To be clear- I am not a revolutionists. I don’t believe there is a peaceful way of implement socialism because it would mean taking away people’s property, suffering and probably a war. Only peaceful way would be the Dhamma way for people to want to renunciate by themselves. But there are some ideas which could be implemented in capitalism. The limit of wealth for example. What is the limit a person should hoard, £1 million, £100 mil or a billion? Also maybe government could build houses and rent them to people instead of encouraging properties bubble? And guaranteed jobs instead of paying benefits? If county care about its citizens then maybe should sponsor cancer research, and nuclear weapons programme should be a charity? Maybe , like in Bhutan, the happiness of people should be priority and not an economic growth? Just some ideas.
I can’t say I know much re politics but I used to live in Sri Lanka which was a ‘democratic and socialist’ republic. While I can’t say for certain that what they had was a good combination of the two, it had a mix of capitalism (free market with personal ownership of wealth, land and housing) the government had control over essentials like amenities etc. Some of these were privatised. I live in UK now and I think it has the right mix now (though they don’t call it socialist) - the weak are looked after against the whims of giant corporations. The government has a big whip and gets the best out of the private sector-ish, but can be slow to act (…followed by compensation…). In this discussion I would like to see how kamma is considered- material possessions and how kamma interacts with those are very little explored. Can we hope for a state where everyone is equally rich (or equally poor)?
With metta
Hi Mat,
The problem we have is what right mix means:
Is 20% living in poverty more important, or the fact, that 80% is not?
Well, I don’t agree here:
But the real corruption that has eaten into the heart of British public life is the tightening corporate grip on government and public institutions – not just by lobbyists, but by the politicians, civil servants, bankers and corporate advisers who increasingly swap jobs, favours and insider information, and inevitably come to see their interests as mutual and interchangeable. The doors are no longer just revolving but spinning, and the people charged with protecting the public interest are bought and sold with barely a fig leaf of regulation.(source:link below)
I agree with Noam Chomsky (Who does rule the world):
I have heard Ajahn Brahm’s story about very rich lady, who left her wealth to all children except the one, who was a Buddhist. She said, it would be waste of money, as he would offer this money to monks. As a result, she was reborn as this very Buddhist’s daughter and had to live in poverty:grinning:
Much metta
Jarek
Ok, I was really thinking more about people having more or less wealth- I wish it were not the case- but look at the world- it is the case. Of course it is wrong and I think redistribution of wealth, voluntary or otherwise imposed (as taxes) by Government is important, but I don’t think we can iron it to the ground. The wealthy would just go live somewhere else. The mahakammavibhanga sutta talks about wealth as consequence of good kamma. …and now for the shocker- I find UK citizens have more morality sila (due to cultural norms, respect of law, and general politeness) than Buddhist Sri Lanka! The Buddha said a country that keeps the precepts prospers, according to EBTs!
with metta
Ok, forget about possible causes, it is as it is. Let’s practice Noble Path and enjoy fruits of our previous lives (wealth and access to Dhamma).
It is a shocker:roll_eyes: Looks like Sri Lanka big economic crush and UK have bright future. I needed a little of optimism after my worries about Brexit:grinning:
much metta
Jarek
No seriously. The UK government and it’s people send billions in aid to developing countries, if I’m not mistaken. Sometimes we worry whether we will go from having the choice of 10 different loo rolls or just two. These are put into perspective when we step outside this bubble. I know some families in SL don’t have one pair of slippers among them to go into loo outside their home. I say they deserve to have all the help we can give them- not to selectively ignored. In fact if anything has been proven with the crisis with immigration is that governments need to support each other to make their respective countries liveable. Everybody prefers to live a good life with their loved ones if so they wish to in their own country don’t you think? 
With metta
I agree. I like a fact that charity sector in UK is well developed (I work in charity) and that people are so generous and compassionate. I wish that wouldn’t be hungry and poor people anywhere in the world.
Much metta
Jarek