“The question of socialism or communism or capitalism or between the left and right – I think the important question is between the industrial society and the earth-based society. And I say that because I believe that capitalism and communism are really much more about how the wealth is distributed, if it trickles down or is appropriated at the beginning to those who have worked for it. But, you know, someone has to question where the wealth came from. What right does society have to the wealth? What is the relationship between that society and the land from which it got its wealth? Those are the questions that should be asked.”
In this quote by Winona LaDuke, she emphasizes the importance of shifting the focus from traditional political ideologies like socialism, communism, and capitalism to a more critical examination of the relationship between society and the environment. LaDuke argues that the key question to consider is not how wealth is distributed, but rather, where that wealth ultimately comes from. By questioning the origins of wealth and the impact society has on the Earth, LaDuke prompts readers to think about the sustainability and ethics of our current economic systems.
In this quote, Winona LaDuke emphasizes the need to shift the focus of political and economic debates from capitalism versus communism to a more fundamental question: the relationship between industrial society and the earth-based society. She believes that it is crucial to consider the origins of wealth and the connections between society and the land in discussions about economic systems.
“And one day we must ask the question, "Why are there forty million poor people in America?" And when you begin to ask that question, you are raising questions about the economic system, about a broader distribution of wealth. When you ask that question, you begin to question the capitalistic economy.”
“The basic confrontation which seemed to be colonialism versus anti-colonialism, indeed capitalism versus socialism, is already losing its importance. What matters today, the issue which blocks the horizon, is the need for a redistribution of wealth. Humanity will have to address this question, no matter how devastating the consequences may be.”
“I think the key indicator for wealth is not good grades, work ethic, or IQ. I believe it's relationships. Ask yourself two questions: How many people do I know, and how much ransom money could I get for each one?”
“...capitalism may be the unequal distribution of wealth, socialism is the equal distribution of poverty.”
“Usually when people talk about the trickle-down theory, it has to do with economics. The richer people at the top of a society become, supposedly, the more wealth there is to trickle down to the people below. It never really works out that way, of course, because if there are 2 things people at the top can't stand, they have to be leakage and overflow.”