Where does common good stand in a world of disproportionalities?

Political and economic disproportionality has plagued our global society more than any other society in the past. The capitalist culture, by definition, incentivizes economic and political disproportionality with almost no regard for the common good. Inordinately distributed power is not, as many argue, a natural consequence of fair competition. It is in fact the direct outcome of a financial structure, founded on the principle of incentivizing accumulation of power in the hands of a few.

I am writing a paper in which I argue that the political make up of our world, with America being its most powerful player, is an outcome of the current capitalist economic system. I will then strive for shedding light on how and why the financial set-up of the capitalist economy provides incentives for exploitation of many for the prosperity of a few. I argue that any re-structuring of the current global power balance towards the common good is heavily reliant on reforming the current financial and economic structure.

The economic incentives that the current monetary structure (modern banking) provides for the growth of a few businesses inevitably lead to the collection of power in the hands of a few. These disproportionately-empowered businesses (i.e. corporations) then become the advocates of the financial system by instigating a massive demand for financing within the populace. The financial system, subsequently, provides the necessary credit out of the thin air, which reinforces the dependence of the population on financial institutions.

The political leverage that such institutions generate as a result of public’s dependence is significantly large. Having benefited from centralized economic power, such institutions apply the same model to incentivize growth of few political power centers on the expense of others. The cost of prevailing the common good would be the break down of centralized economic and political powers. America’s disproportionate economic and political power will also be a victim to a more equitable world. That does not only mean that other countries will gain economic and political power, but also that the United States will lose a lot of its power.