DISQUS

Micha Ghertner · 1 year ago

The comment thread responses on the Guardian site are simply flabbergasting. Herbert Marcuse-style Marxism is alive and well in Britain.

Micha Ghertner · 1 year ago

Although there are many gems in the thread, I think this one by "Ally F" is my favorite:

This is why the type of individualistic materialism advocated by the author and his friends is actually at the root of the problem. Neoliberal economics sets each of us against the other, it assumes that we should all be happy to trample on our neighbours to get to our goals. This doesn't make us happy, however materially wealthy it might make us. When one person gets rich by making a second person poor, it damages them both. When those two people co-operate to increase both their wealth, it makes both of them happier.

Amazing. "Neoliberal economics," i.e. free trade, apparently consists of a series of zero or negative-sum interactions in which people trample on their neighbors in order to improve their own interests. Why the trampled upon accept these terms willingly, enthusiastically, over and over again, is not explained. Perhaps false consciousness is involved.

The negation of free trade, by contrast, involves positive-sum interactions of cooperation. The cradle-to-grave welfare state enables this cooperation by interfering with and ultimately preventing trading partners from voluntarily exchanging value for value with each other, thereby increasing the wealth and happiness of all involved. This mechanism is not well understood or easily explained, but - trust us on this one - we know what's best for you better than you do.

Micha Gherthttp://www.willwilk · 1 year ago

Just one more gem, this one from "CharlieMcMenamin":

My personal 'budgetary space' would be improved by:

- Higher state pensions & free personal care so I don't have to pay so much to support my elderly mother;
- No university fees so I don't have to put something away for the kids' college fund;

That's just two very practical examples of how a higher tax economy would benefit me. I accept, in my case - middle class, middle earner - this might simply be a way of re-distributing income & positive outcomes through out my lifetime. This won't always be true for everyone. Some will want a high tax/ high services economy precisely to fend off the risk of falling off the gravy train due to illness, family break-up or a thousand other possibilities.

I love how he refutes his own argument with the concession that cradle-to-grave welfare statism improves his life by doing his saving and investing for him. He clearly understands that he is a fully grown adult asking to be treated like a child. Which wouldn't be so bad, I suppose, if he didn't also insist that everyone else be treated like children as well.

The world is a scary place, full of illness, family-breakups, and a thousand other possibilities. Therefore, please live my life for me because I'm too frighted to responsibly deal with life's many challenges.