Private Property

In the previous post about subversion of the ideal, I mention about the debasement towards the lowest common denominator as managing democratic expectations, but the point about managing democratic expectations, why must we manage it in the first place. Isn't unfettered democracy more or less good for society, unfettered democracy is more or less good for everyone, but unfettered capitalism is not good for everyone.

When you descend towards the lowest common denominator, you often find yourself outside the fringes of society, this means that you cannot get close to the seat of power and hence in this case, stability is ensured. Capitalism is built on one single thing: private property. If I can make it illegal or even make you the "bad" person even if I legitimately allow you to exist, you will forever be contesting the bedrock of private property and hence you cannot even legitimize your own ownership private property. You see when I glamourize sex, violence and crime, I will in effect making it easy for to enjoy life without private property but well, of course, people that own them are not crooks per se. They do not and have very little to do with the seedy side of life simply because it is not in their interest to fraternize with them.

In effect, if you descend to these level, you are  effectively helping these capital owners to "legitimize" their own "hedonistic behaviour"- and even see as "one of the people." They literally have the cake and eat it at the same time. When you are weak, and you do not descend to these levels, you have a moral authority money cannot buy. But when you allow something or anything to "corrupt" you, you don't even have anything in your favour.

And if I want to take away something from the fat cats, you let them say things like: you will spend it on prostitution or gambling- might as well, let me keep it and let me create jobs. The basic working class ethic is your very protection against the very exploitation by the very people whom you are working for. Hence if I work hard and you were spending these extra money on these vices, you have a moral authority on your side, simply because if you want it, you couldn't afford it.

Hence that is why I say this descend towards the lowest common denominator is really not "democratic", in effect, it provides for the very bedrock for business to thrive. Stability. Think about your pay cheque, how much goes to your car, how much goes into boozing and lastly how much goes into your entertainment- that is exactly why, every one is afraid to lose their jobs.

That is exactly why, I am better off than you: precisely because even if I did nothing, something is growing and I am learning. Unlike some people, whom work to feed a habit which feeds off it's very existence and also not growing at all- hence they cannot accumulate any property of their own.

I keep on saying that you are enslaving yourself to your job. That is exactly why- you will do anything for all these things that are not important at all. I am not moralizing here, I am giving you a material basis- that is the difference. You are literally digging your own grave.

If I can stretch a little further, beyond just common denominator- tell me one single thing in your expense that is necessary. You will realise that it only comes down to a few hundred dollars. Do you know how much I have spend on insurance.

This is not frugality ethic or asking you to do something like charity- this is for your own good. In the end, when you have accumulate nothing- no knowledge, no property, no investment, no cash- even if you work till the cows come home, there is nothing left in your pocket.

[ Cigarettes is the next killer: upper class do not smoke, only people whom are descending need to worry about that. Because they know something that you don't, this is it.]