Exploitation and Freedom

Exploitation and Freedom

When we look at the mantra that governs the Conservative Party, or the Republicans, and not what they advertise about themselves but who they actually are...

You would be hard pressed not to find the following unsaid motor...

“Exploitation is necessary to create growth”

Or even 

“Exploitation is a necessary evil “. 

This meme has rooted itself within our thought pathways so completely, so much so that we fail to recognise both its pre-eminence, and then also fail to challenge it.  

To question its validity and the validity of it’s argument is not difficult, but what is difficult is to see its dire effects on us each individually and as a people. 

It’s claim to validity lays on its reversal, that “Growth or Wealth are created when someone, who matters little, is exploited.”

Now that it’s stripped of its disguise maybe we can appreciate its true worth. That it’s true that when someone is exploited, the exploiter gains innumerably and often very quickly, but at what cost. And does the gain justify the cost. But also when reversed the argument doesn’t logically hold; X=>Y, doesn’t necessarily mean that Y=>X. 

That whilst exploration leads necessarily to prosperity for the exploiter, that it does not hold that the only means towards prosperity is through exploitation. 

Indeed there are other more wholesome ways to ensure prosperity, not for the few- but for all. And it is Adam Smith in his magnum opus “The Wealth of Nations” who argued in that vein, that true wealth is created by open and free trade. Exploitation is neither open nor free. 

When Nations are free of exploitation, each Nation in its turn will progress more fully in what it does best. And the free movement of myriad goods and services will make us all wealthier, precisely because each will be that much more affordable (less costly). 

We should be in no doubt that the mantra that sustains exploitation and oppression throughout our World, is not there to make us all more prosperous. 

It is there to keep the few that prosper at the expense of the many. 

It is not about freedom, nor is about democracy, nor is it about anything good. 

It is this mantra that sees India and China tagged as great Powers, even when they cannot or will not provide for their own citizenry. It is the very fact that they are ready to exploit others, even if it is their own people, that makes our Politicians and Media call them “powerhouses” or the “Worlds biggest Democracy”. Both of which they are not, and both of which they wouldn’t be without exploitation.  

 

In the last couple of days we have each given and been given wishes of future prosperity by our fellow countrymen:

“May the New Year bring you prosperity”. 

The Conservative Party is viewed as being the Party of Aspiration by the vast majority of our countrymen. 

That the country does not aspire to honesty, nor to truth, nor to helping one another is a damning realisation. 

That they accept and aspire to exploitation is another damning realisation. 

That we must challenge those assumptions that allow and encourage exploitation is a must. 

We need, all of us to remember, how fully against exploitative behaviour our religion is. 

And for that it is enough for us to remember the words of the Messenger (saw):

“Do not intercept goods before they reach the market.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmed). 

Even in that most simplest of aspects, we are not to hinder men nor women from gaining their true worth. 

Knowledge is sought through study and contemplation. Not lectures, nor talks, nor this above.