"Capitalistic society has no real respect for what are uniquely human qualities"- Really, name me one nation in world history that has performed better to raise standard of living for all citizens than the US.
Social Darwinism, funny, it is called personal responsibility and not expecting someone else to provide a life for you.
The Spirit of Capitalism And The Religion of Dehumanization
Samantha
2012/05/29 14:24:47
The individual person is no more. The independent, creative, personal, individual life exists only as romantic idea: a quality of life lived only the imagination of fantasy, movies, literature and myth. The real existence of the individual is that of a thing, a statistic, a quantum of labor, and market unit of disposable income. Capitalism's quest for profit and consumerism ethos has reduced every aspect of society- family, community, church, culture- to pure economic function and thereby defining what is reasonable, real, possible, good, and permissible. Theodor Adorno said of modern Capitalist society, "Life does not live."
Capitalistic society has no real respect for what are uniquely human qualities and a priori destroys any basis for valuing personhood because of its ideological view that everything is analyzable, manipulability, and can be controlled by technological reason. Facts replace values, and goal setting replace individual purpose and meaning. This materialistic presupposition helped achieve Capitalist domination over all aspects of society by utilizing mathematical science, technology, and capitalist economics as its industrial-educational institutions formulated them. Philosophy, History, Psychology, Sociology, Art, and Literature are given lesser status, but still are forced into a positivist scientific model.
"Economic struggle takes precedence over all other societal concerns. The ethos of struggle for economic survival overtakes every other individual human concern, even in an affluent society. 'Things' are awarded rights and privilege and are the truly valued members of society. War as economic competition between every person is the first principle of community and is played out repeatedly in all other human relationships. Society is divided by vocation and then divided by class. Labor must battle against Capital. Wage earner is pitted against manager. Emigrants are in struggle against natural citizens. Renter is against owner. Family is against family. Woman is against woman. Man is against man. The Other becomes the means for the Self which requires necessarily the negation of the Other. So all relations with the Other is a relation with the enemy thereby transforming society into a contest of tyrannies. And even time itself is divided between free creative time and wage earning time . Every economic relationship inherently destroys any natural, or organic tendency to form community. The spirit of Capitalism encourages, rewards, and perpetuates through this social-Darwinist model of struggle sociopathic and antisocial behavior of every conceivable kind throughout civil society." (Aggressiveness in Advanced Industrial Society, Herbert Marcuse).
Faith and the Will to Power:
Ron Suskind quoting a Bush aide in an interview:
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.'' (Ron Suskind interview)
Capitalistic society has no real respect for what are uniquely human qualities and a priori destroys any basis for valuing personhood because of its ideological view that everything is analyzable, manipulability, and can be controlled by technological reason. Facts replace values, and goal setting replace individual purpose and meaning. This materialistic presupposition helped achieve Capitalist domination over all aspects of society by utilizing mathematical science, technology, and capitalist economics as its industrial-educational institutions formulated them. Philosophy, History, Psychology, Sociology, Art, and Literature are given lesser status, but still are forced into a positivist scientific model.
"Economic struggle takes precedence over all other societal concerns. The ethos of struggle for economic survival overtakes every other individual human concern, even in an affluent society. 'Things' are awarded rights and privilege and are the truly valued members of society. War as economic competition between every person is the first principle of community and is played out repeatedly in all other human relationships. Society is divided by vocation and then divided by class. Labor must battle against Capital. Wage earner is pitted against manager. Emigrants are in struggle against natural citizens. Renter is against owner. Family is against family. Woman is against woman. Man is against man. The Other becomes the means for the Self which requires necessarily the negation of the Other. So all relations with the Other is a relation with the enemy thereby transforming society into a contest of tyrannies. And even time itself is divided between free creative time and wage earning time . Every economic relationship inherently destroys any natural, or organic tendency to form community. The spirit of Capitalism encourages, rewards, and perpetuates through this social-Darwinist model of struggle sociopathic and antisocial behavior of every conceivable kind throughout civil society." (Aggressiveness in Advanced Industrial Society, Herbert Marcuse).
