tlmorg02
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...and Imperialism is about power and money.
Hitler wasn't driven by money but by megalomaniacal ambition. His henchmen lived in opulence whilst Hitler's own home surroundings were modest in comparison.
This obsession that everyone does anything just for the money (except the pure dropout folk on the communal Left) in my opinion blinds you to Communism's practical faults whilst inflating your perception of the pitfalls of Capitalism, a true standalone economic system.
Hitler wasn't driven by money but by megalomaniacal ambition. His henchmen lived in opulence whilst Hitler's own home surroundings were modest in comparison.
This obsession that everyone does anything just for the money (except the pure dropout folk on the communal Left) in my opinion blinds you to Communism's practical faults whilst inflating your perception of the pitfalls of Capitalism, a true standalone economic system.
Hitler was obsessed with the power and wealth of the Germanic people no matter how modest the surroundings he placed himself in.
Communism is about the fair distribution of power and wealth.
Capitalism is about the aquisition of power and wealth and ALWAYS leads to extremes of power and wealth in the absence of HEALTHY democracy with an informed and educated population.
I disagree that greed is a natural human instinct, in fact I'd go so far as to say that cooperation and sharing are far more powerful human instincts.
Really! You do not think greed is a natural human instinct? Have you never heard a toddler yell "Mine!" as they grab their toy from another child.
I was perhaps overegging that statement but, in children that is generally a lack of empathy/ability to see the world through other people's eyes. As they get older most children develope out of that; those that don't tend to end up as sociopaths.
Capitalism is about the aquisition of power and wealth and ALWAYS leads to extremes of power and wealth in the absence of HEALTHY democracy with an informed and educated population.
Ahhhhh! Realist theory! Power and money explain every conflict in the world. I do not necessarily subscribe to all of the tenents of Realist Theory, but it does have its points. And there has never been a war in which people are not looking to make money.
No, you are correct about Hitler's ambitions indeed. The truth of the matter is that the Utopian political ideologies can never work because one would have to assume that human nature would change. As greed will never be suppressed in human nature, communism and socialism will not be true to their theories in the "real world."
Capitalism counts on human nature and especially greed. Therefore it is by far the most likely to succeed. However, capitalism must be kept in check by regulation, to simply nuture greed and not balance it will lead nations right back to the 1920's America and even farther to wealthy and poor, no middle whatsoever.
Not everyone would agree. John Rawls in his 'veil of ignorance' [social contract theory] suggests if we [hypothetically] are placed not knowing or being aware of our situation we would naturally look out for others...
Veil of ignorance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul
whites in the southern United States, pre-Civil War, did indeed condone slavery, but they most likely would not have done so had there been a re-fashioning of society so that they would not know whether they would be the ones enslaved.
Not everyone would agree. John Rawls in his 'veil of ignorance' [social contract theory] suggests if we [hypothetically] are placed not knowing or being aware of our situation we would naturally look out for others...
Veil of ignorance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul
Interesting idea Paul.
I think the thing is Paul, people tend to create political philosophies or even psychological ones based on themselves.
I remember reading Friedman's belief that we were all little robinsoe cruseos living just for ourselves. According to him if we were going down the street with friends and we came on a $10 bill we would never think of sharing it with those friends. We would just put it in our pockets - this was a few years ago when $10 was worth a bit more.
He was on Thatcher's reading list. One of the ones she liked most. Because of this her policies were based believing this was the prototype of human rather than an illustration of a somewhat damaged one. To not have empathy for others is surely a psychological damaged person.
I think the thing is Paul, people tend to create political philosophies or even psychological ones based on themselves.
Communists from Lenin to Mao to Pol Pot have tried to create a 'new man', one who is indifferent to improving their position in life and that we all will eventually be one with the universe. After over 100 million deaths this murderous philosophy was finally defeated, though not yet abandoned by those whose thinking fails to extent beyond its 'money bad' limitations.
No, you are correct about Hitler's ambitions indeed. The truth of the matter is that the Utopian political ideologies can never work because one would have to assume that human nature would change. As greed will never be suppressed in human nature, communism and socialism will not be true to their theories in the "real world."
Capitalism counts on human nature and especially greed. Therefore it is by far the most likely to succeed. However, capitalism must be kept in check by regulation, to simply nuture greed and not balance it will lead nations right back to the 1920's America and even farther to wealthy and poor, no middle whatsoever.
What do you mean? This agrees perfectly with me. The veil of ignorance works on people not knowing their situation, thus fearing for themselves. Even the example shows selfishness:
The only way people would not have condoned slavery was if their was a chance of them being enslaved....sounds like self preservation through group preservation to me.
I'm not sure you fully understand,
"For example, in the imaginary society, one might or might not be intelligent, rich, or born into a preferred class. Since one may occupy any position in the society once the veil is lifted, this theory encourages thinking about society from the perspective of all members".
The bolded is the pertinent point in Rawls opinion in this state of nature we are concerned about society as a whole rather than an individualistic approach.
I think Hobbes social contract theory is more in-line to what your suggesting,
"In addition to Subjectivism, Hobbes also infers from his mechanistic theory of human nature that humans are necessarily and exclusively self-interested. All men pursue only what they perceive to be in their own individually considered best interests" [...]
This of course if you agree with the principles of social contract theory
Social Contract Theory*[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]
Paul
Indeed, so brutal is Communism that Kruschev is given credit for reform which 'softened' the USSR so much that he had the reputation of being the first deposed leader not to be murdered!
QUOTE]
I wasn't aware the USSR actually reached Communism rather, it languished with the dictatorship of the proletariat so true communism was never experienced .
Paul
Lol what a silly post
...it languished with the dictatorship of the proletariat so true communism was never experienced .
And yes, I do agree with Hobbes and social contract theory.
I do not think anyone is arguing that people do not possess empathy or compassion, however I assert that in the West where we celebrate "individualism" the self-satifying part of our nature outweights the rest.
People feel bad for others, just usually not enough to do anything about it if it costs them anything meaningful. Sure, it is easy to donate some money when you have the extra money, but try to when money is tight or to actually donate significant amounts of time to a good cause. Empathy is what we are talking about here, people relate and are sad, but rarely help unless it is something traumatic that really moves them.
As you previously suggest they are just theories but its surprising how many of these theories actually underpin government policy
Paul
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