. answers please.
Bob, you appear to be getting a little frustrated now that your (and Norman’s) views on democratic Socialism are put under the microscope.
You say that I can’t stand in a General Election due to lack of democracy.
This is false as I stood in one recently.
I couldn’t stand for Labour becasue the election to choose was rigged.
I left them to it.
You want more democracy in Europe (Norman no doubt does too) and both you and Norman have views consistent with democracy in action within Trades Union and the EU.
What a load of b*******s.
Now then, about Prime Minister’s being unelected.
Gordon Brown reckons you are wrong on this issue.
I’ve told you Gary, you’ll get no response until you start to answer questions too. At least have the guts to admit you got it wrong, you’re embarrassing yourself.
Us true Socialists are well used to the Tebbit loving ‘socialists’ from Sandwell (jct 10) whom correct us each and every day on our politics.
Of course, we listen.
I’ll take that as… no answers then eh?