How many of you really believe that we can change the current system? Not marginal change. Not small, subtle change. Deep, systemic, radical change. Gar Alperovitz, Keynote Speaker at yesterday’s Opening Plenary for the Democracy Convention, asked the audience to honestly ask themselves this question. In order to realize an alternative to the current system, Alperovitz discussed, we must firmly believe that we have the power to change the system.
Alperovitz’s belief that a changed system is possible is not unfounded. Leading polling organizations have found converging results among younger Americans. Two recent Rasmussen surveys, for instance, discovered that Americans younger than 30 are almost equally divided as to whether capitalism or socialism is preferable. Another Pew survey found those aged 18 to 29 have a more favorable reaction to the term “socialism” by a margin of 49 to 43 percent.
Note carefully: These are the people who will inevitably be creating the next American politics and the next American system.
The system is in decay, which is cultivating unrest and questions of whether an alternative system—socialist or something else-- would work better. Indeed, this year’s theme for the annual Academy of Management meeting, for which Alperovitz will deliver the keynote address, is “Capitalism in Question”. To hear this robust body, with over 19,000 members at the heart of the business management profession raise such questions as the following highlights the growing doubts of the current system:
The recent economic and financial crises, austerity, and unemployment, and the emergence of many
economic, social, and environmental protest movements around the world have put back on the agenda
some big questions about this vision: What kind of economic system would this better world be built on?
Would it be a capitalist one? If so, what kind of capitalism? If not, what are the alternatives?
Alperovitz made clear that the road to a healthier society will not be easy; things will likely get worse before they get better. He also made clear that other possibilities that maintain the current system could be manifested. The question is: Do you deeply believe that we have the power to change the system, and are you willing to work for its fruition?
Alperovitz also noted that young people have caught on most quickly to climate change and student debt, which dovetailed with Honorary Speaker Medea Benjamin’s discussion on youth activism. Young people do have very urgent concerns about society. How do we harness their energy, give voice to their concerns, and engage them in the movement towards a healthier, more peaceful, and vibrant society?
Benjamin presented the audience members with two challenges during their time in Madison at the Democracy Convention:
1) Build solidarity with other activists by expanding your understanding of an issue. This Convention is the perfect opportunity to do so because it is a gathering of nine conferences ranging from democratizing our media to constitutional reform to earth democracy.
2) Participate in the sing-alongs at the Madison State Capitol, where people have assembled inside the Capitol nearly every weekday over the noon hour for more than two years to sing anti-Republican songs that skewer Gov. Scott Walker and others. Singers are being arrested, because as Benjamin joked, “Some sing off-tune”.
The Opening Plenary also featured a “Wisconsin Welcome” by Bryan Kennedy, President of both AFT-Wisconsin and The Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals (AFT Local 3535). His engaging talk discussed the “bi-polar” politics of Wisconsin.
The gathering was followed by an evening social at Brocach Irish Pub.
