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During the Great Depression a number of ordinary Americans initiated campaigns to restore confidence in the economy. One example is the campaign launched by a public relations firm which declared a “War against Depression.” The campaign encouraged 1 million employers to create one new job each in order to wipe out unemployment in six months.
There were other measures proposed by various individuals and coalitions. Many of the proposals were reasonable, some were ridiculous. But they were all sincere. Concerned citizens rejected cynicism in favor of a more active approach in solving the country’s economic problems. More importantly, the proposed solutions were meant to help the workers and poor citizens.
Today a new “War against Depression” is needed. The grassroots should be at the forefront of this movement. Politicians and big business do not have a monopoly on bright ideas on how to solve the economic crisis. To paraphrase American economist Stuart Chase, why should the White House and Wall Street have all the fun of remaking the world?
How should the “War against Depression” proceed? This should be a global effort since the U.S. economic downturn is now felt worldwide. It is good that governments of big countries are already exchanging notes and coordinating efforts on how to prevent the further collapse of the global economy. This is similar to what the Allied Powers did during the post-World War II reconstruction campaign. Nations approved a set of banking and trading rules which governed the global economy for many decades.
Another possible tactic in launching the “War against Depression” is to adopt the Bush doctrine. This may be unpopular and extreme but we can argue that the situation today demands extraordinary measures.
What would be the features of the campaign if we use the Bush doctrine? First, we will accuse Wall Street of being evil. Wall Street, the White House and their satellite offices in Europe are the axis of evil.
Then we will declare a war against Wall Street. There is more than adequate available evidence to prove that Wall Street has developed “weapons of mass destruction.” These deadly paper weapons are not only threatening our way of life; they have already caused so much misery and mayhem around the world.
During the Great Depression, a Detroit Catholic priest denounced “banksters” as being bad as gangsters. Wall Street executives are the same creatures. To use a more modern term, they are like terrorists who are using even the most unacceptable methods known to man in order to achieve their profit targets.
They worship the free market and they want the rest of the world to share their faith. They want to shape a new world order where money dictates everything. Wall Street is guilty of “terrorizing” our innocent children whose families today are poorer and probably homeless.
Then we will issue a warning that a preemptive strike will be launched on Wall Street. We will justify the strike by accusing the other soon-to-be bankrupt banks in Wall Street of posing a serious harm to the world. For the sake of our children and the future of this world, Wall Street will be invaded. The guilty Wall Street executives will be detained in Guantanamo Bay.
To preserve democracy and civilization, the world has to fight Wall Street even without the backing of international agencies. A “coalition of the willing” will be established. Then we will deliver an ultimatum to the world: Either you support this coalition or you are against what this group is fighting for.
Clearly, the Bush doctrine will not work. American unilateralism is not a useful model in waging a “War against Depression.” It is really unfortunate that the last major international effort to solve a global menace was poisoned by the Bush doctrine. Fortunately, no leader has proposed the use of this doctrine to overcome the financial crisis.
The other viable option in the campaign against recession is to expand and merge the numerous but dispersed anti-globalization movements in the world. Enough of the self-serving proposals of big bankers, discredited economists, corrupt politicians and sweet-talking presidential candidates. It’s time to hear the views of the poor and other marginalized voices in the world.
Anti-globalization groups can provide a genuine alternative to the oppressive status quo. They can offer practical solutions to our economic woes based on the principles of social justice and equality.
But it’s not that simple. Are we ready to open our minds to new and radical ideas? Are we ready to support a subversive vision of the future? Are we ready to create a better kind of world? Or are we more willing to listen to charismatic leaders who deliver angry and uplifting speeches but offer nothing out of the box?
There are different ways to launch the “War against Depression.” It is up to us to decide which platform we will pursue to change the world.
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(Mong Palatino is an activist and regional editor for Southeast Asia of Global Voices Online. He can be reached at mongpalatino@gmail.com and his Web site is www.mongpalatino.motime.com. ©Copyright Mong Palatino.)
