Is America Ready for Revolution? | 127 comments (127 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (4.00 / 3)

When we moved to Europe 20 years ago, one of th first things we remarked on was that France seemed far more able to operate well on the basis of an economy of scarcity than the US- perhaps because of the lessons learned from the process of recovery from the aftermath of WWII. For example, in Paris, the city of light, the average citizen used one third the amount of electricity as the average US citizen.

I think you are wrong- scarcity will be far better dealt with here than in the US.
In the US, conservation is seen by many as a sign of economic failure, of weakness.
Wealth is waste.
Yuk.

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.

by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 04:08:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (4.00 / 4)

Or as Veblen put it, conspicuous waste is THE defining sign of social status.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 05:21:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 1)

Except when it isn't.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 05:25:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 1)

I try to impress women with my lack of a car.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 06:34:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 0)

Does it work?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 06:37:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 1)

Within the right subculture, yes. Ultimately it's hard to say, though, because the conspicuous consumption angle is still in play due to my clothes and other items demonstrating my income level.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 06:43:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 0)

God love women--almost anything "works" if the setting is correct.

My angle is that I have a car so old, the status has disappeared--showing that I am "above" such petty things as conspicuous consumption. It also shows I am thrifty and can maintain things.

This strategy helped attract a very sensible mate ;-)

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 07:34:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 0)

That kind of thing works with me. But, then, I'm in the same social class to some degree: I'm okay with some forms of "consumption" but am impressed by someone who doesn't consume in other areas.

by R343L (reverse qw/ten.cinos@l343r/) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 11:13:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 1)

See also the ever-popular, painfully semi-humorous "Closing the 'Collapse Gap'":

"As you can probably surmise, I am actually rather keen on observing economic collapses. Perhaps when I am really old, all collapses will start looking the same to me, but I am not at that point yet...As things stand, the U.S. economy is poised to perform something like a disappearing act. And so I am eager to put my observations of the Soviet collapse to good use."

Comes with slides.

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

by technopolitical on Sat Mar 1st, 2008 at 01:50:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 0)

And also on ET, see Closing the Collapse Gap: the US vs the USSR by Lupin on May 3rd, 2007.

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Mar 1st, 2008 at 03:22:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is America Ready for Revolution? (none / 0)

This is very likely where I first saw it.

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

by technopolitical on Sat Mar 1st, 2008 at 04:58:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Is America Ready for Revolution? | 127 comments (127 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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