[MD] The Trouble With Wilber

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Arlo Bensinger <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Platt]
> Do you deny that "they" refers to capitalists? If so, who does "they" 
> refer to that you mentioned in previous statements?
> 
> [Arlo]
> I'll answer your one pointed question.
> 
> The "they" referred, as Pirsig pointed out, to "right-wing politicians".

It's no leap or distortion to go from right-wing politicians to capitalists. Left
wing politicians are socialists. Pirsig makes the distinction clear in Lila when he
talk about how capitalism is so much better than socialism in allowing DQ to flourish. 

>  From my original post.
> 
> "The whole "bash the Academy" crowd, which pretty much defines 
> right-wing politics, uses the same rhetoric generation in and 
> generation out. They labeled Pirsig a "radical professor" fifty years 
> ago, and still use that tired phrase with each new round of nonsense."

To my mind what defines right-wing politics is support of capitalism. Most
professors don't, preferring either a mixed economy or, more likely, socialism.  

> When asked about being branded a "radical professor", Pirsig replied 
> "But that was just right-wing politics." Indeed.
> 
> You may interpret "right-wing politicians" as "xenophobic wing-nuts" 
> if you like, but given the fact that Pirsig himself is a "capitalist" 
> and yet also a "lifelong democrat", I hardly think you can make the 
> "right-wing politician=capitalist" substitution.

I wonder what Pirsig thinks of the current democrat congress bent on 
surrendering to terrorists. 




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