New Rasmussen Report Indicates 53% of Americans Prefer Capitalism

A new Rasmussen Report came out yesterday, April 9, found here, indicating that "only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism."

Investors, according to the Report, by a 5-to-1 margin choose capitalism. As for those who do not invest, 40% say capitalism is better while 25% prefer socialism.

The Report also notes a a partisan gap as well. Republicans - by an 11-to-1 margin - favor capitalism. Democrats are much more closely divided: Just 39% say capitalism is better while 30% prefer socialism. As for those not affiliated with either major political party, 48% say capitalism is best, and 21% opt for socialism.

Buried in the report's findings is the following statement: "The question posed by Rasmussen Reports did not define either capitalism or socialism".

What?!!?! Can this really be an effective poll given that no definition of each is offered prior to the survey? Both terms are incredibly loaded. Socialism to many has a negative connotation, especially here in the United States. So much so that the next logical question --- what is socialism and what would it look like -- is never even considered.

Welcome to Richistan

In an interesting article entitled The Rich and the Rest of Us, published in the June, 2008 edition of the Nation magazine, authors John Cavanagh & Chuck Collins point out that "[t]he richest 1 percent of Americans currently hold wealth worth $16.8 trillion, nearly $2 trillion more than the bottom 90 percent. A worker making $10 an hour would have to labor for more than 10,000 years to earn what one of the 400 richest Americans pocketed in 2005."

They claim that Richistan did not suddenly appear in the United States, but instead evolved as a result of a three-decade "war against common sense" that "has preached that tax cuts for the rich help the poor, that labor unions keep workers from prospering, that regulations protecting consumers attack freedom. Duly inspired, our elected officials have rewritten rules that run our economy -- on taxes and trade, on wage policies and public spending -- to benefit wealthy asset owners and global corporations."

What is Enlightenment?

From the SGI-USA website:

The word enlightenment calls to mind those who practice austerities and thereby gain extraordinary powers beyond the reach of common mortals. Nichiren Daishonin, however, taught that enlightenment, or Buddhahood, is a condition of life accessible to everyone, under any circumstances, by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

It is only our inability to believe this— what we call our fundamental darkness or delusion—that prevents us from calling forth our Buddhahood.

Nichiren explains: “When deluded, one is called an ordinary being, but when enlightened, one is called a Buddha. This is similar to a tarnished mirror that will shine like a jewel when polished. A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night.How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-rengekyo” (“On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 4).

We “arouse deep faith” by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon with the firm conviction that we already possess Buddhahood. This conviction overrides our habits and preconceived attitudes, enabling us to call forth the Buddha’s courage, compassion and wisdom, which we can apply to any circumstance. Even the daily challenges we face head-on become the means by which we can live fulfilled, happy lives.

Using the analogy of a lion, Nichiren describes how this powerful animal unleashes the same force “whether he traps a tiny ant or attacks a fierce animal” (“Reply to Kyo’o,” WND-1, 412).

Our inherent Buddhahood is the source of limitless power and wisdom that enables us to tackle any situation, however big or small, and guides us toward the best course of action.

Enlightenment is not a fixed state we someday achieve. Rather, it is a lifelong process of challenge and renewal—a vigilant championing of the inherent dignity of life through thought, word and deed.

Revisiting Marx

I could write quite a bit about Marx. To fend off any NSA observers or those that are quick to judge, I’m not a communist (nor have I ever been a communist).

However, I do not believe that we have ever witnessed, in the known history of the world, a truly socialist state --- as Marx defined socialism.

I also do not believe Marx advocated for the overthrow of any government (despite popular belief that he did, thanks to Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917). Instead, I believe Marx’s theory was descriptive – he described what he believed was the natural evolution of social systems, beginning with feudalism and its evolution into capitalism, and the evolution of capitalism to socialism. In other words, Marx believed socialism was inevitable. As the contradictions of capitalism become more apparent to the proletariat, or the workers, inevitably, according to Marx, the proletariat would rise up and take back the means of production.

Today, Marx and his theories are quickly dismissed for a few reasons. First, people understandably but mistakenly attribute the failed Soviet Union as an example of Marx’s theories in practice. The other reason is, well, we live in a capitalist society. Marx himself realized that the ruling ideas of any epoch are the ideas of the ruling class. The ruling class, in capitalist society, are the owners of the means of production, the bourgeois.

In any event, one of the redeeming features of Marxist political theory is it can provide a useful framework to understand many of today’s perceived social crisis and problems. It provides a prism, so to speak, by which we can analyze the basis and causes of modern social phenomena.

Why, you ask, am I writing about this on a blog that ostensibly deals with Buddhism? Well, I actually believe there is a relationship between Buddhism and socialism. More on this in blogs to come. It will also help explain my way of thinking about the world in which we find ourselves...

