: : In general, societies with low rates of INEQUALITY, be they rich or poor, tend to have extremely low crime rates. For example, 5 of the lowest 10 murder rates occur in West Africa, suggesting that culture is a major determinant of the crime rate. These societies all have reasonably egalitarian structures and place a strong value on the common good rather than individual gain. More generally, however, crime rates tend to be highest in highly unequal societies like Brazil and Colombia where there is a predatory bourgeois class and a large, alkienated majority. As Marx said, capitalism and inequality tend to breed alienation, and as we have seen simnce then, alienation breeds crime. : If it's such a good question then answer it. First, if you need to search the entire world and find Pygmies as your positive true example of collectivist thought, I suggest you are missing a few points.
What in Vishnu's name (I was trying to make sure I didn't offend you with my blasphemy) are you talking about? Did you only read one line of my post and mischaracterize the whole message? I believe I stated that MOST societies past and present are "collectivist", at least compared to modern America. Specifically, I cited West African countries (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau) as examples of societies having extremely low crime rates. Pygmies do not live in any of these cpountries. In case you are still wondering, tehre are a number of societies where murder and punishment are both extremely rare- examples include the San of the Kalahari Desert, the Bhutanese, the Hunzakuts in teh Karakoram Mountains, the Maldivians, and according to Mr. Fassbinder teh Semai of Malaysia.
Many liberals say that the root cause of crime is poverty. I find thsi simplistic and somewhat offensive, the real thing that seems to be correlated to high crime is inequality. Of course, other factors play a part, such as the individualistic, selfish culture prevalent in modern America since about 1979 and teh erady availability of guns.
: 1. Is there no downside to the Pygmie culture?
Yes: all hunter-gatherer societies can only support a small population, although sometimes at a relativbely high nutritional level (not necessarily a disadvantage)- also, disease is fairly common.
: 2. Are you apprised of all the facts in the matter of Pygmie culture?
No. Are you fully apprised of every fact pertaining to Americamn culture? Is anyone? I think not.
: 3. Is there no upside to capitalism when compared to Pygmie culture?
By the way, the adjective is "Pygmy". Do you mean, are their advantages to MODERNITY? Of course. Access to books, transportation, wider variety of food and goods, better shelter, better health care, etc. However, tehse things are not specific to "capitalism" or to ';communism", but rather are signs of "modernity". In fact, they would probably be accessible to more people under communsim tahn under capitalism. As an economic system, I am not aware of any advantages taht capitalism has over socialist democracy.
: 4. Can the Pygmie culture be sustainable if projected to cover the entire planet?
Absolutely not. The big drawback of all hunter-gatherer societies is taht tehy can only support a small population. US culture, of course, is not in the elast sustainmable either. Basically our choices are to reduce our population or to settle for a South American-style lifestyle.
: 5. Do you support any particular practical plan to impose Pygmie values upon me?
No. Why do you endorse American effrots to impose the capitalist lifestyle on the suffering people of Nicaragua, Brazil, Guatemala, etc.
: Secondly, answer my question. What happens when an anarchist steps out of line. Do you really assume that collectivist systems solve crime problems?
I don't assume anything. I just looked at the crime statistics and concldued that the fundamental causes for the high crime rates in countries like america, Brazil and Colombia are 1) inequality, 2) socialalienation, and 3) a culture taht exalts violence and selfishness. Crime rates tend to be low in countries like the West African ones cited above, also Ireland, Finland, and a handful of repressive nations liek China and Iran.
How do YOU explain these observations?
: Stuart Gort
None.
