CAPABILITIES, NOT RIGHTS

CAPABILITIES, NOT RIGHTS

Joseph H

From: Joseph H Subject: CAPABILITIES, NOT RIGHTS Date: 10 Dec 2004 10:27:36 -0800 I think there is a value inherent in rights, I think Bush called it "human capital'. I also think there is a value inherent in rights. Maybe we should distinguish between an inherent value and a felt value. My point is that we have lost the latter - and until such time as we find something new to value (something other than rights) then we shall hardly see the former. Rights are a very simplistic determiner of allowable human behaviour by those in charge. I know a lot of people like to argue that democracy and such over-come this, but, I think power is always maintained by those with economic advantage. Can't argue with that. Can't change it either. But to suggest that all societies are the same, that 19th Century Europe or 21th Century China are all fundamentally the same, is, I think, to ignore the many advances in personal freedoms and security that have occurred. Joseph writes: "And there is no Class which shall be the wonder of the age. We only are. But we are not without merit." There will always be classes of people, the upper class will always feed off the lower rungs, this is the nature of our glorious situation here. I was referring here to the Marxian notion of a particular class that would bring a special liberation, salvation, etc. That fantasy is gone. Joseph writes: "Is believing that a creature as gifted as we must eventually - once the trauma of our rude colonisation of the planet is over - create a society to match not a cause for value?" Dude, you are living a pipe-dream, the trauma will never end, they just want you to think it will so they can continue to manipulate you and keep a brother down. Once in a while you just got to shake the tree so all of the dead leaves will off and you can rake them up, good news is now we got machinery to do this for us. Dude, you are living a nightmare. Wake up and smell the capucino. Best wishes Joseph H