Don't see socialism as a system, but a set of values that can be accepted or rejected at will. For instance, ask yourself whether you want homeless people wandering the streets, begging for food. That's a value you can can accept or reject, and also pursue if you choose. Thanks.
You concluding remarks and quotes remind me of this famous quote: “Small and hidden is the door that leads inward, and the entrance is barred by countless prejudices, mistaken assumptions, and fears. Always one wishes to hear of grand political and economic schemes, the very things that have landed every nation in a morass. Therefore it sounds grotesque when anyone speaks of hidden doors, dreams, and a world within. What has this vapid idealism got to do with gigantic economic programmes, with the so-called problems of reality? But I speak not to nations, only to the individual few, for whom it goes without saying that cultural values do not drop down like manna from heaven, but are created by the hands of individuals. If things go wrong in the world, this is because something is wrong with the individual, because something is wrong with me. Therefore, if I am sensible, I shall put myself right first. For this I need-because outside authority no longer means anything to me-a knowledge of the innermost foundations of my being, in order that I may base myself firmly on the eternal facts of the human psyche.” (Carl Jung, The Meaning of Psychology for Modern Man)
I remember a WW2 fighter pilot telling me that the way he knew when had crossed from France into Germany was that the farms got much neater in Germany- even in 1944. ! Later in life I visited Sweden and was stunned at how intermediate this socialist country was between the capitalist west and the soviet block. The Swedish socialists had built huge apartment blocks in the cities and they resembled Soviet apartment blocks except they were decently made and maintained. But then I noticed that even small towns had high rises in the middle of absolutely charming towns just oozing a well executed balance of static and Dynamic quality (eg transcendently good carpentry and aesthetics) surrounding the entirely unnecessary high rise apartment block memorialising the inability of Socialists to see Dynamic Quality. America is full of contradictions too, but Sweden showed me Socialism at is shiny best with its Saab’s and Volvo’s as opposed to the delightfully atrocious Trebant which suffered from a conspicuous lack of any kind of Quality🙈
Yes, I love this example of applied quality. I too visited Sweden in the heyday, and wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, the model was ultimately too dynamic, and the flood of unintegrated refugees led to the chaos we are seeing now.
What lovely patina and warmth you have. To hell with the world.. Lets blast 6th gear pinned full throttle, an apathetic comet of flesh and steel fading into embers as it all burns down. Bwaha ;)
Brilliant. Pirsig changed my worldview back in the early 80s. I was a socialist who in the last few years has been red pilled big time. I suddenly saw the flaws in my belief system. Being reminded of Pirsig and his work has helped me understand why. Thank you so much.
The thing about capitalism is that works well on people's vices and desires, human cravings can be curbed with monetary means. But for some reason socialist seems to believe the virtue of humanity is innate and the norm. As if people won't destroy their neighbors in order to protect their family or even petty jealousy.
The socialism being discussed by Pirsig is surely the socialism of the Eastern bloc, which no longer exists, not the extraordinarily successful Social Democratic mixed system that operates in Scandinavia (rated as the world's happiest societies). On a planet of infinite resources, capitalism is preferable partly because of the dynamism mentioned - but we do not have a planet of infinite resources. Neither can we go to Mars because the radiation on the way will irradiate the astronauts brains. Inasmuch as your piece is a presentation of the failings of the Green MEME, and the quest for Second Tier (Wilber uses different "colours" to Beck and Cowan) then I certainly do agree. US Unitarian Universalists first principle is "the worth and dignity of every person" but there is a struggle right now not to slip down the Green MEME rabbit hole. I don't really agree with your last point that it's all about individual choices. Change begins with individual choice but national legislation to create the right environment for change is highly desirable. I can't build wind farms by myself - and perhaps I couldn't even set up a company to do so if fossil fuels are receiving massive subsidies from government. Government needs to incentivise at the right level....(a British Unitarian minister)
but there are two very different ideas of how to deal with environmental issues. One is by reducing the carbon footprint, the other is supporting technologies that clean things up and burn without pollution. They tend to run on either side of the ideological fault line, whereas Pirsig and Wilber would say updating is necessary, and I believe Pirsig would say that Buddha can indeed reside in the mechanics of a gen4 nuclear reactor that doesn't meltdown and uses it's own waste as fuel. I expect disagreement from many on this point
@@aqualityexistence4842 'that doesn't meltdown' isn't exactly a subtle clause. I'd insist on a contingency plan to remove the Buddha in the event of a catastrophic meltdown.
Norwegians, rather than 'joyful', simply don't have a lot to complain about, as an oil-rich state-heavy small country with liberal (no) beliefs. No whale meat and the odd cheeky Russian sub perhaps.The coalition politics of northern Europe exist for one important reason, lest we forget. It's hard to argue that a hung Parliament is any worse than a sticky DUP/Tory coalition. Too many cooks. Too much balance and compromise can render democracy impotent. When there's too much talk and no action, the people look for a strong arm to get things moving. It happens everywhere. Roosevelt was a fairly successful example of a top-down my-way man emerging from the depression. Germany was grinding to halt until they elected a demigod. When society turns static, whether economically, culturally, democratically, or bureaucratically, they invite an authoritarian kick up the arse. This is why socialism swings into authoritarianism so easily. Entrenched socialism is the thorn in the EU's (Mediterranean) side. Greece dug their heels in against 'austerity' measures, and the response from the German banks was to override the democratic wish of the people. Portugal, Spain, Italy, and ultimately France are all stagnant with comfortable socialist policies, and all in line for a well placed jack boot. The endless fucking liberal whining in the UK and US about the results of a legitimate democratic process they participated in, emasculate the job in hand at their peril. The question that never even gets asked, 'Who makes the Nazis?' ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nAXFifKgB2Y.html
