Letter

In response to Trump is single-handedly slaughtering America’s ‘exorbitant privilege’

End the democracy-capitalism link

“The days of the world letting America live beyond its means are rapidly coming to an end.” What needs to come to an end is the close ties with the market and government.

To think that running a business and running a country are the same thing is absolutely ridiculous. A business has an obligation to make a profit and a government has social obligations. That countries have excessive debt is due to excessive spending with private companies who can only be trusted to make a profit. They will not pay any more than they have to, and disregard safety and environmental laws.

Private companies don’t contribute to political parties without expecting a profit/return on their investment. In a democracy, governments have an obligation to the people to give them the best lifestyle the country can afford by legislating and regulating what is best for all.

Therein lies the issue with a democracy that can be bought by billionaires and bankrupts. As all the traits of the “worse form of government“ thrive, it’s time to find a better one. Australia is a good place to start.

— BoB Pearce from Adelaide SA