8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VENDOR VOICES A guide to dismantling capitalism JIM CLARK We are entrenched. Entrenched in a system of economics that we have become completely dependent on and which is destroying us at the same time. Many people are now beginning to understand that this system, that relies on making a profit at any cost, is no longer sustainable and has been unhealthy for a long time. People are beginning to wake up and see that the powerful elite — the billionaires, the politicians, the military and the religious right — have control of our lives down to the most intimate levels. They control what we see, what we eat, how we live, what we believe is right and wrong, even how we love and express that love. People are beginning to understand that the powerful elite will not stop until they achieve global domination. Once upon a time, to utter the phrase “global domination” conjured images of an evil genius wringing his hands while laughing maniacally as he reveals his insane scientific gadget that will enslave the human race, or annihilate it completely. The idea of robots taking over the world has been the stuff of science fiction for as long as we can remember; that day is already here. At a time when the ability to keep up with the cost of living is becoming harder and harder, unskilled labor jobs are being eliminated and replaced by real live robots. The Lowebot “employed” by Lowe’s is replacing customer service representatives. Walmart is following suit and is upping the ante with actual robot security. If that doesn’t send chills down your spine, keep reading. Boston Dynamics has advanced robot technology to the point that science fiction will begin having a hard time keeping up with reality. The robotic warehouse assistant “Stretch” is capable of lifting 50 lbs off the floor and putting it on a shelf six feet above it. They boast a battery life that lasts two shifts. It is already capable of eliminating a tremendous population of the workforce. AI that is capable of writing programs that will improve the functionality of itself has already begun. AI is already changing the face of education and is predicted to begin replacing white collar jobs in the very near future. “Accounts receivable” will probably be the first to go. And yes, the military is developing both of these to become weapons. We saw their demonstration in the June 14th Flag Day Parade ordered by the President of the United States. Although the Working Class is fatally dependent on capitalism, so are the rich. We must understand that all their wealth and power, whether generational or not, was accumulated at the expense of workers. As hard as the unions tried to keep them at bay, the economic might of the rich has overpowered the average worker’s ability to fight back and keep the cost of living at a reasonable level. Food, rent and medicine prices continue rising faster than the minimum wage. In fact, working full time at the minimum wage with no benefits is not enough to meet the cost of living in most areas. As robotic and AI technologies continue to advance, this gap will widen faster and faster. The poor are already being slowly choked to death by increasing poverty. Even the tried and true American patriotic worker — who pays their bills and taxes on time, who goes to work and works hard, the one who believes in the system — will soon realize they have been lied to for a long time. Many workers are now employed by FAMILY from page 7 Office of Philanthropy at 734-712-4040). “Our health system is built on a foundation of core values, which includes our strong support and service to those experiencing poverty, especially the most vulnerable,” said Alonzo Lewis, president of Trinity Health Ann Arbor, Livingston, Oakland and Livonia. “By converting available space on our campus, we aim to help break the cycle of poverty and make a significant impact on the broader Washtenaw County community.” Wealthy, land-owning institutions should take note of this government-nonprofit partnership and model across other areas of shelter need. corporations that produce products they cannot afford on the wages they are paid. Who will buy the products? The rich will sell them to their own. Quality is already a defining feature of what is affordable and what is not. Look at the ingredient labels of something as simple as frozen pizza. The harder it is to pronounce the names of the chemicals in the food, the less expensive and less nutritious it is. It’s bad enough that food is a commodity; it turns out that quality is also dependent on your income. The class war that people think is just left-wing extremist propaganda is becoming harder and harder to deny. Whatever we do as the lower middle class on down to prepare ourselves for this widening gap we need to do now. "A Guide to Dismantling Capitalism" will explore ways to begin exiting from the capitalist system. This article is an introduction — and a call to action. We must begin consciously and deliberately defying the system and status quo. It is as if our house has caught fire. The smoke is filling the living room and creeping up the stairs as we speak. While on the one hand, life goes on, the laundry needs to be done, the kids need to be fed, and so on, now is also the time to plan ahead for an economic collapse. One that the People will bring on by themselves. The guide I am in the processing of writing will illustrate ways we can remove ourselves from this self-destructive path we are on in ways that are achievable, manageable, reasonable and with little discomfort. We have had a taste of life-beyond-capitalism. In March 2020, the entire world turned off “the machine” for a few months. We only went to jobs that were deemed “essential.” These were jobs that provided for food and medical care, and first responders. Even teachers were still at work, in-person or virtually. Banks and landlords (most of them) were told to suspend eviction procedures. All of these actions and more can be taken to cut the system JUNE 27, 2025 Boston Dynamics "Stretch" now commercially available. off at its source. We can end capitalism. We lived without it for centuries before the industrial revolution. It has been said that “we will see the end of the world before we see the end of capitalism.” Whoever said that was most likely rich or hopelessly poor. The truth is we can learn from history, we can learn from our mistakes, and we can envision a new future. We can, in fact, end capitalism. Author's note: I am in the process of writing the guide and intend to publish more chapters in Groundcover News.
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