Our Motion of the Week series has hitherto been directed at Holyrood but with Edinburgh Council putting forward a brave and seemingly truly historic motion yesterday, there could be only one winner.

I was only able to find the original motion put forward (by Maggie Chapman of the Scottish Greens) so if the motion was amended I shall update the below accordingly (see bottom of post for the motion).

It is sad though, and not a little bit depressing, that the concept of industry and business being a vehicle for social equality and tackling poverty is now held up as being an extreme view, a radical position.

Alex Massie, not altogether unsurprisingly, has labelled Edinburgh Council ‘the dumbest council in Britain’ with a bafflingly circular argument that goes thus:

“Given that financial services are a significant, even vital, part of Edinburgh’s economy and the campers are expressly and especially hostile to financial services this could be considered an odd move by the council. Nevertheless and naturally, all parties with the merciful exception of the Conservatives agreed to recognise and endorse the Occupy movement. This alone provides some reason to support the Tories at the next election.”

So because financial services are the Occupy movement’s ‘baddies’, and Edinburgh Council is backing the aims of Occupy, it somehow follows quid pro quo that Edinburgh Council considers financial services as a whole to be their ‘baddies’ by extension. I fear Alex has been reading too many comic books again.

Of course councils want to boost business in their local areas, financial services or otherwise, but there’s an overdue question that needs answered as to whether billion-pound profit companies are a credit to society or a drain when it’s not at all clear how the wealth that is created, both commercially and individually, percolates down to those that need it most.

After all, the direction of travel is worrying. The Financial Stability Board recently released a list of 29 “systemically important banks” that have been deemed so crucial to the global economy that they are effectively too big to fail. These include RBS, Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays, firewalling them from ever going to the wall (though coming at the price of increased capital ratios).

Can Capitalism work on behalf of the neediest in society when the richest and most powerful institutions not only consider themselves to be above the fray but are considered by others to be above the fray? I would say definitely not when there isn’t the political will to stand up to business and Capitalism and mould it into what it needs to be, particularly when there is so much public complacency and almost guilty acquiescence.

So a hearty congratulations to Edinburgh for inviting the unavoidable opprobrium by challenging Capitalism as it currently stands today.

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
24th November 2011
GREEN GROUP MOTION

Support for Occupy Edinburgh motion

Council:
Notes that the encampment of citizens in St. Andrew Square, ‘Occupy Edinburgh’, represents one part of a growing, global movement for real democracy, authentic global equality and justice, and a sustainable economic and ecological future;

Notes that this occupation, together with the more than 1000 others worldwide, is not simply a protest, but an effort to bring to life the inclusive, equitable and sustainable systems desired;

Notes that this movement, and its participants in Edinburgh, have significant support in the wider population;

Believes that given the mistakes made by financial traders, the profits of these companies and their shareholders should be tapped before cuts are made to public sector spending. It is unacceptable that bailouts are being paid for at the expense of public services, and this must never be allowed to happen again;

Believes that an economy functional only on top of endlessly growing consumption is causing significant environmental damage and must ultimately deplete our planet’s resources and cause irreversible environmental damage. This must end now;

Believes that these demands are not only fair, but are in fact the only reasonable response in the face of the crisis faced by our current economic system, our communities and our planet;

Believes that, by setting a example, Edinburgh can help our national governments, and the wider world, to finally accept the real and fundamental changes that are so desperately needed to salvage a sustainable future;

Thus supports the values of Occupy Edinburgh;

Supports the participants of the St. Andrew Square occupation in demanding that these values be recognised and acted upon by all governmental bodies in the UK, and worldwide;

Commits to return our democracy to the people, and to work together immediately to create a new, sustainable and equitable Scotland.

Proposed: Maggie Chapman