11-07-2011, 10:59 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-07-2011, 11:19 PM by FireIceTalon.)
I agree with most of that. Me and Kandrathe agreeing on something, guess pigs can fly! Our government for the most part does suck, and does not represent the people as they were elected to do so. But you must also remember, politicians are most responsive to those that make the most noise. And the 1% (or even 5%) have the finances and "political" capital to make A LOT of noise, much more than the average joe. I have more political power than a homeless person (since they dont even vote), or someone who doesn't vote or protest, or who isn't informed on politics in general. But I have far less than a corporation or Wall Street Banker. As screwed as our government is, nothing will change until we take some power away from the organizations who PULL THE STRINGS of government: the corporations. At the end of the day, politicians want to keep their power and get re-elected. This is why I think the American public needs to be much more politically astute and participate more. If they did, I think this would make the politicians more responsive to their will and needs. I hate blaming the people, but at the end of the day, it is on US TO make it happen. Until we do, the government will only be responsive to those who have the loudest voices: those with great wealth, political clout or otherwise some type of prestige. If you want my opinion, I say all of us, next year, should vote for someone who is running outside the Republican or Democratic parties. This would make a huge statement. The two party system has to go. Would be awesome if neither Obama or one of the Republican runners got a single vote 
Marxist theory, from how I envision it at least, would make society more of a meritocracy. Contrary to popular belief, it DOES acknowledge that we are not all equal in terms of our ability. Not all of us are going to be brain surgeons or engineers. And what you put in, is what you get. Yes, there would be many safety nets so those who are lazy would still be taken care of so they did not fall through the cracks, but if they wanted more, such as luxuries or to travel and have the finer things in life, then they would be required to be more productive to obtain them. Does this create a free-rider problem? This is one of the common criticisms of socialism, and to a degree, it would indeed be a problem. No system is perfect (not even my beloved Marxism), but I would rather see this problem than millions be impoverished, die, or otherwise distressed by the social and economic disparities created by the division of labor in capitalism. And most people, to at least some degree, want to work. Americans especially, are workaholics. It is my belief that most people would still choose to be productive in a socialist system, and those who aren't, will receive less than those who are. The idea of Marxism isn't to give everyone the same luxuries so we all live like kings, but rather to make sure everyone's BASIC NEEDS are provided, and to reduce crime, poverty, war, and such to the absolute possible minimum.
Marxist theory, from how I envision it at least, would make society more of a meritocracy. Contrary to popular belief, it DOES acknowledge that we are not all equal in terms of our ability. Not all of us are going to be brain surgeons or engineers. And what you put in, is what you get. Yes, there would be many safety nets so those who are lazy would still be taken care of so they did not fall through the cracks, but if they wanted more, such as luxuries or to travel and have the finer things in life, then they would be required to be more productive to obtain them. Does this create a free-rider problem? This is one of the common criticisms of socialism, and to a degree, it would indeed be a problem. No system is perfect (not even my beloved Marxism), but I would rather see this problem than millions be impoverished, die, or otherwise distressed by the social and economic disparities created by the division of labor in capitalism. And most people, to at least some degree, want to work. Americans especially, are workaholics. It is my belief that most people would still choose to be productive in a socialist system, and those who aren't, will receive less than those who are. The idea of Marxism isn't to give everyone the same luxuries so we all live like kings, but rather to make sure everyone's BASIC NEEDS are provided, and to reduce crime, poverty, war, and such to the absolute possible minimum.
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"Your very ideas are but the outgrowth of conditions of your bourgeois production and bourgeois property, just as your jurisprudence is but the will of your class, made into law for all, a will whose essential character and direction are determined by the economic conditions of the existence of your class." - Marx (on capitalist laws and institutions)
"Your very ideas are but the outgrowth of conditions of your bourgeois production and bourgeois property, just as your jurisprudence is but the will of your class, made into law for all, a will whose essential character and direction are determined by the economic conditions of the existence of your class." - Marx (on capitalist laws and institutions)