"What the Bleep Do We Know?" and Nichiren Buddhism

This movie, while a bit older now (released in February, 2004) is an incredible illustration of the science behind Nichiren Buddhism, although the label Nichiren Buddhism is never used. It brings to life “enlightenment” in a way that could previously only be described, but not defined, with words.

I’ve read many essays and other literature about the overlap between the latest in quantum physics and Buddhism (the best I’ve read is Life, An Enigma, a Precious Jewel, by Daisaku Ikeda, Kodansha Int.’l Ltd., 1982), but this medium is unique in its ability to teach where the latest theories are headed and where we are.

It’s worth renting. The movie's website is: www.whatthebleep.com

After seeing this film I have a new perspective in answering the question “Why chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” and not something else?” Nam Myoho Renge Kyo has now been chanted for at least 700 years. In light of this film, I believe it must be the case that unique pathways and connections have developed around the sounds Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, not only in mind but also at the quantum level through space.

Jag me sabse bara rupaiya beta baap bada na bahia

In hindi there is an old proverb, "Jag me sabse bara rupaiya beta baap bada na bahia", which roughly means that "money is the greatest thing in the world and son, father or brother means nothing..."

When I was younger, I sometimes wondered why it was that families would fight over money, or why life-long partners could decide to divorce after years of being together. I've had two experiences in the past few years which have helped me better understand why some relationships come to a bitter end.

The first involved my business partner in what is now pretty much a failed venture. For a couple of years, everything was going smoothly. Our relationship was growing. The prospects for the business looked encouraging. He and I became good buddies; our families spent time together and we learned a great deal about each other. We were on a natural high with the dreams we both mutually shared.

When the business became strapped for cash, however, and we both realized the ship was sinking, things changed - quickly. My friend of so many years suddenly demanded to be in charge (before this point, we were both equal "co-owners"). We started to disagree on very fundamental decisions. When I refused to give-in, the business soon thereafter folded, and we never spoke again --- that was about 2 years ago. In the end, things got ugly.

The second experience involves my dad, who recently passed away. Once again this evil headed monster -- power and control -- is beginning to show its ugly head once again. This time, unfortunately, with my brother.

I'm amazed how money, power, and control change people even with the best intentions. My former business partner and friend of many years, and now, my brother, seem to be strangers.

This is obviously a big challenge for me to deal with. And i'm guessing it won't be the last time. I'm feeling betrayed, frustrated, hurt, and more than anything else, angry!

Question: What does Nichiren Buddhism say about this situation?

Answer: Well, there's a lot I believe it says.

First, I started with a Buddhist definition of anger -- the Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism says, on "anger", the following:

"In Buddhism, one of the three poisons, or three sources of vice and suffering, the other two being greed and foolishness. In Buddhism, anger refers particularly to malice born of hatred and is regarded as a great obstacle to Buddhist practice. It is seen as preventing one's heart from turning to goodness and as destroying the good roots of benefit accumulated through Buddhist practice. T'ient'ai (538-597) says in The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra, "Because anger increases in intensity, armed strife occurs. Buddhism emphasizes the practice of compassion and forbearance."

Ok...that helps...a little. But I know the anger is still there.

Second, Nichiren Buddhism speaks quite a bit of mirrors. Indeed, so much so that we believe human relations function as a kind of mirror -- we believe the people around us reflect our own state of life. I know this may be hard to swallow for casual readers of this blog, unexperienced with the daily practice of Nichiren Buddhism. So let me try to explain a little more to see if I can explain why we believe this.

"The environment that we find ourselves in, whether favorable or not, is the product of our own life. Most people fail to understand this, and tend to blame others for their troubles. To a greater or lesser extent, all people tend to see their own reflection in others. To a person who is possessed by the lust for power, even the most selfless, benevolent actions of others will appear as cunning moves undertaken to gain power. Similarly, to a person who has a strong desire for fame, actions based on conviction and consideration will be seen as publicity stunts. Those who have become slaves of money simply cannot believe that there are people in the world who are strangers to the desire for wealth."

How does this help me as a Buddhist living in modern-day society - as opposed to packing up, selling everything, and moving to a cave in the Himalayas? Well, it reminds me that ultimately, responsiblity for my environment -- and the people I find in it -- is completely my doing. That is to say, the environment in which I find myself, at any given moment, is the result of a series of choices i've made in the past.

My former business partner, and my brother, are reflections of my state of life. My state of life represents the outcome, or effect, of all of my past decisions and actions, or causes.

So I will chant to elevate my life-condition from one of anger to one of compassion, patience, and altruism. I'm going to chant to let go of the anger. And when my life-condition improves, I suspect, and as Nichiren Buddhism predicts, so too will my environment.