Mwaka 2007 ulikuwa wakati usio na mfano katika historia; utajiri uliozalishwa katika mwaka huo ulifikia rekodi ya dola trilioni 54, kiasi kikubwa zaidi kuwahi kuzalishwa katika mwaka wowote katika historia. Baada ya Vita vya Pili vya Dunia, uchumi wa dunia ulikuwa dola trilioni 1 tu. Kupitishwa kwa Ubepari barani Ulaya kulianzisha mapinduzi ya viwanda, ambayo yamesababisha ustawi na maendeleo yasiyo na kikomo, ambayo hayajawahi kulinganishwa katika historia.

Year 2007 was an unprecedented time in history; the wealth generated in the year reached a record $54 trillion, the most generated in any year in history. After World War 2 the world economy was a mere $1 trillion. The adoption of Capitalism in Europe set in motion the industrial revolution which has led to unqualified prosperity and progress, unmatched in history.

Wafuasi wa Ubepari tangu kuanguka kwa Ukomunisti wanaendelea kuikumbusha dunia jinsi idadi ya watu duniani ilivyo na ustawi, hata ukizingatia maendeleo ya Ubepari wenyewe. Baadhi ya wabepari wamefikia hata kuwa wabaguzi 'kistaarabu' - kama neno kama hilo lipo - kwa kujiona wao ni bora kuliko kila ustaarabu mwingine. Waziri Mkuu wa Italia, Silvio Berlusconi, alijivunia baada ya matukio ya 9/11, akisema: 'Lazima tufahamu ubora wa ustaarabu wetu, mfumo ambao umehakikisha ustawi, heshima kwa haki za binadamu na - tofauti na nchi za Kiislamu - heshima kwa haki za kidini na kisiasa, mfumo ambao una maadili ya kuelewa utofauti na uvumilivu... Magharibi itawashinda watu, kama ilivyoshinda Ukomunisti, hata kama itamaanisha kukabiliana na ustaarabu mwingine, ule wa Kiislamu, uliokwama pale ulipokuwa miaka 1,400 iliyopita.'29 Jarida la The Economist lilikuwa na ujasiri hata katikati ya msukosuko wa mdororo wa mikopo duniani kusema:

Advocates of Capitalism since the fall of Communism continue to remind the world how prosperous the world’s population is, even considering Capitalism’s progress itself. Some capitalists have even been ‘civilisationally’ racist - if such a term existed - due to considering themselves superior to every other civilisation. The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi boasted after the events of 9/11, ‘we must be aware of the superiority of our civilisation, a system that has guaranteed well being, respect for human rights and - in contrast with Islamic countries - respect for religious and political rights, a system that has its values understanding of diversity and tolerance…The West will conquer peoples, like it conquered Communism, even if it means a confrontation with another civilisation, the Islamic one, stuck where it was 1,400 years ago.’29 The Economist even had the audacity in the middle of the global credit crunch meltdown to say:

Mapovu, ziada na msiba ni sehemu ya kifurushi cha fedha za Magharibi. Na bado inafaa.

‘Bubbles, excess and calamity are part of the package of Western finance. And still it is worth it.

Kwa Magharibi, Ubepari ni sawa na maendeleo yenyewe. Njia ambayo Magharibi ilipitia hadi kufikia madai hayo makubwa inaitwa historia, na kila kitu kingine kinachukuliwa kuwa cha kizamani na kinahitaji mageuzi. Hata hivyo, mahali ambapo dai kama hilo linaanzia ndipo tatizo lenyewe lilipo.

For the West, Capitalism is synonymous to progress itself. The path the West took to achieve such grand claims is called history and everything else is considered primitive and in need of a reformation. However, the place where such a claim begins is essentially where the problem lies.

Kipimo cha maendeleo kwa Wakapitalisti ni kiasi cha utajiri unaozalishwa na uchumi wa dunia – Pato la Taifa la Ndani (GDP). Uvumbuzi wa teknolojia na ugunduzi wa kisayansi ni zana za kufanya uzalishaji na viwanda viwe na ufanisi zaidi, na kuupa uchumi uwezo wa kutoa zaidi kutoka kwa kidogo. Hata hivyo, ni nini kilichoendesha sayansi na teknolojia? Ni jambo moja kudai kwamba ustaarabu wa mtu ni bora zaidi. Lakini kuangalia sababu zake kunaonyesha jinsi ubora huo ulivyopatikana. Uingereza inachukuliwa kuwa taifa la kwanza duniani kuwa la viwanda, na hili lilisukumwa na hamu ya kutawala ulimwengu kwa ukoloni. Faida ya Uingereza baharini ilisababisha kuibuka kwa mifumo mipya ya kazi na maendeleo ya taasisi. Mkusanyiko wa malighafi za watu waliokoloniwa ulisababisha ongezeko kubwa la utajiri wa Uingereza.

