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This seems pretty evident in the UK where we have these attitudes proudly parading themselves around, particularly in the guise of a particular Jacob Rees-Mogg.
by captainbland 8y ago
This seems pretty evident in the UK where we have these attitudes proudly parading themselves around, particularly in the guise of a particular Jacob Rees-Mogg.
I think the article would be more interesting if they dove more into the history of this idea - for instance I've always been under the impression that the UK and USA suffer from this particular ailment because of the 'protestant work ethic', otherwise called 'calvinism' handed down by many generations of wealthy property owners and aristocrats attempting to motivate their workforce. While at one point those land owners would simply have cited the fact that their ancestors fought for the property that they owned, or that they had it through divine intervention at some point that got questioned.
In the secular age, the assumption that the rich worked for the property that they own is pre-supposed (and hence own it morally, and claim the rights to that moral superiority) even if it's not true - and certainly isn't true when you consider the effort that they expend vs. the efforts of others and their relative outcomes. This is then reinforced through, primarily, economic power - the ability to advertise their status, the fact that your boss will tell you about how they've been creating jobs, etc. reinforces this narrative. By this point, whether they worked for it or not is irrelevant, because their perceived ownership of the moral high-ground is so deeply ingrained until something actually goes wrong.
- cfadvan 8y agoI agree with almost everything you’re saying, but it is worth pointing out that Rees-Mogg is just a despicable person, not Calvinist or anything else. In fact he’s a devout Catholic. What he is above all is comically privelaged and lacking empathy, religion aside.
- captainbland 8y agoOh that's very true as well. Although it's possible that he was influenced by those ideas regardless as to what his actual religion is.
- timthorn 8y agoSorry, I can't let that pass. You might not agree with his political or religious views but that doesn't give you the right to call him despicable.
- gambiting 8y agoI'm sorry, do you need to have a permit to call someone despicable? Especially on the internet, of all places?
- timthorn 8y agoNo, but the top guideline for commenting on this site is to be civil. Engage with the views rather than damning the man. Otherwise we end up with an entirely fractured politics and community.
- cfadvan 8y agoI don’t need to be granted a right to call someone despicable, but thanks for high-roading me so effectively, while avoiding adding any substance of your own. Rees-Mogg would be proud I’m sure.