![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
defrogI’m not anti-capitalist by any measure (unless the measuring is being done by Sean Hannity, in which case I’m the chief of the Commie wing of al-Qaeda), but I do think that we're less than honest with ourselves about its virtues.
Capitalism thrives on the illusion that everyone has an equal shot at being a millionaire. Technically that’s true. The part they leave out is that most of us won’t make it for various reasons – a chief one being that capitalism also thrives on a cheap labor force ... which wouldn’t exist if everyone were rich.
Which may or may not explain why CEOs at places like AIG and GM get to fire the underlings and give themselves bonuses. But you can’t expect the working class to have much of a sense of humor about it, either, not for what they're paid. And you can’t blame them for seeing capitalism as a rigged game.
John Lennon understood that better than most people even back in the 60s. Some people like to discredit him with the old “self-hating rich” tag, but I never bought that one. Even if it’s true, I still think Lennon wrote one of the best songs ever about the dark side of capitalism, that shows in no uncertain terms that for all its benefits, there are still tradeoffs that may or may not be worth the price in the long run.
Doped with religion and sex and TV,
This is dF
Capitalism thrives on the illusion that everyone has an equal shot at being a millionaire. Technically that’s true. The part they leave out is that most of us won’t make it for various reasons – a chief one being that capitalism also thrives on a cheap labor force ... which wouldn’t exist if everyone were rich.
Which may or may not explain why CEOs at places like AIG and GM get to fire the underlings and give themselves bonuses. But you can’t expect the working class to have much of a sense of humor about it, either, not for what they're paid. And you can’t blame them for seeing capitalism as a rigged game.
John Lennon understood that better than most people even back in the 60s. Some people like to discredit him with the old “self-hating rich” tag, but I never bought that one. Even if it’s true, I still think Lennon wrote one of the best songs ever about the dark side of capitalism, that shows in no uncertain terms that for all its benefits, there are still tradeoffs that may or may not be worth the price in the long run.
Doped with religion and sex and TV,
This is dF
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2009-05-04 06:28 am (UTC)All the stuff I do is just a stop gap so I don't get overwhelmed with the big ugly picture. I am thrilled that I get it, maybe because it feeds the part of myself that likes feeling sad.
Beating up captains of industry is a lot more fun than gushing over new furniture, though. : )
This is a 27 hour conversation just waiting to happen...
on 2009-05-05 03:43 am (UTC)My main argument against capitalism when the screaming match arises is that it's based on endless competition. I always say, "you know, treating life like a frickin' football game is fine and dandy, but when you lose a football game, they losers just go home, regroup, and get ready for the next game. In life, the winners get really nice cars and head to the islands for beach volleyball, while you and your family get to not fucking eat..."
And I have a real problem with that. But I certainly don't think that Socialism or Communism is the answer. These goddamned isms make my back hurt....
Have any idea who made the video? It's top notch...
Re: This is a 27 hour conversation just waiting to happen...
on 2009-05-05 02:06 pm (UTC)As for the competition angle ... well, yeah, we'll be here all week, but for me it's not the competition so much as the emphasis on winning, which can too easily become "winning at all costs". That old saying "Whoever dies with the most toys wins?" If you actually believe that, yr part of the problem. Or you recently received an exec bonus from AIG.