The measure of progress for Capitalists is the amount of wealth generated by the world economy – Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The invention of technology and scientific discoveries are tools to make production and industry more efficient and give the economy the ability to pump more out of less. However, what has driven science and technology? It is one thing to claim one’s civilisation is superior. However, looking at the causes highlights how such superiority was achieved. Britain is considered the world’s first nation to industrialise and this was driven by the desire to colonise the world. Britain’s advantage on the oceans led to the development of new working patterns and institutional development. The accumulation of the colonised people’s raw materials led to a huge increase in Britain’s wealth.

Maendeleo ya teknolojia na mafanikio mengi ya kisayansi yamesukumwa kwa kiasi kikubwa na vita, hasa vita viwili vya dunia. Ni vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe vya Marekani vilivyopelekea kubuniwa kwa manowari. Haja ya kushinda Vita vya Kwanza vya Dunia ilisukuma maendeleo ya reli.

The development of technology and most scientific breakthroughs have to a large extent been driven by wars and especially both the world wars. It was the US civil war that led to the development of submarines. The need to win World War 1 drove the development of railways.

Ingawa reli zilikuwepo kabla ya vita kwa muda mrefu, maendeleo makubwa yalifanywa ili kusafirisha wanajeshi wakati wa vita. Kupitia Operesheni Paperclip, ambayo ilikuwa ni kuwateka nyara wanasayansi na teknolojia ya Kinazi, Marekani ilianzisha mpango kabambe katika teknolojia ya roketi. Maendeleo katika teknolojia ya roketi yalisababisha mbio za anga za juu, uundaji wa makombora ya balistiki, satelaiti na kompyuta za awali. Ubunifu kama huu ndio uliowezesha kutengenezwa kwa bidhaa nyingi za matumizi ya kawaida ambazo zimekuwa vitu vya kawaida majumbani. Injini ya mwako iliyotumika katika magari na ndege ilitokana na mahitaji ya usafiri wakati wa Vita vya Kwanza vya Dunia. Televisheni, redio ya kisasa n.k., zilitengenezwa kutokana na haja ya kupunguza ukubwa wa taarifa muhimu zilizokuwa kwenye skrini za vyumba vya marubani na kuwasiliana na marubani wa ndege za kivita. Kuna uvumbuzi wachache tu uliofanyika nje ya jeshi na ambao haukuhitajika kwa ajili ya vita.

Although railways existed well before the war huge advances were made in order to transport troops during the war. Through Operation Paperclip, which was the kidnapping of Nazi scientists and technology the United States embarked upon an ambitious program in rocketry. The developments in rocketry led to the space race, the development of ballistic missiles, satellites and primitive computers. Such innovations are what allowed the development of a number of consumer items which have become common household items. The combustion engine used in both cars and aeroplanes was a result of the mobility needed in World War 1. Televisions, the modern radio etc., were developed from the need to miniaturize essential information on cockpit screens and communicate with fighter jet pilots. There are only a handful of inventions that took place outside the military and were not needed for war.

Ingawa Magharibi ya kibepari ina nafasi ya kuwa ndiyo yenye maendeleo ya kiteknolojia zaidi katika historia, utafutaji wa rasilimali, ukoloni na vita vimekuwa ndivyo vinavyobainisha ubora wa kiteknolojia na kisayansi wa Magharibi.

Although the capitalist West has the position of being the most technologically advanced in history, the search for resources, colonialism and war has characterised Western technological and scientific prowess.

Ubepari unaweza kuwa umezalisha utajiri kwa kiwango ambacho hakijawahi kutokea hapo awali. Hata hivyo, kuna mambo kadhaa ambayo yanapaswa pia kuthibitishwa nayo. Uchumi wa dunia huenda ukizalisha utajiri wa kihistoria, huku demokrasia huria zikiongoza mchakato huo, lakini nusu ya wakazi wa dunia leo hawatakuwa wamepata chakula cha kutosha kwa sababu wanapata chini ya dola 2 kwa siku, na asilimia 95 ya dunia wanaishi kwa chini ya dola 10 kwa siku.

Capitalism may have driven wealth creation like never before. However, there are a number of developments that it should also be certified with. The world economy maybe generating record wealth with liberal democracies driving this, but half of the world’s population will not have had enough food today as they earn less then $2 a day – 95% of the world lives on less then $10 a day.

