== BE PREPARED FOR ECONOMIC CRISIS ==
Namaskar,
Based on the way things are currently going in the US, and based on
Baba's teachings on economics, it is quite clear that we should all
brace ourselves for an economic crisis-- and a severe one at that. The
situation is imminent, if not already underway, and will touch all
corners of the globe.
The most critical factor behind it all is the "inherent staticity" of
capitalism, which basically dictates that as capitalism multiplies, as
it is doing now, the wealth gets more and more concentrated in the hands
of the few, thereby not allowing the money to roll. Because those with
lots of money need not spend it as they have far more wealth than they
need; and, those who need to spend money on life's basic necessities do
not have any dollars to spend. Hence all the money is tied up and stuck.
This is what is known as the "inherent staticity" of capitalism,
according to Baba. And that is where we are right now.
Although the problem is quite severe in the US, this economic crisis
will directly or indirectly touch each and every country, province,
state, and city-- some more, some less. Because the US is borrowing
money from various countries and because the US trades with many, many
nations. Hence the stage is set for a domino effect all over, as even
those not directly tied to the US markets will be affected, as today's
world is linked together via a global economy.
The solution, of course, is a Proutistic economy which is completely
impervious to any type of depression. That is also Baba's teaching.
As this present economic predicament unfolds, we should spread the ideas
of Prout. This is our moral duty and-- due to the dire state of
affairs-- people will be ready to listen.
Here following are more points and solutions to this entire economic
crisis. Of course there is a huge amount to be written about this
gigantic scenario so the following represents a mere outline of the more
integral topics.
TWO CRITICAL ECONOMIC PITFALLS
[1] Baba guides us that banking is absolutely needed, but banks should
be wary of two critical pitfalls:
Baba says, "The banking system must be vigilant about two important
points. First, the intrinsic demonic greed of the banks must not be
allowed to jeopardize the life of the common people. In the past in most
countries of the world the banks threatened the life of the common
people. This more or less still occurs today not only in undeveloped
countries, but also in developing and developed countries. Secondly, the
banks must not allow unwise administrators or governments to print
monetary notes indiscriminately without reserving the proportionate
amount of bullion in their treasuries." (PNS-12, 'Keep the Money
Rolling- B')
Now both these things are happening. The banks are stifling the masses
and billions and billions of currency notes are printed without any gold
backing.
In short, as the corporate banking institutions give way to avarice and
greed, the common citizens become trapped and strapped financially--
they have no money to spend on the basic necessities of life. In the US
this is evidenced by people unable to make house payments, buy
groceries, afford school tuition & medical care, etc. And side by side
those banking institutions and corporate structures hoard more and more
money-- more than that of entire nations. That is the first problem.
And secondly, since the Richard Nixon Presidency-- i.e. for the last 40
years-- the US has been printing money without the necessary gold
backing, thereby breaking the faith and integrity of the economy.
THE RAMIFICATIONS
[2] Here Baba warns us about the severe ramifications of the above two
points.
Baba says, "The first defect not only ruins low and middle income
groups, but also impoverishes wealthy people. The second defect destroys
the very life of society. It leads to widespread inflation, which in
turn jeopardizes internal trade and commerce as well as foreign trade
and barter. Even if there is abundant production in a country, the
common people do not benefit. The rich become richer and get more scope
to continue their merciless exploitation." (PNS-12, 'Keep the Money
Rolling- B')
Thus firstly, as a result of their intrinsic greed, Baba warns that even
the super rich will be affected-- not just the middle class & the poor.
All will financially suffer from the ills of captialism.
Secondly, due to printing money without economic backing, there will be
widespread exploitation by the rich and the regular people will be
victimised. And that we are already seeing. In the US, the CEO's make
huge, huge money.
"Goldmine $achs Chairman CEO and Lloyd Blankfein just got a $68 million
Christmas bonus, the largest ever received by a Wall Street CEO." (Dec 2007)
Yet side by side, in that very same land, there are 13 million recorded
starving victims, 40 million unrecorded starving people, and more than
10 million homeless people.
DESTINED FOR FAILURE
[3] Here Baba points out the inherent flaws of capitalism.
"The contradictions in capitalism are due to the self-centred profit
motivated psychology and the accumulation of wealth for the benefit of a
few rather than for the welfare of all." (AFPS-9, 'Economic Dynamics')
This dastardly combination spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r for any nation-- even
the US. I do not think anything need be said about this. We all see this
going on.
DEPRESSIONS INEVITABLE
[4] Here below Baba warns us the depressions are a fact of life, i.e.
unavoidable, in capitalism
Baba says, "In the economic sphere depressions are inevitable in both
capitalist and communist countries due to this very inherent, intensive
and innate staticity." (PE)
Such depressions are a result of mass accumulation of money in one
hand-- either in the hand of private corporations (capitalism) or
governmental heads (communism). In either case, depressions are
inevitable because the money gets bottled up and stuck. That is the
"inherent staticity" that Baba is talking about.
FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT= DEPRESSION
[5] Here again Baba talks how countries like the US will see mass inflation
and a depression
Baba says, "If a country has a constant deficit in foreign trade, in
that case also there is the possibility of inflation....the future
depression will be associated with inflation." (PE)
Thus when the US has trade deficit of billions and trillions of dollars,
then it is certain a depression lies in the near future.
NO DEPRESSIONS IN A PROUTISTIC ECONOMY
[6] Some naive people think that depressions will always happen, even in a
Proutistic economy-- but that just is not so.
Baba says, "It must be borne in mind that both inflation and depression
result from the ailment of staticity. If the production in a country is
abundant and the gold bullion reserves are in proportion to the
country’s economic position, there is no possibility of inflation [or
depression]." (AFPS-9, 'Economic Dynamics')
Thus, in a Proutistic economy, there is no chance of any depression ever
happening. It is impossible.
Baba says, "Depression is not a natural phenomenon. Pause is a natural
phenomenon. In a Proutistic structure pause may occur but depression
will not occur." (PNS-13)
PROUTISTIC SOLUTION TO DEPRESSIONS IN CAPITALISM
[7] Here Baba clearly outlines how to rescue any economy from a depression.
Baba says, "To save society from depression, the approach of PROUT is to
increase purchasing power by increasing production, reduce disparities
in the value of wealth, and increase the circulation of money; that is,
by keeping money rolling. Empty slogans will not do. Attention will have
to be given to increasing the level of production." (AFPS-9)
A FEW MORE PRACTICAL ANSWERS
[8] One of the key points of Prout is maintaining a local-- not global--
economy. Then in that case, if and when a problem does occur, it will
not ricochet all over the world, as happens in today's global,
capitalistic economy.
All in all it is our moral duty to propagate Prout. The common people
have no idea about the ills of capitalism; they still think that
capitalism is the panacea.
Thus with whatever capacity we have we should save and serve the society
by advancing Prout. We are now at a time wherein people will stop,
listen, study, and champion Prout.
Because just as people can truly understand the importance of food
during a scarcity, similarly when an economy is failing the people then
they can truly appreciate that another way is needed. So if we tell them
about Prout-- they will be interested & ready.
BABA'S BLESSING
Baba says, "PROUT is the panacea for the integrated progress of human
society. It aims to bring about equilibrium and equipoise in all aspects
of socio-economic life through totally restructuring economics. Without
PROUT, socio-economic emancipation will remain a utopian dream. Only
PROUT can save the world from depression." (AFPS-9)
Namaskar,
Pradiip
Note 1: ALL SORTS OF DEPRESSIONS IN CAPITALISM
Tragically, due to a debased mind-set, depressions do not only occur in
the financial sphere, in capitalism such depressions also occur in the
cultural sphere.
Baba says,"Depressions may also take place in the cultural life of
society due to suppression, repression and oppression. As a result,
every aspect of cultural life becomes perverted and degenerates. This is
why we get perverted literature, music, dance, art, architecture, etc." (PE)
Currently in the US and around the globe, capitalism just encourages
sexual and animalistic propensities. From advertisements to movies to
dress to body language, it is all littered with the lust of sexuality. A
movie cannot sell without sexual overtones. In such an era, ideology is
nowhere to be found and the effects of a cultural depression are rampant.
Note 2: MORE ABOUT $$ DEPRESSIONS IN CAPITALISM
Here Baba clearly and precisely outlines how & why depressions occur in
the capitalistic model.
Baba says, "There are two main causes for economic depressions – first,
the concentration of wealth, and secondly, blockages in the rolling of
money. If capital is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or
the state, most people will be exploited by a handful of exploiters. As
a result of this process of severe exploitation, a serious explosion
takes place. This explosion is known as a depression in the economic
world. The concentration of wealth, and particularly the concentration
of the value of wealth, is the fundamental cause of a depression."
"Secondly, a depression may occur when money that is in the possession
of individual or state capitalists stops rolling. Money remains inert or
unutilized because those capitalists think that if the money is allowed
to roll freely then their profits will decrease, even though it will
bring relief to the common people. The very psychology of capitalists is
to make profit from the rolling of money. When they discover that the
investment of money does not bring profit up to their expectations, then
they stop rolling money. This keeps money immobile or inert;
consequently, there is no investment, no production, no income and hence
no purchasing power. The situation becomes so dangerous that there are
few buyers to buy commodities." (AFPS-9)
Note 3: AVERTING DISASTER
Baba says, "Before the final culminating point comes, it is possible to
avert the disaster and accelerate the speed of social movement. We can
do so by creating a socio-economic and cultural impact on the entire
social structure through PROUT. As the world is passing through a most
critical phase, we should be more active and create an impact. If the
positive impact we create coincides with the explosion, the effect will
be excellent." (PE)
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Difference Between Literate & Educated
Those who have studied the books but did not bring those teachings into
practice may be termed literate but they are certainly not educated.
Baba says, "Educated are those who have learnt much, remembered much and
made use of their learning in practical life." (PNS-18, p.38)
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