“If Magna Carta is to be recovered in its fullness, we must bring with it all that can be obtained from these interpretations. The first one calls for the abolition of the commodity form of wealth that blocks the way to commoning. The second one gives us protection from intrusion by privatizers, autocrats, and militarists. The third one warns us against false idols. The fourth renews the right of resistance.” ~Peter Linebaugh, The Magna Carta Manifesto (2008)
800 Years after the Magna Carta, We’re Still Struggling with the King
Some things never change, and in a broad-brushed historical review one could reasonably say we’re still serfs — slaves to debt acquired from the oligarchs of finance. This week’s 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta serves to remind us that creating new publicly-owned banks is a defining step toward breaking free from living in total subservience to privileged private parties. Here are two birthday essays on the pivotal relevance of the Magna Carta to today’s struggles for justice and democracy.
And . . . Pope Francis Decries Economic/Environmental Injustice
“Economic powers continue to justify the current global system where priority tends to be given to speculation and the pursuit of financial gain,” he writes in his new encyclical. “As a result, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of the deified market, which becomes the only rule.” Read more here.
