[MD] The Trouble With Wilber

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Arlo Bensinger <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Platt]
> It's no great leap or distortion to go from right-wing politicians to 
> capitalists. Left-wing politicians are socialists.
> 
> [Arlo]
> In your dichotomous world, of course. For the rest of us, that's just 
> tired, cliche propaganda. The rhetoric of fear talk-radio so 
> eloquently deploys.

So what do you think Pirsig meant by "right-wing politicians?" And who is
"the rest of us." You speak for the world?

> [Platt]
> To my mind what defines right-wing politics is support of capitalism. 
> Pirsig came across as a New Age liberal in ZMM. In Lila he changed 
> his tune, becoming a right-wing supporter of capitalism. And in Lila 
> he had less than flattering things to say about the professor class:
> 
> [Arlo]
> I don't see anything in ZMM that shows that he did not support the 
> "free market". I know it makes your head hurt, but I'd call Pirsig a 
> "left-wing supporter of capitalism". But, of course, that requires a 
> vision that's not mired in "All Rightist are Good/ All Leftists are 
> Evil" worldview.

Well, Pirsig wasn't being complimentary when he referred to "right-wing
politicians" was he? Might as well accuse him of being mired in "All rightists are evil."

> Just because the free market is the best system for distributing 
> commodities, does not mean everything is reducible to a market 
> commodity. This is why I reject as absurd the notion that "only 
> right-wingers are capitalists". I, for example, am all in favor of 
> the free market to distribute cars, antiperspirants and DVDs. But I 
> believe that there is superior value in publicly holding land (parks, 
> forests and reserves), funding libraries and regulating essential 
> utilities. The market should determine who drives a Ferrari and who 
> does not, but it should not determine who lives and who dies.

So when it comes to certain "commodities" you have no problem squelching DQ.
It figures.  

> Also keep in mind that Pirsig never denies ZMM, quite the opposite, 
> in fact, calling it "the path to enlightenment". Hardly "changing his tune".
> 
> And since you're fond of the LILA quotes against professors, let's 
> remember he also said that "conservatives who keep trumpeting about 
> the virtues of free enterprise are normally just supporting their own 
> self-interest. They are just doing the usual cover-up for the rich in 
> their age-old exploitation of the poor." (LILA).

Yes, but that didn't dissuade him from coming out in full support of 
capitalism. I know you libs like to critique motives, but we conservatives
are more interested in results. 

> [Platt]
> Pirisg may still call himself a democrat, but I bet he's a Kennedy or 
> Lieberman democrat who supports capitalism and doesn't think we 
> should surrender to terrorists like the current bunch of democrats in Congress.
> 
> [Arlo]
> That's just more tired propaganda. Stop squalking and give it a rest.

Typical. Can't muster an argument, so toss out a couple of insults. 

> "When George Bush was asked who was the greatest philosopher in the 
> world he said: Jesus Christ. Right there I thought: 'My God, we are 
> going to need Jesus Christ if this guy gets elected!'" (Pirsig).
> 
> Do we ever.

Why? Typical: blank out.




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