Join The Higherside Chats podcast as host, Greg Carlwood, discusses “The Cancer of Capitalism”, with philosophy professor and author, John McMurtry.

We have watched the disease that is Private Fractional Reserve banking and the “profit or bust” mindset slowly erode and infect nearly every aspect of life- from the exhausted environment, to the march of the military industrial complex, to the lives spent in unfulfilling jobs just to pay off the debt that got them there. Our societal and personal motivations are so warped by this green monopoly money that people regularly debate what behaviors truly reflect human nature and what can be credited to the crack-like addiction we have to this cycle of greed, debt, and consumerism.

While it is a lot to unpack, and may of us recognize this destructive and sociopathic system cannot continue, we need the communal equivalent of a full medical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan, before much can be done.

Today’s guest, John McMurtry has authored several books including, “The Cancer Stage of Capitalism”, is a retired professor of Philosophy, expert in Value-theory, physician of finance and doctor of the debt based system of rule.

2:12 To kick things off, John begins by expanding on the metaphor of cancer he often uses to diagnosis the current conditions of our economy and society. As he explains, To kick things off, John begins by expanding on the metaphor of cancer he often uses to diagnosis the current conditions of our economy and society. As he explains, Fractional Reserve banking is likely the original disorder and very much a key part of the cancer system . According to McMurtry, the cancer system is the disease, and the disease is: transnational money sequences, which have escalated to superseding all life needs.

12:01 With transnational money sequences acting as a cancer to society, and their ability to metastasize being aided through Fractional Reserve banking and trade treaties, With transnational money sequences acting as a cancer to society, and their ability to metastasize being aided through Fractional Reserve banking and trade treaties, Donald Trump’s ability to capture the attention of disenfranchised victim’s of this cancer is due in large part to the mainstream media’s blackout of this topic. A dispossessed society, feeling unheard has witnessed the corporate media’s refusal to acknowledge their fight against a cancer system that will ultimately, by it’s very nature kill them. Along with a defeated society, another tentacle on this cancerous octopus is the military industrial complex. Acting as a means to commit eco-genocide, this faction of the cancer equation, spearheaded by among others the hawkish Hillary Clinton, has been a constant blemish bankrupting society and negating all life needs, as cancer does.

20:01 John elaborates on the dichotomy that “The most suppressed issues of our epoch is the war between life capital on one hand and money capital on the other.” After covering how the money system operates, what it’s achieved and how it’s come to form as this cancer stage, McMurtry explains there is a deeper question to be examined. John elaborates on the dichotomy that “The most suppressed issues of our epoch is the war between life capital on one hand and money capital on the other.” After covering how the money system operates, what it’s achieved and how it’s come to form as this cancer stage, McMurtry explains there is a deeper question to be examined. The concept of rationality itself , or self-maximizing choice and preference, comes into play in these philosophies and is the foundation for understanding the the complex web of life and money capital.

26:42 In John’s book, he refers to In John’s book, he refers to economics as a pseudo-science and has a section with the heading: Methodological Censorship in the Academy. Listen as Greg and John discuss they ways the school system has been set up to influence our thoughts on economics and how the teachings are skewed to hide a lot of critical points of McMurtry’s work. He also describes the deeply entrenched systems in place throughout our government to allow this corporate corruption and cancer to continue to metastasize throughout our society using treaties and transnational money sequencing.

38:47 While many of us can see the things that need in order to preserve life capital above all else, but the real question is how do we get there? As a philosopher, McMurtry is able to see the things that ultimately decide what’s happening with our principles. As John explains, his work is based on understanding the regulating principles, or in scientific terms the laws, the governing aspects of society and the economy such as the While many of us can see the things that need in order to preserve life capital above all else, but the real question is how do we get there? As a philosopher, McMurtry is able to see the things that ultimately decide what’s happening with our principles. As John explains, his work is based on understanding the regulating principles, or in scientific terms the laws, the governing aspects of society and the economy such as the life and money sequencing values

43:40 With everything involved in the war between life capital and money capital, it’s easy to see how the system is designed with various pseudo-levels that parcel the population into segregated schools of thought, and allow us to vote and debate while the real influence is beyond our reach. As John explains, although we may see a swap in branding or figureheads through elections, the governing principles haven’t changed. He continues by discussing the governing principles as applied to an individual level and living in a way that is life coherent.

49:42 While everyone can agree that living a more principled life is a good thing, many argue that While everyone can agree that living a more principled life is a good thing, many argue that capitalism is responsible for pulling people out of poverty and fueling technological advancement. With some saying isn’t capitalism to blame, but rather the centralization of things to blame, Greg and John discuss the Libertarian ideology and as it applies to living as life coherent and adhering to the life value principles. As John explains, it is the public sector, faced with the charge of working for the people that is responsible for many technological advances or at the very least a predecessor to many private sector advances.

58:00 The privatization of the medical and The privatization of the medical and prison systems have caused a huge problem within the system people are operating in . John provides a great example of how the governing principle of the money sequencing values has hampered the growth of technological advancement in the medicinal field because, maximizing results and efficiency, undercuts the bottom line. And maintain the bottom line, means prioritizing money over life coherency.

1:01:50 To take this philosophy to other real world examples, Greg and John discuss To take this philosophy to other real world examples, Greg and John discuss New Zealand, as a great case study for some of the underlying capitalist issues , during the mid-80s into the 90s. They go onto to discuss the possibility of collapse and whether this unsustainable system is actually nearing a breaking point. They also examine the rolls and motivation of both Clinton and Trump, their domestic and international agendas, and their attempts to propagate a failing system.

1:18:15 One of the core concepts examined in the One of the core concepts examined in the Zeitgeist movies is the argument of nature vs. nurture. Are people inherently good, but trapped in a system that forces them to ignore life value? Or, is greed bound to prevail in any system? As John explains, the best way to understand depends on what game you’re playing.

1:29:30 When considering long term security for new a system, it’s easy to struggle with understanding how this can be achieved while preventing the rise of nefarious forces like we currently have. Greg and John discuss the ways in which the new rules should be written to ensure centralization doesn’t lead to corruption.

1:46:20 True human nature can be deduced down to understanding the principles that we live by. When our principles are dictated by money, human nature reflects these principles. Whereas, as Greg and John have explained, if the fundamental principles are shifted to life coherency, so too human nature will shift. Unfortunately, these principles are deeply ingrained throughout every facet of society, and are therefore incredibly difficult to circumvent.