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We’ve come here today to provide an answer to the great question: to compete, or to cooperate? As
such, my philosophy is that cooperation is superior to competition as a means of achieving excellence.
What is the heart of the clash between competition and cooperation? In its truest and purest form, it is
the conflict between capitalism and socialism, the ultimate competition, and the ultimate cooperation.
When it comes down to it, do we want to be competing, or do we want to be cooperating? I’ll give you
the answer in 4 steps. But first, let’s start with some definitions.
Socialism: “a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of
production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.”
(Oxford American Dictionaries, 2010)
True Socialism: Communalism.
Communalism: “the principle or practice of living together and sharing possessions and
responsibilities” (Oxford American Dictionaries, 2010)
“I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and
dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.” Zizek 04
Will Malson Capitalism Bad; Democracy Page 2 of 5
“I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and
dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.” Zizek 04
Will Malson Capitalism Bad; Democracy Page 3 of 5
“I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and
dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.” Zizek 04
Will Malson Capitalism Bad; Democracy Page 4 of 5
Socialism itself must be viewed as part of a democratic movement which long antedates it, but to which
socialism alone can give its full meaning. [1] The idea of democracy has been drastically narrowed in
scope and substance in capitalist societies so as to reduce the threat it posed to established power and
privilege: socialism on the contrary is committed to a great widening of its compass. The unenthusiastic
prophet of democracy in the nineteenth century was Alexis de Tocqueville. In his introduction to
Democracy in America, published in 1835, de Tocqueville said that democracy, which he equated with
the ‘equality of condition’ he thought he had found in the United States, was also making its way in
Europe. ‘A great democratic revolution,’ he wrote, ‘is taking place in our midst; everybody sees it, but
by no means everybody judges it in the same way. Some think it a new thing and, supposing it an
accident, hope that they can still check it; others think it irresistible, because it seems to them the most
continuous, ancient, and permanent tendency known to history’; [2] and in a preface to the twelfth
edition of the book, written in 1848, he also asked: ‘Does anyone imagine that Democracy, which has
destroyed the feudal system and vanquished kings, will fall back before the middle classes and the rich?’
[3] Dominant classes in all capitalist countries have ever since the nineteenth century fought hard and
with a considerable measure of success to falsify de Tocqueville’s prediction: socialism is the name of
the struggle to make it come true. Thus conceived, socialism is part of the struggle for the deepening
extension of democracy in all areas of life. Its advance is not inscribed in some preordained historical
process, but is the result of a constant pressure from below for the enlargement of democratic rights; and
this pressure is itself based on the fact that the vase majority located at the lower ends of the social
pyramid needs these rights if those who compose it are to resist and limit the power to which they are
subjected.
“I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and
dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.” Zizek 04
Will Malson Capitalism Bad; Democracy Page 5 of 5
In conclusion, the choice before you today is thus: to embrace capitalism with competition or socialism
with cooperation. With capitalism comes the retrenchment of an elite state, devoid of democracy, with
no hope of recovery. With socialism comes the very heart of the democratic movement that competition
inherently lacks. Thank you.
“I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and
dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.” Zizek 04