Umaskini duniani umeongezeka kwa kasi chini ya Ubepari. Ulikuwa ni Ulaya ndiyo iliyokuwa ikigombania rasilimali duniani kote zamani, ilhali leo nafasi yake imechukuliwa na Marekani. Kilichobadilika tangu karne ya 19 ni kwamba bunduki imebadilishwa na kiwanda, utumwa umebadilishwa na ulaji wa bidhaa kupita kiasi, majeshi yamebadilishwa na vyombo vya habari, na kilimo cha kujikimu kimebadilishwa na masoko ya fedha.

World poverty has accelerated under Capitalism. It was Europe that scrambled for resources around the world in the past, whereas today they have been replaced by the US. All that has changed from the 19th century is that the gun has been replaced by the factory, slavery has been replaced by consumerism, armies have been replaced by the media and subsistence farming has been replaced by the financial markets.

Mafanikio yanayofuata ya ubepari yamezalisha mpasuko mkubwa kabisa wa utajiri katika historia ya dunia. Wakati sehemu kubwa ya dunia ikiishi kwa dola chache tu kwa siku, Marekani ina idadi kubwa ya mabilionea wa dunia, katika kile ambacho ni uchumi wa dunia usio na usawa mkubwa kuliko wote katika historia ya binadamu. Mwaka 2006, Taasisi ya Dunia ya Utafiti wa Uchumi wa Maendeleo ya Umoja wa Mataifa ilitoa matokeo ya utafiti wa kimataifa. Baadhi ya matokeo yake yanastaajabisha. Kwa kukusanya utafiti kutoka nchi mbalimbali duniani, utafiti huo ulihitimisha kwamba asilimia 1 tajiri zaidi duniani inamiliki asilimia 40 ya utajiri wa sayari, na kwamba asilimia 10 tu ya idadi ya watu duniani inamiliki asilimia 85 ya mali za dunia.32 Richard Robbins katika kitabu chake kilichoshinda tuzo, ‘Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism’, alilithibitisha hili aliposema: ‘Kuibuka kwa Ubepari kunawakilisha utamaduni ambao kwa njia nyingi ni wenye mafanikio zaidi kuwahi kutumika katika kuwapa faraja na anasa kubwa, ya kiasi na ya kabisa, idadi kubwa ya watu. Haujafanikiwa kwa kiwango hicho, hata hivyo, katika kuwajumuisha wote kwa usawa, na kushindwa kwake hapa bado ni mojawapo ya matatizo yake makubwa.’ Ubepari pia umezalisha dunia yenye madeni makubwa zaidi katika historia, ambapo watu binafsi na mataifa wana madeni yanayozidi mapato yao. Ukweli kwamba dunia ilizalisha dola trilioni 54 hauna maana wakati sehemu kubwa ya fedha hizo imefadhiliwa na madeni. Ulimwengu wa Magharibi umekuwa na mtazamo wa kutumia zaidi ya kile kinachohitajika kweli, na sehemu kubwa ya hili inafadhiliwa kwa madeni kwa kuwa sehemu kubwa ya utajiri unaozalishwa iko mikononi mwa wachache. Marekani, nguvu kuu ya dunia, uchumi mkubwa zaidi duniani na kwa wengi ishara ya mafanikio ya Ubepari, inazama katika dhiki ya madeni, jambo ambalo mgogoro wa mikopo ulilidhihirisha wazi. Marekani ilizalisha karibu dola trilioni 14 mwaka 2007, lakini deni la taifa – hii ni fedha ambayo serikali kuu na serikali ya shirikisho inadaiwa umma wa Marekani na dunia kupitia hati fungani walizouza – linasimama kwa dola trilioni 9.7. Wamarekani wana hamu kubwa ya bidhaa za nje na mali isiyohamishika. Matokeo yake, deni la watumiaji limefikia dola trilioni 11.4. Madeni ya kampuni za Marekani yanafikia dola trilioni 18.4.

Capitalism’s next success has been creating history’s greatest ever wealth fault line. Whilst the majority of the world barely survives on a few dollars, the US has most of the world’s billionaires, in what is mankind’s greatest lopsided world economy. In 2006 the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the UN released the culmination of a global study. A number of its findings are staggering. By gathering research from countries all over the world the study concluded that the richest 1% of the world owns 40% of the planet's wealth and that only 10% of the world’s population owned 85% of the world’s assets.32 Richard Robbins in his award winning book ‘Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism’ confirmed this when he said: ‘The emergence of Capitalism represents a culture that is in many ways is the most successful that has ever been deployed in terms of accommodating large numbers of individuals in relative and absolute comfort and luxury. It has not been as successful, however, in integrating all in equal measure, and its failure here remains one of its major problems.’ Capitalism has also created the most indebted world in history, where individuals and nations have more debt than income. The fact that the world generated $54 trillion is irrelevant when most of this has been funded by debt. The Western world has become obsessed by consuming more then it really needs and most of this is funded by debt as most of the wealth generated is in the hands of a few. The USA, the world’s superpower, the world’s largest economy and for many a symbol of Capitalism’s success is drowning in a misery of debt, which the credit crunch crisis brought to the forefront. The US generated nearly $14 trillion in 2007, however the national debt – this is money the central and federal governments owe to the US public and the world through the bonds they have sold - stands at $9.7 trillion. US citizens have a huge appetite for imports and real estate. As a result consumer debt stands at $11.4 trillion. The debts of US companies amounts to $18.4 trillion.

