What if we had to make a choice between two quintessential American beliefs: Capitalism and Democracy? Which do we choose?

As a society, we may well ask ourselves, what is the ultimate purpose of money if it’s not to satisfy human needs and reduce human suffering? Is it possible to make large amounts of money but not create real wealth? What is the difference between our present form of capitalism and a true, self-regulating market economy?

In this frank interview with noted author and visionary David Korten, he minces no words about the dangers our current capitalist system poses to democracy and how Wall Street undermines the well-being of society, threatening civilization itself. The creation of real wealth, Korten argues, by satisfying true human needs, broadly strengthens members of society, enhances local communities and protects the environment which is the foundation for all living things.

Korten warns that we are living again in a Plutocracy, where the financial elites of society control the political, social, and economic levers that mainly serve their narrow interests to the detriment of society.

Although this interview took place in October of 2010, nothing has changed since then (certainly not for the better), and political gridlock in Washington is stronger than ever. National unemployment remains disastrously high, and one in 4 homes (as of November, 2009) are underwater (where borrowers owe more to the banks than their houses are worth), where the rate of homeowners classified as being in serious distress (either in foreclosure, or 90 days past due on their mortgage payments) is hovering around 12% this year (2011).

In the meantime, Wall Street executives continue much as before, despite their 700 million in public bailout support, there is little concomitant political will to fund the creation of jobs for those newly unemployed; to provide real help to homeowners that are in foreclosure; or to seriously investigate those in financial power for possible criminal wrongdoing that resulted in the near collapse of the financial system, and subsequent fallout to mainstreet and the public that has ensued.

If ever there were a call for the winds of change, it’s howling now.