[MD] How far do you go to preserve individual life?

[Andre Broersen]

  Platt to Andre:

Pirsig claims a socialist society is intellectually guided. But, I disagree.
Marx was as intellectual (or so many academic intellectuals say), but look at
the results of his intellectual guidance in Russia, China, Cambodia, Cuba, etc.

Andre:
Not sure what you are getting at here Platt but I think Mr. Pirsig is correct.
Obviously you have never lived and worked in a socialist society. All you have
is hear-say. What you mean by looking at the results I can only guess at.

Platt:

Fortunately, Pirsig saw the light in the superior morality of the free market
because of it is more open to the evolutionary force of Dynamic Quality.

Andre:
You typical, neo-con interpretation of the (ab)use of this free market force is
not something to be proud of my friend. It has led to at least 42 major international
conflicts within which the US has been directly involved. I really wish you'd stop
presenting things in a black and white manner.

Platt:
As Pirsig, wrote: "But the superorganism, the Giant, who is a
pattern of values superimposed on top of biological human bodies, doesn't mind
losing a few bodies to protect his greater interests." (Lila, 17) Sounds like
socialism to me, you know, the system justified by the slogan used by every
despot in history, "For the public good."

Andre:
What is the difference Platt between dying 'for the public good' and dying for
US freedom and democracy?

Platt:
You may be right. But, Pirsig specifically identified the Giant not with
economic systems but with social organizations:

Andre:
Is the economy not part of the social level?

Platt:
Behavior forced upon it by government edict. No bank deliberately sets about to
lose money.

Andre:
I have read that some financial advisors have made billions by wagering on the collapse of
the bubble. 'Government edicts' have little to do with it mate. Banks are continuously trying
to out-do, out-smart, and out-class eachother. They are predators on their own kind. They are
very much part of the 'superorganism', getting more powerful by devouring a few banks to protect
their greater interest.