Capitalism, as with any other meme or gene, has a history. Proponents of modern day capitalism fail to account for this history or perhaps they simply have a selective memory. This historical amnesia causes modern capitalism to behave in a manner inconsistent with its proposed aims and trajectory. Why? To begin with, it can be argued that African slavery and the New World conquest were the two main events which jump-started modern capitalism. These practices can only be justified with capitalistic principles if one was to accept the idea that Africans and Native Americans where either property or non-human. Such ideas are not only morally abhorrant but cannot be proposed with any logical impetus. Given this, how does one account for the excessive riches- in the form of silver and gold- taken from the New World to enrich Europe, or for the debt owed to slavery´s trans-generational victims. By failing to deal with these issues, capitalism's books are hopelessly "cooked." Since the rest of capitalism´s history arises from these historic events, the books continue to get more befuddled as time goes on.

Tragically, without making amends to the legacy of colonialism, the process of globalization is now being pushed on what remains of the colonized world´s economic infrastructure. From this argument, the illegitimacy of third world debt can be discussed.

Not surprisingly, most capitalists want to forget the past, arguing that "nostalgia" is irrelevant and counter-productive. Adding insult to injury, the truth is that the process of remembering the past is neither irrelevant or counter-productive, but is simply based on selective convenience. For example, examine for a moment the Israeli situation. In colonized, historic Palestine, the West, in allowing the Zionists to claim a 2000 year old land debt, based on a 4000 year old religious myth, created the state of Israel. Every year, Israel receives billions in dollars to defend this claim, helping sustain its economy. My question is: If Israel's claim for land has legal, even moral validity, in the eyes of the West, then shouldn't Native American claims for justice and land have even MORE validity? After all, it has only been 500 years since their land- on which they were physical inhabitants- and resources were stolen. Something is fishy in the system, and it stinks of racism-- a core human weakness.

Capitalism, a social theory conceptually based on numbers, is driven by competition occuring in a "free" market. However, this "free" market, in practice, is not really free. The lack of freedom arises from many factors.

It is generally understood that, outside of sustenance societies, the feul driving economic engines of the modern world consists of memes arising from the subjective emotion of "taste"- for food, for clothes, for entertainment, even health and energy choices. As a consequence, those who determine"taste" include the businessmen and advertisers who run the show and get to pick the economic winners and losers. As a result of the inherent problems with global capitalism- its cooked books and legacy of colonialism and racism- the formation of "taste" lies disproportionally in the hands of the strong. The problem with McDonalds isn't that the burgers are fattening and can lead to obesity. The problem lies in the Golden Arches being a symbol of imperialism, a colonization of "taste" that is unidirectional with the strong imposing preferences of taste on the weak.

Here is an example. Let us suppose that the Washington drug czars didn't have control over public opinion and the laws which govern the markets. And let us suppose that the drinking of coca tea suddenly was found to be the hippest thing on earth. Not only was it found to be hip, but it was also found to be healthier and gave a cleaner state of alertness than drinking coffee. Suddenly Evo Morales and his coca farmers would be selling their teas around the world en masse. A multi-billion dollar enterprise would be born in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia arising directly from their culture. No more need to make powder cocaine as the economic incentive would not be there-the coca farmers could make as much money packaging coca tea (which, by the way is delicious) than selling their leaves to drug lords. Health and education opportunities would sprout throughout the region.

Unfortunately, because the markets aren't "free" and "open" Evo Morales and his farmers are outlaws, living in poverty and enemies of the United States. Their "taste" is not what the powerful are pushing, not for any moralistic reasons, but because of the loss of market share for those dictating the "taste" of the consumer.

Second, because there is such a disproportionate power inequality between the developed and the "third world" countries of the world, it is possible for the strong to implement selective barriers to "free" trade and competition as suits their needs. As a result, the US is able to attach steep tarriffs to textiles from Latin America without being penalized, while any attempt by a Latin American country to protect their industry is met with punishing sanctions.

Finally, because global capitalism is corrupt, blind and not-"free," there is a real risk of creating a global economy that is totalitarian in nature- capitalism at its extreme becomes fascism. Diversity in taste is not what the imperialistic powers want; that would hurt the profit margin of the corporations. Dictated taste is way more profitable. If globalization, as it is now being pushed- blind to its past and to the diversity of culture and ecology- wins out, a deeply divided world of haves and have nots will be created, living on a dangerously degraded planetary eco-system. Worse yet, there is a real risk of genocide.

The Challenge for Ecuador
Global capitalism is an idea or meme that has a predictable pattern: from its origin, it inevitably leads to imperialism. In addition, as a meme, it is particularly adept at seperating humans from their ties with their communal nature and from their ties to the environment. Instead, capitalism promotes individualistic behavior and plunges society into the proverbial rat race. Again, all this follows from a naturalistic analysis of capitalism.

The trick for Ecuador, for a sustainable future, is for its citizens to literally shed their artificial "rat" nature and return to a communal nature similar to that which governs indigenous Americans. This is not communism, it is communitism. To do this we as a society must excercise our brains. Through meditation and naturalist thinking, we must free our minds from the parasitic memes that mean to harm us at their benefit.

Through these excercises, we, as a society, will understand globalization/modernity for what it is ultimately- a question of "taste." Modernity is not always a good thing despite the ever present propaganda. Ancient practices have their validity. For example, take the resource management concept of "footprints" or amount of land needed to satisfy the energy requirements of each citizen. In modern societies like the USA, the footprint of each citizen is so large that if the rest of the world ever achieved American "modern" standards, we would need seven planet earths to meet our population's energy needs. The footprints for less modern sustenance farming societies, on the other hand, is far below that of modern industrial societies. In the long run, such sustenance farming practices are much more sustainable. The argument here is not that we Ecuadorians should all go pick up a shovel and hoe but that we should try to be as careful in our consumption patterns as possible for sustainable growth. In the end, who are we living for, ourselves? our children? our grandchildren? The answer to this question will say alot about our society. (In indigenous cosmology, the governing rule for taking on an action is would this action be beneficial for 7 future generations?)

The second step is cultural self-esteem. As globalization is also a question of imperialism, defending our tastes is of paramount importance for self-sustainability and freedom from oppression. And we must stay united. One of the rules of imperialism is divide and conquer. In global capitalism the best way to do this is to corrupt the leaders so they turn against the people. We cannot let this happen. Corruption must be stopped and it can if we are united!

Finally, being a united, truly free society, aware of our shared history, will help off-set external propaganda and imperialism and allow for the self-understanding of the need for environmental conservation and sustainable living practices. It is our only hope. Every other path leads to ruin.