Faith and the Will to Power:
Ron Suskind quoting a Bush aide in an interview:
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.'' (Ron Suskind interview)
Read More: http://www.oldamericancentury.org/whitepapers/defi...
Top Opinion
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Reichstolz 2012/05/29 14:38:41
I was taught, first by my parents and my grandparents after the untimely death of my parents, that human relationships are far more important than piling up personal possessions. Have you ever seen a U-Haul trailer being towed by a hearse?
Of course, I purchase some items. I need a computer for college; I admit to buying books because I love to read. However, I drive a car that was my mother's car. It's a restored VW Beetle from the 1970s; I can't justify spending $20K or 30K or 40K for a car.
I expect that, next, you may comment that I don't have any money. Well, in part, that's true. However, when I'm 25, I'll have more than enough money to live for the rest of my life (some of that money is now paying for my college education and some living expenses). I'd rather spent money for important things like, for example, paying for my grandparents recent vacation in Ireland. Those memories will last a lifetime and are priceless.
One other aspect of American consumerism is totally damaging to American society. It's the idea of instant gratification and the pro...
I was taught, first by my parents and my grandparents after the untimely death of my parents, that human relationships are far more important than piling up personal possessions. Have you ever seen a U-Haul trailer being towed by a hearse?
Of course, I purchase some items. I need a computer for college; I admit to buying books because I love to read. However, I drive a car that was my mother's car. It's a restored VW Beetle from the 1970s; I can't justify spending $20K or 30K or 40K for a car.
I expect that, next, you may comment that I don't have any money. Well, in part, that's true. However, when I'm 25, I'll have more than enough money to live for the rest of my life (some of that money is now paying for my college education and some living expenses). I'd rather spent money for important things like, for example, paying for my grandparents recent vacation in Ireland. Those memories will last a lifetime and are priceless.
One other aspect of American consumerism is totally damaging to American society. It's the idea of instant gratification and the proliferation of credit cards. On the first day of school at any college in the United States, there are tables where credit card companies are peddling credit cards. The worst part is they're issued to so many college kids who have no financial responsibility and it's the beginning of lifetime debt.
If there's an item I would like to purchase, I don't fall into the credit card trap. I save until I have money for it. When I earn my Ph.D. and begin a career, I don't want to begin my working life with huge debt.
The point is capitalism isn't the "pure blessing" so many on the right and left claim it is. It often has a very negative side especially when regulations are lacking or, worse, not enforced.
I too was taught the value of a dollar.
Here's hoping you succeed in whatever endeavor you choose!
I own one credit card.
I have never bought anything on credit.
It's amazing how quickly conservatives resort to demeaning public schools and universities; it's an example of the anti-education infection of the right.
Some of the best colleges/universities in the United States are public universities and students from all over the world want to be students at those schools.
Nothing demeaning except the effect it has on the children who believe the indoctrination.
Actually it is SAD!
http://www.nationofchange.org...
“The richest individuals and corporations are really good at building up fortunes. They’re even better at building up their job creator myth.”
Social Darwinism, funny, it is called personal responsibility and not expecting someone else to provide a life for you.
Secondly, only those who pay federal income tax support the various dullard deductions you speak of, so in reality it is not ALL tax payers, 50% of this nation pays nothing in federal income tax.
You can point out all the socialistic policies you would like, and from my assessment, they are the downfall of this nation.
Every system has a potential to be hurtful to some, as there are bad apples in a barrel.
I would say we've regulated business. Monopolies etc. How much more are you proposing?
I agree every system has its flaws; however, too many Americans are unwilling to seriously examine the flaws of capitalism and, especially, how unregulated capitalism has destroyed lives.
I propose a system where corporations are not classified as "people" and a system where corporations are free to make products, earn a profit but have societal responsibilities as well.
The problem with the "corporation is a person" crowd is they push that agenda but, at the same time, never require corporations to experience the consequences of bad decisions/behavior that conservatives demand of other Americans.
Too many people are lazy and don't attempt to achieve what they are capable of, but rather exist on what the govt. is willing to dole to them via welfare, food stamps, etc. when it is a known fact that SOME of those people are 'working' the system.
Are you one of those? Do you contribute anything to society?
Have you started a business and employ people?