idealism

Idealism is often associated with utopian thinking. I believe this is a falsehood. There seems to be a dominant rhetoric amongst capitalists and bourgeoisie advocates that their society is built on realism, rather than ideals. That their reasoning comes from a cold utilitarian sense of practice, rather than the hopes of a higher goal.

I would be inclined to argue that this is, in fact, a failure to observe the daily affairs of capitalism.

If we look at capitalism, in its social praxis, we see more idealism than in any other ideology. Everything is a means to an end. Yet the end never arrives. Voting in their bourgeois politics is said to provide liberty, and yet no liberty has arrived. They hire bullies in blue uniforms for our safety, but reality of the matter is that safety is an absence of bullies. They have judges, courts, lawyers and juries. This is for the purpose of justice. Yet when one confronts them about the astonishing reality of how one can affect the outcome of a trial with their social standing; This is supposedly a fairness. The right to legal defence. However this right must be purchased for quality. This purports not justice, but rather a society in which one can find vindication with their personal wealth. As such, when we have courts for justice, we are justifying a very unjust and grim practice with a hopeless ideal which this institution cannot fulfil.

The same criticism can be levied towards parliamentary democracy. How, it is the wealthiest parties with the most bourgeois benefactors who win the election. How exposure to the public demands payment. How one's free expression is held for ransom by private media. Some argue that there is public media to represent everyone, but this media is disproportionate. There is also the factor of labour. The constituents work, with a very marginal gap of free time to use for vital research that might weigh heavily on how they understand whether or not the party of their choosing represents them. How, in spite of how the majority of workers in parliamentary democracies feel alienated, and do not vote for their leader; They remain bereft of an optional choice. Considering how there are dozens of unknown parties running in each election, all with a possible capacity to represent them, we begin to see a reality in which democracy is equally unknown. Where the bourgeois politics dominate the elections, and thus, there are no real elections. There is simply the choice between bourgeoisie government, or bourgeoisie government.

But ultimately, no matter how much one dissects this, a bourgeois advocate will defend it with yet another unattainable ideal of democracy which cannot be met with this institution.

Furthermore, if we look at industry. It is called "modernisation", even though it is only modern from a technological standpoint. We are told we have industry to thank for our modern society. The industry provides the facets of life exploit for a higher standard of living, and the work which affords us it. Yet the cost of these facets grow higher and higher with each decade, as inflation, taxes, outsourcing, union suppression and part time employment lower our means to afford these things. If one demands the cost of these things, which grow more abundant with each innovation; If one demands increased means to afford them, both are met with the same ideal. The ideal of modernisation. How meet either of these demands is to ruin the industry, and hamper growth. It is to halt civilisation and development, and to create crisis.

If this is not true, then we see a society that does not prioritise the needs of the people. If it is true, then we see a society in which it is impossible to meet the needs of the people. Either way this exploitative and impossible industry is defended with yet another unattainable ideal which cannot be met with this institution.

Every action that will meet the needs of the common people will always be dismissed by an oppressor. Every opposition that demands that the needs of the common people will be met will be declared an enemy of the oppressor. And every confrontation regarding the grievances created by the bourgeoisie will be defended by an unattainable ideal.

Idealism is not the product of utopian thinking; Idealism is the product of dystopian thinking.