tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post8488270082347849326..comments2024-03-20T02:13:42.947-05:00Comments on real economics: We have the skills needed. But what future are we building with them? Jonathan Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05217670446743983955noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-78779505920949296332013-09-21T18:56:31.593-05:002013-09-21T18:56:31.593-05:00Great comment! Thank You!
I especially enjoyed t...Great comment! Thank You!<br /><br />I especially enjoyed this post because sometimes I lose sight of the big message. I just assume that if I cover the details, the big picture will be obvious. Well, it's not. So when Tony writes something like this, it is VERY welcome.<br /><br />I also liked that you enjoyed my post on Kant. Truthfully, that was pure self-indulgence—being an accidental Kantian and all. But the way I see it, being an accidental Kantian beats being an Aristotelian by miles. "Too much can't, not enough Kant" is absolutely wonderful.Jonathan Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05217670446743983955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-52046191799860104572013-09-21T11:51:11.469-05:002013-09-21T11:51:11.469-05:00Thanks for this thought-provoking posting. I'...Thanks for this thought-provoking posting. I'll snip a few statements that resonated--<br />"...the inadequacy of our public discourse would be comic, were it not paralyzing us...."<br /><br />"...problem we have right now is that our society's mechanism for controlling economic forces has been corrupted and short-circuited...."<br /> -<br /><br />They also connected with Jonathan's posting on Kant--<br />"...the main maxims of the categorical imperative..., "And what would it be like if everyone misbehaved as you just did?" (Maxim one-universality.)...emphasis on leading a truthful life (Maxim two—one must never lie because people should never be treated as a means to an end.)...reminders that you were always responsible for your own actions (Maxim three—everyone is his own moral agent.)"<br /> -<br /><br />What throttles our world is the capture of the wealth, which serves as our global means of survival, the resources needed to improve our systems that keep us alive.<br /><br />We all are captured by elites holding the financial means for changes the globe needs, but they lack the vision or the heart to 'risk' those means to help their fellow man. They are austerity ghouls, we are collateral damage.<br /><br />They have allowed the world's wealth to be placed into three investments that swallow wealth with no return to the general welfare--<br />--financial derivatives casino<br />--military-industrial complex<br />--healthcare<br /><br />All while downplaying investment potential in any industry that increases the general welfare.<br /><br />Review the lessons of Kant--<br />--universality<br />--truthfulness<br />--responsibly for your actions<br />...while you ponder today's financial instruments, today's run-up to the next war, and waste in our healthcare.<br /><br />At a high level, every generation in each era of all history faces similar corruption of their institutions of control.<br /><br />Luther created a whole religion because of the corruption of the Catholic church, but what made that movement great was it allowed entire regions to escape the corrupting influences and establish a better foundation of leaders who through time created regions of social welfare that are arguably still superior today.<br /><br />Similarly with political revolutions, they are revolts against tyranny of the political elites of that country. If done using Kant's principles, have their chance to create institutions founded on the goal of providing for the general welfare. Yes, with time men will rise up into power who uncaring capture control and power thus corrupting the institutions, until again the people must decide to rise up for the general welfare against their era's evil.<br /><br />Skipping ahead to today, with modern globalization, it is obvious our strings are pulled by a global elite. They create political groups to put forward--<br />--G8, G20, UN...<br />--then semi-public institutions--<br />--IMF, World Bank, Fed...<br />Behind those two curtains there are a couple dozen wealthy families who rule the world. They are not having a good rule.<br /><br />But they never do, each generation must confront their human faults. While they have lessons of the greatest minds of history to frame their foundation, they just can't ever get it right.<br /><br />They fall prey to too many competing entrenched interests, surrounded by too many weak-minded rich people who--<br />--can't stop ripping off resources,<br />--can't stop from triggering wars to gain more,<br />--can't embrace change and<br />--can't lead us through uncertainty while avoiding the snipers in their midst.<br /><br />In summary, this is less a public debate, no? To me, this is personal. Each person has their own fight, and it is within themselves.<br /><br />Yes, a rich person controls more consequenses, but the ultimate consequence is with one's own soul.<br /><br />And there are too many Kings, too few King Jrs; too many Lex Luthors, too few Martin Luthers.<br /><br />Too much can't, not enough Kant...and that needs to be what takes the individual into the public debate.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252804186064393926noreply@blogger.com