It's ok to be angry about capitalism
- Thread starter XsjadoBlaydette
- Start date
Having nowhere near that kinda money or stable income, I would literally just have to run away from help if that were me
So, I love the Culture series by Ian Banks. It's actually the series that got me into science fiction. For those not familiar with it, the Culture itself is a utopian anarcho-communist spacefaring society that serves as the background for the stories. The fact that the Culture is anarcho-communist is not subtext. It is extremely text. The term literally appears on multiple occasions. It is constantly emphasized that the Culture does not use money. The book Player of Games is a thinly veiled critique of capitalism.
But somehow, there has always been a sizeable contingent of American libertarians (including Elon Musk, who seems to particularly love Player of Games) who are really, really into the series because they see the Culture as indicative of "American values".
These people genuinely believe that a society where everyone can have basically anything they want and has nearly limitless freedom must be in some way a capitalist society because in their mind capitalism = freedom/high standard of living/anything good, to the point of believing that capitalism does not actually require money. Even literally using the words is not enough to make them realize that what they actually want isn't capitalism.
This is what the end of history does to a MF.
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Can't stand that channel. Do they at least debunk stupid ass blue light filtering glasses?
Man who spent $6.2 million on banana duct-taped to wall says he's going to eat it
Cryptocurrency investor Justin Sun was the highest bidder for the a-peel-ing artwork at a Sotheby's auction.
It's both infuriating and hilarious.
Also
I helped set up a multidisciplinary symposium on sleep back about 2015.
Overally, a major tl;dr of the speakers' views was "We're probably sleeping okay: stop worrying so much".
Google co-founder Larry Page to leave his fortune to Elon Musk? Here’s why
Larry Page once made a statement that left the tech world buzzing
gulfnews.com
I think the thing that perhaps bothers me about the hero worship of billionaires is that very little respect is reciprocated. I suspect most of them fear and hate the general public.Indeed, moving to a dead planet is a great solution to humanity's failings on this one.Google co-founder Larry Page to leave his fortune to Elon Musk? Here’s why
Larry Page once made a statement that left the tech world buzzing
They fear that one day we might use our numbers to take away their shinies, they hate us for not letting them do as they wish, with added contempt that they fundamentally view us as inferior. I think they're possibly afraid that one day people might realise they're just guys who struck lucky by being in the right place and time, and they never actually had anything that raised them above thousands, tens of thousands of others in a similar position who could have as easily got lucky.
I almost get it, in that honestly I'm not at all sure the world would be any worse if we did just tax the crap out of them to stop many of them becoming so absurdly rich, so no wonder they throw so much time and effort at trying to make sure we don't.
A lot of the super-rich have convinced themselves that they got that way through nothing but their own hard work and natural superiority, but I think at least most of them know deep down that it's all bullshit- but to actually acknowledge it would obliterate their fragile egos.
Depends. I'm sure there are narcissistically inclined ones with fragile egos, but I also think some have long since utterly convinced themselves of their own superiority down to the core, and the only way they'll be convinced otherwise is utter failure or being torn down.
Insurance problems won’t go away by glorifying a murder
When and why did the United States turn into such a cesspool of hatred? Some people may disagree with that characterization. But events last week have or should put those questions front and center because the kind of cold-hearted reaction we have witnessed is disgusting. See what you think...
www.timesrepublican.com
"While I don't condone political violence," they always say as a disclaimer. So, what, they want people to just vote, knowing the lobbyists' money always has more political sway, knowing how greedy politicians are, knowing the power of the media and political ads? Historically, positive movements in equity and redistribution of wealth were brought about by violence. He's a hero. That CEO was a monster.
Whilst violence is in many ways objectionable, I cannot help but feel that a certain level of violence - or the threat of it - can be quite healthy.Insurance problems won’t go away by glorifying a murder
When and why did the United States turn into such a cesspool of hatred? Some people may disagree with that characterization. But events last week have or should put those questions front and center because the kind of cold-hearted reaction we have witnessed is disgusting. See what you think...
Just imagine how many corporate arseholes - and governments - temper their behaviour due to the risk of people deciding to tear shit up. Thus why the rich put so much effort into getting the government to protect them. And maybe if they got less protection, they might be more circumspect.
Peaceful protests need the threat of violence to function, especially when a good 40% of the country is perfectly okay with using lethal vigilante violence against peaceful but disruptive protests.
One of the many lessons of New Mobile Report Gundam Wing
One of the many lessons of New Mobile Report Gundam Wing
Society needs to be more open about the fact that sometimes violence IS the answer.
Even without actual approval, a degree of tolerance can exist. MLK said that "a riot is the voice of the unheard". To stress, he's not advocating riots, he's pointing out that at some point, with enough suffering and injustice, violence will be an inevitability. When that stage is reached, one could argue that it becomes questionable to punish the resultant violence.