The Final Crisis of Capitalism? Automation, Ecology and SOLUTIONS (Ft. Ted Reese)
Feb 8, 2024
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Ted Reese, a Marxist theorist, discusses his book 'Socialism or Extinction' on 1Dime Radio. Topics include Marxist crisis theory, automation, the ecological crisis, and the "everything bubble". Keynesian Social Democracy and the Green New Deal can't solve capitalism's root problem. The podcast also delves into solutions to the climate crisis, the logistics of communism, the viability of clean energy, and transitioning away from capitalism.
Capitalism's reliance on labor-intensive production exacerbates climate change, hindering progress towards sustainable practices.
Mainstream solutions to climate change face limitations and shortcomings within capitalist systems, emphasizing the need for a transition away from capitalism.
Deep dives
Capitalism's Inability to Address Climate Change
Capitalism's reliance on labor-intensive production, such as mining and fossil fuel extraction, exacerbates climate change. Exploiting labor for profit leads to the depletion of resources and the emission of greenhouse gases. Capitalism's need for constant accumulation restricts investment in sustainable alternatives, like hemp production or nuclear energy. While nuclear power is emissions-free, the profitability of nuclear energy is hindered by the high capital-to-labor ratio. Publicly-owned nuclear industries within a socialist economy could accelerate progress. However, current capitalist systems prioritize profit over environmental concerns, leading to insufficient action and an overreliance on fossil fuels.
The Limitations of Mainstream Solutions
Mainstream solutions to climate change, such as geoengineering, net-zero emissions, or the Green New Deal, face limitations and shortcomings. Capitalist societies struggle to implement these measures effectively as they prioritize profit over sustainable practices. The profit-driven nature of capitalism hinders the adoption of innovative solutions and discourages investment in technologies like hemp production. Additionally, the influence of fossil fuel industries prevents the widespread embrace of emissions-free nuclear energy. To effectively address climate change, a transition to a mode of production not dependent on labor exploitation is necessary.
The Role of Hemp in Sustainable Production
Hemp offers potential solutions for sustainable production and combating climate change. This versatile plant can be used for various applications, including batteries, construction materials, and eco-friendly alternatives to toxic products. Hemp requires minimal human labor and can replace more labor-intensive and environmentally damaging materials. Despite its potential, widespread adoption of hemp production has been limited due to profitability concerns and the influence of fossil fuel industries. Public ownership and investment in hemp production, as part of a broader shift towards sustainable practices, could contribute to mitigating climate change and reducing environmental harm.
The Need for Systemic Change
To effectively address the climate crisis, a fundamental shift away from capitalism is needed. Capitalism's inherent drive for profit accumulation and labor exploitation impedes progress towards sustainable practices. As the rate of profit falls and crises emerge, innovative solutions and investment in sustainable technologies become limited. By transitioning to a socialist economy that prioritizes the collective well-being and sustainable production, solutions like hemp-based alternatives and emissions-free nuclear energy can be more readily embraced. Such a transition requires challenging capitalist systems, redistributing land and resources, and addressing concerns like overpopulation and counter-revolution.
Part 2 on the Socialist Transition is available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime
In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by the Marxist theorist Ted Reese to discuss his book 'Socialism or Extinction'. We discuss Marxist crisis theory/ “breakdown theory” and Karl Marx’s theory of the “tendency of the rate of profit to fall” in capitalism, elaborated by Henryk Grossman. Ted Reese discusses the “final contradictions” of capitalism, such as automation, the ecological crisis, and the “everything bubble” that could lead to the final breakdown of capitalism. Ted explains why Keynesian Social Democracy and the Green New Deal can’t solve the root problem and prevent capitalism’s inevitable tendency towards crisis.
In Part 2 of the podcast (for Patrons) we discuss the viability of various specific solutions to the climate crisis, such as “overpopulation”, degrowth, and different forms of clean energy and sustainable resources such as Hemp. In this bonus episode, we also discuss the particularities of a communist transition and what stages of socialism could look like. This involves questions regarding the logistics of democracy, communism, labor, distribution, planning, dealing with poverty, transitioning away from the capitalist mode of production, and preventing counter-revolution. We think it is important to think seriously about the big questions regarding alternatives to capitalism and how to get there, which can be quite challenging to envision.