- Capitalism and Alternatives -

well...

Posted by: bill on November 18, 1999 at 18:00:39:

In Reply to: Another perspective posted by Samuel Day Fassbinder on November 18, 1999 at 08:26:51:

: : : How come this:

: : : "We are concerned about inequality precisely because it upsets us Emotionally to witness suffering. (and this trait is a biological given - though it may be, and has been, subverted)"

: SDF: I think I'm concerned with inequality not out of any Pavlovian reflex but rather out of the knowledge that everyone could have a BETTER SOCIETY if the "production lines of inequality" were halted once and for all.

bill:
Too simplistic. Everybody wants a "BETTER" anything. You have to show whyproduction lines of inequality should be halted. Are you going to appeal to "efficiency"?


SDF:
This knowledge is a cultural product.

bill:
All knowledge is a cultural product. So what?

SDF:
And what's more, I'm right.


bill:
And I'm Always right. (until proven otherwise - then I become right again)

: : : : Then there is the matter of 'creeping privilege'. These are concerns about those objective expressions of values (Me First) that are integral to the Capitalist System.

: SDF: Possessive individualism is culturally-determined too. What's more, I would argue that there are cultural variants upon capitalist systems... US capitalism, British capitalism, Japanese capitalism, etc.
bill:
Agreed

This "capitalism creates its own gravediggers" notion, though, appears to me to be completely unproven.

bill:
No. In the sense that "class war" and dialectics is not completely proven.



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  • er... Samuel Day Fassbinder Citizens for Mustard Greens USA November 19 1999 (1)

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