"If allowed to run free of the social system, capitalism will attempt to corrupt and undermine democracy, which is after all not a natural state"
- John Ralston Saul
About this Quote
This quote by John Ralston Saul recommends that capitalism, if left uncontrolled, will certainly have a negative effect on freedom. Capitalism is driven by the quest of profit and wide range, and also if it is not regulated by a social system, it will try to threaten democracy. This is since democracy is not a natural state, but instead a system of governance that is produced and preserved by individuals. Without the appropriate checks as well as equilibriums, commercialism will certainly seek to exploit the system for its very own gain, resulting in a decrease in freedom as well as an increase in inequality. Therefore, it is very important to guarantee that commercialism is maintained in check by a social system in order to protect democracy and also make sure that every person has a level playing field to join the political process.