3 ms·

What's wrong with what he said?

by CardenB 10y ago

jawilson2 10y ago
It reads like a top post on /r/latestagecapitalism
- ethbro 10y ago
  The best thing about late stage capitalism is that it produces enough excess goods and services that people have the option of opting out!
  - tpeo 10y ago
    You mean "opting out" without ever leaving the system. Everyone can always opt out if they're willing to drop enough things. A trivial way to opt out is to commit suicide. But are other ways too, such as moving into the wilderness and trying to make it there on your own. And that's comparatively much "cheaper" in poorer societies, since there is less to give up. For instance, whereas in Medieval times serfs might have ran away from their lords and into the wilderness in order to avoid law and taxes, the majority of present-day criminals are found and captured in their own towns, while disgruntled citizens consider themselves to have little option but whine when it comes to taxes. "Late stage capitalism" does indeed produce enough goods and services that people have the option of opting out. There's some pretty neat survivalist gear for sale nowadays. But they never really do.
    - ethbro 10y ago
      > For instance, whereas in Medieval times serfs might have ran away from their lords and into the wilderness in order to avoid law and taxes That and to your last point is what I was thinking about. It's harder to "opt out" of a subsistence farming existence than it is to opt out of a society where you have access to time- & resource-saving technology that enables you to multiply your abilities, as well as basic necessities at a price that allows you to have disposable income. That's one of the gripes I have about some of the faux-sustainability crowd: it's not sustainable if it's predicated on a USD$100,000+ income.
theandrewbailey 10y ago
His comment comes off as elitist and reeks of 'I value the potential value of my time more than the desire or effort needed to be self-sufficent with regards to food. I also hate big box stores, suburbia, and probably most office buildings.'

What's wrong with what he said?

by CardenB 10y ago

What's wrong with what he said?

jawilson2 10y ago

It reads like a top post on /r/latestagecapitalism

ethbro 10y ago
The best thing about late stage capitalism is that it produces enough excess goods and services that people have the option of opting out!
- tpeo 10y ago
  You mean "opting out" without ever leaving the system. Everyone can always opt out if they're willing to drop enough things. A trivial way to opt out is to commit suicide. But are other ways too, such as moving into the wilderness and trying to make it there on your own. And that's comparatively much "cheaper" in poorer societies, since there is less to give up. For instance, whereas in Medieval times serfs might have ran away from their lords and into the wilderness in order to avoid law and taxes, the majority of present-day criminals are found and captured in their own towns, while disgruntled citizens consider themselves to have little option but whine when it comes to taxes. "Late stage capitalism" does indeed produce enough goods and services that people have the option of opting out. There's some pretty neat survivalist gear for sale nowadays. But they never really do.
  - ethbro 10y ago
    > For instance, whereas in Medieval times serfs might have ran away from their lords and into the wilderness in order to avoid law and taxes That and to your last point is what I was thinking about. It's harder to "opt out" of a subsistence farming existence than it is to opt out of a society where you have access to time- & resource-saving technology that enables you to multiply your abilities, as well as basic necessities at a price that allows you to have disposable income. That's one of the gripes I have about some of the faux-sustainability crowd: it's not sustainable if it's predicated on a USD$100,000+ income.

theandrewbailey 10y ago

His comment comes off as elitist and reeks of 'I value the potential value of my time more than the desire or effort needed to be self-sufficent with regards to food. I also hate big box stores, suburbia, and probably most office buildings.'