European Tribune

Display:
Thank you, GC! Great to hear some news from you on this process. But also, I think you make an astute observation, regarding what seems like a general tendency towards selfishness and self-involvement, at the cost of public good (or public discourse of the real issues). Yews, indeed, what is going on? Is this the "spread of Democracy" that Bush keeps taking credit for?

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Tue Aug 16th, 2005 at 06:09:13 AM EST
I have a theory that pushing "free-market" economics promotes that attitude.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Aug 16th, 2005 at 06:10:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Pushing the market as a way to solve many problems is certainly appreciated among the states of the former Soviet bloc. What has happened, however, is the pushing of the market as god...as fetish. The market is the answer to everything.

If the market answers all societal problems and questions, it is not difficult to see how a rational (though perhaps somewhat unreflective) individual can come to view the market as providing answers to all personal situations and problems. And so what does the market teach? "Don't do anything for anyone unless you get something in return" or "There is no common good or community...only individual good."

Even traditional conservatives see (or are beginning to see) how the marketization of human and societal relations is destructive.

 

by gradinski chai on Tue Aug 16th, 2005 at 10:28:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Debates
Campaigns
Occasional Series