Excellent article... beautifully written. At this point, the concept of Resourceism ( which was a new term to me) seems almost a necessity for any social order if the planet is to survive. I don't have my own substack to restack this article... I wonder if there is a way to print it from your substack.. It would be a good article to hand out to people on March 28. Thank you for sharing this article...
I've known certain members of the Republican party are driven from the extremes of ideology synchronized with and by wealth. In the early 1980s a member tried to convince me that having just one party to make this country successful. The party member was actually a normal and rational person; he was obviously convinced by external sources in this way of thinking.
I was also exposed to some of the worst of wealthy extremists. Their belief was that they should be allowed to run their business without any governmental or social interference. They should be allowed to determine salaries, hours, safety, work conditions and interaction with workers. In the past these concepts have driven poverty, high casualties, horrific working and living conditions. Unsaid was this approach created optimal profit at minimal cost or responsibility. Workers were a easily replaceable commodity and only had the life deserved by being pawns.
This condition of environment led to the inevitably slave like employment. Mines were notorious for setting up work camps much like concentration camps. Workers or families could not leave without permission, and relatives could not visit without prior permission. Company stores were mandated, creating a monopoly on necessary goods. Workers were at the mercy of the company for everything; generally they were in debt to stores, and therefore the company. During beneficial periods when workers started buying goods above bare subsistence salaries were cut and hours were increased to optimize company profits. All this is very true and well documented. To believe industrialists would take care of workers, families, environment, with out public backed governance are naive. Corporate and financial promises make politicians appear honest with their rhetoric.
Nothing in wealth exists without absolute selfishness. Building and hoarding wealth becomes much like an antisocial addiction. Those involved consider themselves as superior individuals; the rest of us are replaceable commodities, and somewhat less than fully human. Everyone outside of this wealth is either a potential servant, or an unwanted irritation, always in the way.
We are being given a 'civics' lesson front stage and center. How many will hear the political message and internalize the economic one?
Excellent article... beautifully written. At this point, the concept of Resourceism ( which was a new term to me) seems almost a necessity for any social order if the planet is to survive. I don't have my own substack to restack this article... I wonder if there is a way to print it from your substack.. It would be a good article to hand out to people on March 28. Thank you for sharing this article...
Also:
On Windows, press Ctrl + P
On Mac, press Command + P
On phone or tablet, open the browser share menu or the browser menu and tap Print, or save as PDF if that option appears
Thank you so much. Here is one resource: https://substackprint.com/
De tes lèvres aux oreilles de Dieu
Yes, indeed. We hope.
Thank you for this! My thoughts mirror these, reformation of democracy is needed, and you outlined the key points.
I've known certain members of the Republican party are driven from the extremes of ideology synchronized with and by wealth. In the early 1980s a member tried to convince me that having just one party to make this country successful. The party member was actually a normal and rational person; he was obviously convinced by external sources in this way of thinking.
I was also exposed to some of the worst of wealthy extremists. Their belief was that they should be allowed to run their business without any governmental or social interference. They should be allowed to determine salaries, hours, safety, work conditions and interaction with workers. In the past these concepts have driven poverty, high casualties, horrific working and living conditions. Unsaid was this approach created optimal profit at minimal cost or responsibility. Workers were a easily replaceable commodity and only had the life deserved by being pawns.
This condition of environment led to the inevitably slave like employment. Mines were notorious for setting up work camps much like concentration camps. Workers or families could not leave without permission, and relatives could not visit without prior permission. Company stores were mandated, creating a monopoly on necessary goods. Workers were at the mercy of the company for everything; generally they were in debt to stores, and therefore the company. During beneficial periods when workers started buying goods above bare subsistence salaries were cut and hours were increased to optimize company profits. All this is very true and well documented. To believe industrialists would take care of workers, families, environment, with out public backed governance are naive. Corporate and financial promises make politicians appear honest with their rhetoric.
Nothing in wealth exists without absolute selfishness. Building and hoarding wealth becomes much like an antisocial addiction. Those involved consider themselves as superior individuals; the rest of us are replaceable commodities, and somewhat less than fully human. Everyone outside of this wealth is either a potential servant, or an unwanted irritation, always in the way.
Gonna need some guillotines.