Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.93.961003100143.71018A-100000 Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 10:29:24 -0600 From: T Hodges <mailto:thodges@FREENET.CALGARY.AB.CA> Subject: Re: "Appropriate technology" still useful? (fwd) To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Santiago, I have put comments thru out parts of your post below with #s around your remarks.Tom Hodges mailto:thodges@freenet.calgary.ab.ca Professional Agronomist, member Baha'i Faith, Go player
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 10:13:47 -0400 From: Santiago Hileret <mailto:styago@HOST1.TALKIN-DRUM.COM> To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU> Subject: Re: "Appropriate technology" still useful?
Tom Hodges writes: >We need to look at who
>really benefits from restrictive laws (and customs) rather than
>at who various economic and political ideologies (marxist,
>capitalist, or others) say benefits.
#I'm not sure that I fully understand this thought, Tom. I think it's important to compare what a particular ideology _says_ it stands for (and plans to deliver) with the society it _actually_ produces. And I think this is especially critical at a time like this, when _a single system_, which purportedly stands for plural and free competition, has engineered its way into a position of _worldwide monopoly_ in the "market" of ideas on how to organize soociety. (Ask any 3rd World government not willing to declare_ absolute agreement_ with "free market" economics what kind of a reception it gets from the "international financial institutions").#
I am suggesting that we need to try to step back from all our ideologies whether of the right or left as they obscure our perception of reality. Your criticism of the current capitalism/free market philosophy (mostly snipped for brevity) is excellent! We can't build a stable society on the premise that everybody is lying and cheating at least a little (my opinion, but don't tell me we have, its a mess still).
Similarly leftist philosophies focus attention on the role of outside exploiters, obscuring the critical role of local officials and elites - perhaps the outside exploiters really aren't benefiting compared to what they would gain by dealing with a strong, integrated local economy and culture (if so, how many realize this?).
[snip]
#Another thing that troubles me is that the model that has achieved this position of worldwide supremacy openly accepts (and vigorously propagates!) the notion that "the market" should be the ultimate arbiter of all human affairs, when we all know that the market has _no conception whatsoever_ of morals or ethics; only profit and loss.#
Yes.
#At the same time, this system argues that less-than-full truthfulness is "just fine" in business and commerce (as well as in politics) if only because "people will be somewhat untruthful, anyway". I don't think we need this kind of _amorality_ from the de-facto leadership of the world.#
Agree. This is corrupting everyone who, consciously or not, accepts it.
[snip]
#Which brings me to a paraphrase of your question, Tom: Who benefits from having those who "lose"/"fail" blame _only_ themselves all the time, rather than trying to understand more fully the non-advertised/actively camouflaged side of those who keep winning?#
I would say that no one benefits from this. We all benefit from eliminating injustice in society. Humanity is like a single being in a way. Injustice anywhere in the body politic is like a disease somewhere in a human body. It releases poisons that travel throughout the body and saps the strength and vitality of the entire organism. Perhaps the first step in eliminating injustice is to recognize our essential, spiritual unity, unity that transcends all our many interesting cultural/religious/racial differences.
[snip]
#One final example of the quality of "leadership" Big Business provides. Entertainment is _the largest_ export industry of the U.S. today. Since we#
Don't talk to me about the entertainment business (or professional "sports"), what a racket! Very little coming out of there that is positive.
[snip]
#Call me a pessimist: I don't find this picture nearly as rosy as they tell me...#
Peace
Santiago