[MD] freedom is for the rich

[Stephen Hannon]

[Steve H]
Sorry I meant to say "utilitarian" not "unitarian."  (that's what I
get for posting at 1 am and not paying attention to what I'm typing!)

Regards,
Steve H

On 11/21/06, Stephen Hannon <stevehannon at gmail.com> wrote:
> [Steve H previously in another thread]
> I think we can all agree that some people in the world are extremely
> rich, while others suffer in extreme poverty.  I think the original
> point to this thread was:
>
> Does capitalism require that some people suffer in such extreme poverty?
> If it doesn't than why do some people suffer in extreme poverty?
>
> [gav]
> under capitalism only a small percentage of people are
> ever going to be rich and therefore free. their wealth
> depends on the relative poverty of most. their wealth
> is generated from the labour of the poor. this is a
> law of capitalism.
>
> [Steve H]
> Exactly.  But what is poverty exactly?  I tried to clarify myself in
> that thread but seemed to have failed.  Do we define it as living
> "below the poverty line"?  At what level do we draw that line?  It
> seems like even if we (as a society) defined a poverty line and
> succeded in providing every family in the world with enough to live
> over that line, inflation would simply raise prices and force a
> redefinition of the poverty line.
>
> As a society we seem to be stuck in capitalism.  Hmmm, stuckness.
> Sounds like a gumption trap :-)  I think we need to figure out as a
> society what is our goal with an economic system.  Do we want maximum
> individual freedom only (egoism) or do we want a lot of individual
> freedom but still help others in emergencies (unitarian)?  I would go
> vote the unitarian side but then how do we define emergencies?
>
> I mention Peter Singer and his book "One World: The Ethics of
> Globalization" in the other post.  He is also unitarian.  Has anyone
> heard of it?  Also, these issues don't necessarily have to be
> discussed on a global scale.  As Case said, we have povery-stricken
> people right in our towns and cities too (Singer makes a case that
> proximity should play a role in whom we help).
>
> Some thoughts,
> Steve H
>
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