Hii inaifanya Marekani kuwa na deni la karibu dola trilioni 40 – karibu asilimia 75 ya kile ulimwengu unachozalisha. Wamarekani milioni 37 wanaishi chini ya mstari wa umaskini. Jitihada ya kibepari ya ukuaji wa kiuchumi usiokoma imeuzamisha ulimwengu kwenye fedha ambazo hauzimiliki, jambo ambalo linafanya ustawi ambao wanaliberali wanatukumbusha mara kwa mara kuwa haujalishi. Ubepari ulipewa jina kwa sababu ya kipengele chake kikuu zaidi (mtaji). Unaifanya utajiri wa mali kuwa lengo kuu maishani; bila hilo, maisha hayana thamani ya kuishi. Hali hii iliifanya tabaka la kifalme kushawishi serikali za kitaifa ili kuhakikisha zinalinda utajiri wao na kuchukua hatua zitakazowawezesha kuongeza utajiri zaidi. Tabaka la kifalme likabadilishwa na kampuni na wakuu wa makampuni makubwa kama John Rockefeller katika mafuta, Henry Ford katika magari, Jay Gould katika reli, J. Pierpont Morgan katika benki, na Andrew Carnegie katika chuma. Serikali za Magharibi zilipanga ukoloni wa dunia, huku wabepari – makampuni makubwa – wakizidi kukusanya utajiri zaidi. Ilikuwa ni athari za Vita vya Kwanza vya Dunia ndizo za kwanza zilizoilazimu Magharibi kushughulikia tofauti kubwa za utajiri, kwa kuwa haikuwezekana kwa uchumi wa Magharibi kujinasua kutoka kwenye kuporomoka pale ambapo sehemu kubwa ya wananchi wao walikuwa na utajiri mdogo sana wa kutumia. Tatizo hili ndilo lililozaa utamaduni wa ulaji (consumerism), ambapo matumizi, kufurahia uvumbuzi mpya na mitindo mipya vingekuwa lengo la maisha, na wakati huo huo kusaidia kwa urahisi kuchochea uchumi.

This makes the US indebted to the tune of just under $40 trillion – nearly 75% of what the world produces. 37 million Americans live below the poverty line. Capitalism’s continued endeavour of perpetual economic growth has drowned the world in money it does not have which makes the prosperity liberals insistence on reminding us, rather irrelevant. Capitalism was named after its most prominent aspect (capital). It makes material wealth the ultimate aim in life, without this life is not worth living. This led the aristocracy to influence national governments to ensure they maintain their wealth and undertake actions for the aristocracy to make more wealth. The aristocracy came to be replaced by companies and big business heads such as John Rockefeller in Oil, Henry Ford in Automobiles, Jay Gould in railroads, J. Pierpont Morgan in Banking and Andrew Carnegie in steel. Governments in the West organised the colonisation of the world whilst the capitalist – big businesses - accumulated even more wealth. It was initially the effects of World War 1 that forced the West to address the massive wealth disparities since it was impossible for Western economies to pull themselves out of a downturn when the majority of their population had very little wealth to spend. It was this problem which led to the creation of consumerism where spending, enjoying new inventions and new fads would become life’s aim and at the same time conveniently helped stimulate the economy.

Ubepari daima utazalisha utajiri kwa kuwa ubepari unahusu ukuaji wa kiuchumi wa milele.

Capitalism will always generate wealth as Capitalism is all about perpetual economic growth.

Hata hivyo, hayo ndiyo yote ambayo Ubepari unahusu. Hauzingatii sana ugawaji wa utajiri wake mkubwa.

However, this is all Capitalism is about. It pays little attention to the distribution of its vast wealth.

Haijali kidogo sana ikiwa bara zima linaishi katika umaskini kutokana na ukoloni wake, au kama mara nyingi wanavyoliita: biashara huria na utandawazi. Ubepari, mbali na kuwa bora zaidi, kwa kweli umekuwa janga.

It cares little if anything if whole continents live in poverty due to their colonisation or as they usually term it - free trade and globalisation. Capitalism far from being superior has actually been a disaster.