originally posted by: TheJesuit
What ever happened to working together to compromise on both sides of the aisle ?instead all I see nowadays is outrageous fake , misleading and
predominantly Communist/Socialist narrative being portrayed in the MSM &also being push in the US education system with parents completely
unawares!
What happened to the Capitalist ideals that created this Country?
Promoted on FOX 24/7? Another MSM outlet.
“Material consumption is said to be the national religion. All Americans are supposed to want to be rich, and the culture is one of comfort and
pleasure. . . . The materialism of American life is all-pervasive.” Such is reported to be the view of American life expressed in French school
textbooks in the early 80's. (William Pfaff, reporting in the
International Herald Tribune on a study of French schoolbooks by Harvard
Professor Laurence Wylie.)
As applied to people’s attitude toward life, the word “materialism” has been defined as “the doctrine that comfort, pleasure, and wealth are
the only or highest goals or values.” Who will deny that a large percentage of mankind has adopted such a materialistic outlook on life? For many,
material prosperity has become synonymous with happiness. It seems to have become the universal goal to be attained. But by what means?
Many people in industrial countries sincerely believe that the capitalist system offers the best hope of prosperity and happiness. They are for free
enterprise, with as little interference from the state as possible.
Millions of others are convinced that capitalism favors the few, to the detriment of the greater number. They prefer communism, an economic and
political system based on the ownership of all property by the community or the state. They are willing to forgo certain freedoms provided the state
guarantees them material prosperity.
Between these two groups are millions of others for whom the way to material prosperity and happiness is through neither capitalism nor communism.
They recognize the disadvantages of the capitalist system, but also the dangers of communism. They hope, by means of reforms, to bring about an
equalitarian, democratic society based on state planning and public control of the principal means of production. These are the socialists, variously
called Social Democrats, Laborites, Welfare Staters, and so forth.
A brief examination of the history of capitalism, communism and socialism, and of the results obtained by these systems, will help us to see if any
one of them can bring true happiness.
You can do so here:
Can They Bring Real Happiness? Awake!—1981
Have capitalism, communism and socialism forgotten the primary ingredient for true happiness? And could this important lack explain, at least in part,
why these systems have failed to make people really happy?
The sincerity of men who devote their entire lives to efforts aimed at making capitalism, communism or socialism succeed cannot be denied. And each
system has succeeded in raising the standard of living in certain countries, for certain people. But have they brought genuine happiness to the
majority of those lands? Have they ended crime, violence and war? Has any one of these systems wiped out suicide, drug addiction or alcoholism? Do
happy people commit suicide, “escape” by means of drugs, or “drown their sorrows” in alcohol?
The avowed purpose of these various human systems is to further a way of life that is considered to be the best for all or, at least, for “the
greatest number.” They attach more or less importance to freedom or to equality as being basic to human happiness. Capitalism is willing to
sacrifice equality in favor of freedom. Communism puts equality above freedom. Social democracy tries to make the best of both worlds. But not one of
them has succeeded in changing human nature. Human selfishness brings out the worst in capitalists, making many of them unjust exploiters; it has
converted communist experiments into state capitalism, the common people being exploited by the state instead of by individual capitalists or huge
corporations; it has ruined socialist Utopian dreams.
...
Technology Is Not Enough
Until quite recently, political and economic ideologists of all tendencies pinned their hopes on scientific progress and technology. We read: “The
new technology seemed to fit [free-enterprise capitalism] like a glove and to guarantee the rapid realization of the Utilitarian philosophers’ ideal
of ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’ Even Marx and Engels, approaching from a radically different political orientation, saw in
technology nothing but good.”—Encyclopædia Britannica.
Yes, from the most die-hard capitalist to the most revolutionary communist, men hailed technology as the key to mankind’s future happiness. New and
better machines would do away with drudgery. Working hours would be reduced, leaving people with more leisure time for travel, culture or pleasure.
How could this result in anything but happiness?
Nowadays the optimism has subsided. Technology has created as many problems as it has solved, or would you say, even more? The reference work just
quoted goes on to speak of the “social defects of technological progress, such as automobile fatalities, air and water pollution, urban
overcrowding, and excessive noise.” It also mentions the serious problem of “technological tyranny over man’s individuality and traditional
patterns of life.”
Who, today, can seriously claim that technology has improved family life, provided people with satisfying jobs or made the world a safer place in
which to live? Undeniably, something more than technology is necessary to make people happy.
“Not on Bread Alone”
...
Source:
Is Material Prosperity Enough? Awake!—1981edit on 9-2-2019 by whereislogic
because: (no reason given)