The paper demonstrates that capitalism is a wonderful (and quite rational) system for those who benefit from it. A permanent depression might even postpone ecological disaster -- and no one has demonstrated that ecological disaster is preventable in any case.
^^^^ CB: Of course, capitalism is rational for the capitalism. It is irrational for humanity
Then there's Engels on "what's actual is rational" (giggles) Let us take an example. No philosophical proposition has earned more gratitude from narrow-minded governments and wrath from equally narrow-minded liberals than Hegel’s famous statement: “All that is real is rational; and all that is rational is real.” That was tangibly a sanctification of things that be, a philosophical benediction bestowed upon despotism, police government, Star Chamber proceedings and censorship. That is how Frederick William III and how his subjects understood it. But according to Hegel certainly not everything that exists is also real, without further qualification. For Hegel the attribute of reality belongs only to that which at the same time is necessary: “In the course of its development reality proves to be necessity.” A particular governmental measure — Hegel himself cites the example of “a certain tax regulation” — is therefore for him by no means real without qualification. That which is necessary, however, proves itself in the last resort to be also rational; and, applied to the Prussian state of that time, the Hegelian proposition, therefore, merely means: this state is rational, corresponds to reason, insofar as it is necessary; and if it nevertheless appears to us to be evil, but still, in spite of its evil character, continues to exist, then the evil character of the government is justified and explained by the corresponding evil character of its subjects. The Prussians of that day had the government that they deserved.
^^^^
Also -- social systems can't be 'replaced' as a worn-out refrigerator or pair of pants. Engineers _know_ the parts & the relations that constitute a refrigerator and can produce a new one to replace the old. No one _knows_ all the 'parts' of _any_ social system, even one's much less complex than capitalism, held together by external relations rather than the complex & only partially known internal relations which constitute capitalism.
^^^^ CB: Social systems are "replaced" through revolutionary class struggles. (See _Manifesto of the Communist Party_ ; A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy Preface
"In the social production of their existence, men inevitably enter
into definite relations, which are independent of their will, namely
relations of production appropriate to a given stage in the
development of their material forces of production. The totality of
these relations of production constitutes the economic structure of
society, the real foundation, on which arises a legal and political
superstructure and to which correspond definite forms of social
consciousness. The mode of production of material life conditions the
general process of social, political and intellectual life. It is not
the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their
social existence that determines their consciousness. At a certain
stage of development, the material productive forces of society come
into conflict with the existing relations of production or – this
merely expresses the same thing in legal terms – with the property
relations within the framework of which they have operated hitherto.
>From forms of development of the productive forces these relations
turn into their fetters. Then begins an era of social revolution. The
changes in the economic foundation lead sooner or later to the
transformation of the whole immense superstructure. "
^^^^^
A mass movement in one nation might cause the power relations there to collapse, leading to to a constituent assembly generated by local assemblies, but it couldn't create a "new" system at once. It would be very messy. It is going to be a very messy world for quite a while regardless of what happens.
^^^^^ CB: That's what's up
^^^^^^^^
Get rid of such irrational (!) expressions as "replace capitalism."
^^^^^ CB: If we don't push it , it won't fall. It is important to portray the transcendence , the supercession of capitalism as an activity by people. The subject of the verb "replace" is the 99%.
^^^^^
It has to be overcome for humans to survive as a species, but arguing that it needs "replacement" is a ridiculous way to go about trying to contribute to such an enterprise.
^^^^^^^ CB: Uhhhhh...giggles
^^^
One very small suggestion would be marginally helpful. Those who know that capitalism must be overcome should stop whining about each particular evil as they stumble across it on the web. They could put their brains to better use.
^^^ CB: Yes, no whining, think big.
Carrol