The Human Cost of Capitalism
We are living in a market-driven society and the negative impacts are far-reaching and often not recognized. In “The Moral Obligation of Democracy,” Cornel West examines the complex links between between race, a market society, and democracy. “We are experiencing a lethal and unprecedented linkage of relative economic decline, cultural decay and political lethargy,” West explains (211). To give perspective and situate the reader in a “larger narrative that links the past to the present” (210), he offers a narrative, describing human history as “elites… whom subordinated and exploited everyday people” (211). He focuses on the intersections of race and class and draws attention to “problem people” or “ordinary” and “one-dimensional people,” cast as a group or blob, diminishing their individuality, so that “only one person has to be asked to find out what the rest of them think” (210). This point speaks directly to the dysfunction, or non-function, of democracy in America leading to greater injustice and exploitation of those who do not have a “voice in the decision-making processes in the institutions that guide and regulate their lives” (212). These themes remind me of John Powell’s talk that I discussed in “Reclaiming Humanity,” where I queried, “How can a democracy represent, or government care for, people that it does not even ‘see’?”
At the Marin County Coalition to End Human Trafficking, our mission is to take a collaborative approach to ending all forms of human trafficking, to identify resources for survivors, and to help hold offenders accountable. Our work is an attempt to answer the questions West poses: “What is the role of the disadvantaged in relation to public interest? What are you to do with the least of these?” (212). We work to raise awareness of trafficking here in Marin and in doing so, give voice to those who are being exploited and oppressed. We educate members of the community, schools, businesses, and organizations about human trafficking as well as work with law enforcement in recognizing trafficking and responding to the needs of survivors.
Although human trafficking is a complex and multi-layered issue, West’s writing touches directly on two central themes that both cause and contribute to trafficking: capitalism and the growing divide between the wealthy and the poor. On one side of the coin is the insatiable quest for cheap products that are quickly available. This consumption drives demand for products that are disposable, which impacts resources as well as creates labor trafficking in the supply chain, as companies try to cut costs. On the other side of the coin, is the disparity between those who have and those who do not. Poverty makes people (women and children in particular), vulnerable to forced labor, child marriage, trafficking, and other forms of modern day slavery.
Interwoven with consumerism is gluttony and pleasure. This pleasure seeking also leads to the sexual exploitation of women and girls, beginning with pornography — consumerism applied to people. Pornography is now being recognized as a public health threat, most recently by Florida, and an addiction that effects the brain (Cambridge)similar to other addictive drugs. There is also a clear link between online browsers and sex buyers (fightthenewdrug.org)— coupled with the facts that the majority of amateur porn on the internet is of women and girls who are being trafficked, and more than 80% of survivors report that buyers show them porn before abusing them (humantraffickingresearch.org). According to the site demandabolition.org, the profile of an average online sex buyer is an educated, caucasian male, aged 49 (22–79), married, and with an average income of $141,500 — underscoring West’s point regarding the imbalance of power with the wealthy elite exploiting the vulnerable and poor. There are more slaves today than at any other time in human history. The International Labour Organization estimates there are more than 40 million slaves worldwide and that modern day slavery is a $150 billion dollar criminal enterprise. These numbers can be daunting to even the most passionate advocate.
What can be even more discouraging, is examining the larger institutions and structures that oppress people and the socio-economic conditions that make them vulnerable. Some days, my heart hurts too much and I question my ability to make any difference at all. I question the policies and processes of our government and I wonder if there is any hope for the quickly expanding divide between the wealthy elite and those living in poverty. I spend many waking hours thinking of how to shift resources away from corporations and back to people in need. I painfully long to disrupt demand for women and children’s bodies.
And tomorrow I will get up and do it all again. Not because I know I can make a difference — but because I know if I do nothing, then there’s no chance to make a difference.
“To engage in that struggle means that one is always willing to acknowledge that there is no triumph around the corner, but that you persist because you believe it is right and just and moral.” —Cornel West
