From the co-author of Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude,   a review of Thomas Pikkety’s landmark work of 2013, Capital in the 21st Century.  Some select quotes from the review:

For those aware of the basic orthodoxies of contemporary economics, Piketty’s work presents substantial arguments. The most important of these is a well-documented rejection of the widespread assumption that capitalism leads not only to greater economic success but also to greater equality in the long run

This insight highlights the inadequacy of a politic organized around commerce and the holding of personal property.  As a theological people who consult Biblical traditions for insight into the history of God’s people,  we see alternative ways of economic living. The Book of Acts description of the first Christian community describes an organization around principles other than personal property.  This also suggests that the organization of capitalism is not the ultimate principle of arrangement, nor the only ethical or just way of ordering relationships and mediating exchanges in the commons;  not the ultimate or only way of providing for the common good;  indeed whether it is good at all.

What Piketty best for the most part, and what might in the end save us, are efforts to organize the power that emerges from below.

I’m reminded here about the PeoplesClimate march,  as well as Occupy.   The PeoplesClimate March,  as well as Naomi Klein in her just released book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate,  talk about how the movment has to come from below;  from the people, since the political system has become so beholden to the sway of the elite and the corporations.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has demonstrated some potential, which was great enough that the powers that be were forced to smash it.

via Imagining Life Beyond Capital – By Joerg Rieger – The Marginalia Review of Books.

We’ve also seen a strong movement spring up and endure in #Ferguson over the issue of police force and racism.  The reactions of the Ferguson police and the city and state structures,  and even the Federal government which made visits and set up investigations,  but seems to have made little difference in the reactions of the  local police department.  This is the way the federal government seems to handle these things.  Lip service is payed to the problem,  and expressions of understanding toward the ones facing the injustices,  but in the end,  not moving to mandate or require justice being served.  Constant police pressure and intimidations ,  to provoke some response,  then move to crack down and break up the gatherings and arrests are made,  and repeat the process until someone’s hand is forced to achieve some resolution or end.  Seems to be a process of gradually wearing down the resistance until the light of public attention wanes,  and the resistance fades.  Running out the clock .  Assuring the maintenance of the status quo.  Something which the church throughout its history has become accustomed to facing.