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> A pandemic of toxic individualism That is by design. The public sphere has been under attack to make it private and profitable (for the few). The idea that

> A pandemic of toxic individualism That is by design. The public sphere has been under attack to make it private and profitable (for the few). The idea that greed is positive and that helping others only "enables laziness" is damaging the capacity of citizens to organize and work towards common goals. And what applies to the individual also is pushed for countries. Brexit is the result of a real discontent based in real situations plus blaming that situation to "others". Cynicism is winning. "all politicians are the same","everybody is greedy","there is nothing that can be done", all lies repeated again and again to create division and passivity.

TheFreim 5y ago
> The idea that greed is positive and that helping others only "enables laziness" Who says this? I've never met someone who thinks charity is a bad thing.
- deleted 5y ago
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- ElViajero 5y ago
  "“Welfare makes people lazy.” The notion is buried so deep within mainstream political thought that it can often be stated without evidence. It was explicit during the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt’s WPA (Works Progress Administration) was nicknamed “We Piddle Around” by his detractors. It was implicit in Bill Clinton’s pledge to “end welfare as we know it.” Even today, it is an intellectual pillar of conservative economic theory, which recommends slashing programs like Medicaid and cash assistance, partly out of a fear that self-reliance atrophies in the face of government assistance." https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/03/welfare-childhood/555119/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/03/welfare...
  - TheFreim 5y ago
    > “Welfare makes people lazy.” The notion is buried so deep within mainstream political thought that it can often be stated without evidence. How does this somehow translate to "greed is good" and that "helping others" is bad? Is the government directly giving people money the sole way to help others? I'm not taking issue with the direct issue, mainly with youre statements which are untrue about those who disagree. Someone who thinks greed is a positive thing would also think welfare is good if they think receiving welfare is for lazy, greedy people. Is that clear enough? If you need any clarification just ask since I feel a bit jumbled.
    - cudgy 5y ago
      “Someone who thinks greed is a positive thing would also think welfare is good …” Wouldn’t a greedy person dislike welfare because welfare is paid out of taxes that are required to be paid by that greedy person? I guess it would depend on whether the greedy person pays taxes.
      - TheFreim 5y ago
        I think you've really pointed out the paradox which I was trying to get at in a nice way. The paradox is resolved when you understand that those who don't like welfare, at least how it is now, don't think "greed is good" but rather think that certain economic systems are good because they turn greed into something that, allegedly, helps the public good (simultaneously wanting to lower taxation across the board to achieve the same goal).
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TheFreim 5y ago

> The idea that greed is positive and that helping others only "enables laziness" Who says this? I've never met someone who thinks charity is a bad thing.

deleted 5y ago
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ElViajero 5y ago
"“Welfare makes people lazy.” The notion is buried so deep within mainstream political thought that it can often be stated without evidence. It was explicit during the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt’s WPA (Works Progress Administration) was nicknamed “We Piddle Around” by his detractors. It was implicit in Bill Clinton’s pledge to “end welfare as we know it.” Even today, it is an intellectual pillar of conservative economic theory, which recommends slashing programs like Medicaid and cash assistance, partly out of a fear that self-reliance atrophies in the face of government assistance." https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/03/welfare-childhood/555119/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/03/welfare...
- TheFreim 5y ago
  > “Welfare makes people lazy.” The notion is buried so deep within mainstream political thought that it can often be stated without evidence. How does this somehow translate to "greed is good" and that "helping others" is bad? Is the government directly giving people money the sole way to help others? I'm not taking issue with the direct issue, mainly with youre statements which are untrue about those who disagree. Someone who thinks greed is a positive thing would also think welfare is good if they think receiving welfare is for lazy, greedy people. Is that clear enough? If you need any clarification just ask since I feel a bit jumbled.
  - cudgy 5y ago
    “Someone who thinks greed is a positive thing would also think welfare is good …” Wouldn’t a greedy person dislike welfare because welfare is paid out of taxes that are required to be paid by that greedy person? I guess it would depend on whether the greedy person pays taxes.
    - TheFreim 5y ago
      I think you've really pointed out the paradox which I was trying to get at in a nice way. The paradox is resolved when you understand that those who don't like welfare, at least how it is now, don't think "greed is good" but rather think that certain economic systems are good because they turn greed into something that, allegedly, helps the public good (simultaneously wanting to lower taxation across the board to achieve the same goal).

deleted 5y ago

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