[btu2012]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('buzzard', 'I')t seems that there may be a few others here who believe like I do that Politics as it is presently structured has outlived its usefulness on this planet.

[MrBean]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('btu2012', '
')It's common sense really. Furthermore supporting such dynamics in our societies is unethical, unless one views our societies as worthy of destruction.

[btu2012]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', 'P')erhaps worthy of destruktion in the Heideggerian sense, ie. breaking away from mental slavery to Western cultural conditioning by understanding its roots.

[btu2012]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', 'I') have no probelm with "Marxist just in name". A good critical theory is self-correcting and keeps evolving. What also makes common sense is not to exclude some line of thought and its supporters just because of name (and package of sins-mistakes - we all have more than enough of those to carry).

[Schadenfreude]

I've always seen political ideologies as thought systems that attempt to balance the capacity of human beings to act as self-interested individuals vs the capacity of human beings to act collectively. People act in both modes. And both modes are very important in history and current affairs.

Also, political ideologies are faced with basic inequalities between people. It seems a fact of Nature, that some people are born with talents/abilities/drives that a far, far greater than average. Depending on circumstances, the possessor of great intelligence or any of a variety of talents can succeed so easily against the average bear.

One political ideology might assert that it is immoral and counterproductive to place a yoke around the necks of the gifted in order to benefit the masses. Another political ideology might place the highest moral goal of protecting the masses against a conspiracy of elites. Because once a person or organization has gained great power and wealth, it is easy for them to squelch new competition. You can view the period in American that dealt with the "Robber Barons" as just this sort of thing - where gifted individuals form immensely powerful organizations that then squelch competition and prey upon the masses.

These are the facts of Life.

[eastbay]

I noticed the poll responses indicate only three who selected 'socialist'.

That's about how it generally starts. Then after a while, it's 100%.

[MrBean]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('btu2012', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', 'P')erhaps worthy of destruktion in the Heideggerian sense, ie. breaking away from mental slavery to Western cultural conditioning by understanding its roots.

[Fredrik]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I') noticed the poll responses indicate only three who selected 'socialist'.

That's about how it generally starts. Then after a while, it's 100%.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fredrik', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I') noticed the poll responses indicate only three who selected 'socialist'.

That's about how it generally starts. Then after a while, it's 100%.

[Fredrik]

Ten years from now, a $10 million annual income might be just enough to survive...

[btu2012]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', 'W')hat I don't like about any of the great religions of civilizations is their strong escapistic tendency - which of course can be understood also as critique of civilization(s) that gave birth to them.

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('btu2012', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JPL', 'T')hat's because it is due to a specific group. 'I' am not a problem & I am not in that group that is destroying the planet.

[btu2012]

Denial is not a river in Egypt.

You benefit from France's high energy consumption just like everyone else, even though you consume less than others in France.

Others die every day so that we can live in relative luxury. You know it and I know it and we all know it.

Just as you know what communism did to Eastern Europe and Russia, which doesn't stop you from ignoring it. It's OK since it didn't happen to you, your family or your country.

How convenient.

If you really looked for social justice, you wouldn't stop at wanting to slay the fat cats of Western capitalism (a not that large number of multimillionaires) but would discuss global justice, which would require massive redistribution of wealth from the rich world to the poor world.

Just as you want to slay those richer than you, there are about 5 billion people who could use the same argument to justify slaying you.

Such hypocrisy.

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('btu2012', 'D')enial is not a river in Egypt.

You benefit from France's high energy consumption just like everyone else, even though you consume less than others in France.

Others die every day so that we can live in relative luxury. You know it and I know it and we all know it.

Just as you know what communism did to Eastern Europe and Russia, which doesn't stop you from ignoring it. It's OK since it didn't happen to you, your family or your country.

How convenient.

If you really looked for social justice, you wouldn't stop at wanting to slay the fat cats of Western capitalism (a not that large number of multimillionaires) but would discuss global justice, which would require massive redistribution of wealth from the rich world to the poor world.

Just as you want to slay those richer than you, there are about 5 billion people who could use the same argument to justify slaying you.

Such hypocrisy.

[btu2012]

I thought that you were discussing Marxist ideology and communism. Perhaps you were not ?

My point is that most people in the West who support this ideology are hypocrites.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('btu2012', 'I') thought that you were discussing Marxist ideology and communism. Perhaps you were not ?


My point is that most people in the West who support this ideology are hypocrites.

[dunewalker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '
')
All the name-calling in the world isn't going to change the FACT that we're going to win.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dunewalker', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '
')
All the name-calling in the world isn't going to change the FACT that we're going to win.

[btu2012]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', ' ')You think the rapidly increasing masses of desperate poor are going to embrace capitalism?

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('btu2012', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', ' ')You think the rapidly increasing masses of desperate poor are going to embrace capitalism?