- Capitalism and Alternatives -

the major change

Posted by: Gee ( si ) on September 27, 1999 at 15:48:46:

In Reply to: Work posted by Barry Stoller on September 27, 1999 at 01:25:27:

: the Western working class does have its automobiles, TV, fast food, clothing, etc., and these acquisitions---as time has shown---petition a great deal of loyalty to current power relations.

Thats because they want them. Why they do is irrelavent to the immediate truth of that.

: This, obviously, would be greatly facilitated by a transformation of our consumerist way of living that necessitates such 'menial' work (such as private restaurants instead of public dining halls).

Smashing stuff is no doubt the desire of many socialists but the above 'says it all'. Trying to change 'the system' without reducing the demand for that which drives it is about as ineffectual and wasteful (counter effective) as trying to stop the drug trade when people want drugs or trying to stop the fur trade when people want furs.

Observe the success of the anti-fur appeals in advertising and discourse, people didnt want as many furs. Thats the only avenue open to you. When people genuinely desire to eat in 'public dining halls' instead of private restaurants (or infront of the TV, or as an exclusive family) thats when we could talk about all those other things

I wont hold my breath for the above changes to take place.


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