February 4, 2012
Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira appeared on a TV news program aired on February 2 and talked about what lies behind the crisis of capitalism.
The theme of the program was, “Has global capitalism a future?” Aspects of capitalism have recently been under discussion. During the Davos Conference in January, the future of capitalism was a major topic of discussion. The British Financial Times carried a serial for two weeks on “capitalism in crisis”.
Koike commented on these phenomena by saying, “These examples show the depth of the current crisis of capitalism. The world is now talking about the need to rethink the present course of capitalism.”
Koike explained that the excessive profit-first policy under the capitalist system has created an enormous number of so-called ‘working poor’ people, widened the gap between the rich and the rest, and increased the poverty rates worldwide. “Conversely,” he said, “the wealthy have become wealthier and in Japan, for example, large corporations (with a capital of more than one billion yen) have piled up huge internal reserves amounting to 261 trillion yen.”
“Capitalist societies can no longer control the deteriorating situation,” Koike stated.
He emphasized the importance of establishing “an economic society governed by rules,” including securing decent jobs and improving social security programs so that everyone can live without fear of being poverty stricken. “These rules would protect people’s rights and livelihoods, and an improvement in the household economy would expand domestic demand which result in the establishment of sound economic growth.”
Koike called for cuts in military expenditures as well as an end to wasteful spending for unnecessary large public works projects. He also stressed the need to abolish the present unfair tax system and instead impose an appropriate share of the tax burden on the rich and large corporations. To implement a drastic expansion of social programs, he proposed that they should be funded through a progressive tax system based on the “principle of the ability to pay”.
The news program host asked Koike if the present deepening crisis of capitalism provides a chance for the JCP to advance, saying, “Your party is the only party in Japan that offers a vision beyond capitalism.”
Koike answered, “The ongoing crisis would most likely not trigger a social revolution,” and briefly talked about Marx’s idea of a revolutionary struggle eventually winning over a majority of the people. People united in struggles have the power to change society, which will then serve as a basis for initiating a new era, and the JCP will take this opportunity to achieve a JCP advance.
The theme of the program was, “Has global capitalism a future?” Aspects of capitalism have recently been under discussion. During the Davos Conference in January, the future of capitalism was a major topic of discussion. The British Financial Times carried a serial for two weeks on “capitalism in crisis”.
Koike commented on these phenomena by saying, “These examples show the depth of the current crisis of capitalism. The world is now talking about the need to rethink the present course of capitalism.”
Koike explained that the excessive profit-first policy under the capitalist system has created an enormous number of so-called ‘working poor’ people, widened the gap between the rich and the rest, and increased the poverty rates worldwide. “Conversely,” he said, “the wealthy have become wealthier and in Japan, for example, large corporations (with a capital of more than one billion yen) have piled up huge internal reserves amounting to 261 trillion yen.”
“Capitalist societies can no longer control the deteriorating situation,” Koike stated.
He emphasized the importance of establishing “an economic society governed by rules,” including securing decent jobs and improving social security programs so that everyone can live without fear of being poverty stricken. “These rules would protect people’s rights and livelihoods, and an improvement in the household economy would expand domestic demand which result in the establishment of sound economic growth.”
Koike called for cuts in military expenditures as well as an end to wasteful spending for unnecessary large public works projects. He also stressed the need to abolish the present unfair tax system and instead impose an appropriate share of the tax burden on the rich and large corporations. To implement a drastic expansion of social programs, he proposed that they should be funded through a progressive tax system based on the “principle of the ability to pay”.
The news program host asked Koike if the present deepening crisis of capitalism provides a chance for the JCP to advance, saying, “Your party is the only party in Japan that offers a vision beyond capitalism.”
Koike answered, “The ongoing crisis would most likely not trigger a social revolution,” and briefly talked about Marx’s idea of a revolutionary struggle eventually winning over a majority of the people. People united in struggles have the power to change society, which will then serve as a basis for initiating a new era, and the JCP will take this opportunity to achieve a JCP advance.
