The Opportunity Crisis

[Galbally]

Interesting, though I tend to worry more about European culture as opposed to American culture as thats Americans' job. Though I suppose I can give me tuppence. What I would say is that for all its many flaws, American culture is not monolithic, neither is it un-self-aware at all. It is also didactic, and adversarial in its intellectual discourse by nature, usually polar arguments are had, reflecting the simplistic 2party political system. I would be optimistic in the longer term that America will (as always) reinvent itself once more and move away from this corporatist, actually quite "statist" approach that has been adopted, (except the government is not actually the controlling cultural influence, the government seems to do what it is told by business, not the other way round as should be). Its the corrosive influence of unrestrained money, power, and centralization of huge business concerns with no social restraint, that is setting the political and cultural agenda in the U.S. right now, as well as the foreign policy of the Republic.

Somehow the right of companies to conduct their business in a free manner, without fear or favour of government interference (an important principal) has turned into a global ideological crusade supposedly about "freedom" that is actually about insuring that vested money and power interests in the U.S. (above all) are to be protected to the detriment of the polis, the society of free citizens that make up the country, other countries, and the international system. Its interesting that most Americans have the instinctive belief in their own individuality and freedom, while being members of one of the most corporatized, regimented, culturally homogenized societies on earth. Its interesting, and shows the power of a good idea, and how it can sustain something completely different to what was intended, despite the evidence.

Being European, I have a differing world view from the average American, I distrust big business far more than the government, as at least I can fire the government, (which is in principal accountable and allegedly represents all, not just well off shareholders) and its purpose is to generally protect its citizens, from outsiders who would like to invade, exploitative companies, business cartels, general criminals, and of course our own foolish behavior, and not just to service the rich and their dubious interests all the time, (though they do this of course as well, like all governments). And of course the eternal problem remains, of who protects us from the government, well sometimes you have to rely on the system in your country to insure that you are represented, sometimes other means have to be adopted, of all means, the belief in and rule of a just set of laws is always the greatest guarantee of personal freedom for any nation.

I also think, to be fair, that one of the great, great strengths of the American system has been its ability to adapt to problems and change, which is what provides its stability, over the long term, and why it has remained a functioning democracy when other countries could not achieve this goal. Unfortunately though, social equity is a dirty word in the states to many it seems, I would suggest that perhaps a greater level of social equity for the weakest members of society; a re-fostering of civic society; a far greater level and belief in personal and social responsibility; better respect for the law and authority; and better social and civic discipline starting in school (as was all once the case in the U.S.) are vital for the health of American or any other western society. To me these things are required now above all other things to help heal the ills of society over there in particular.

As it seems now from the outside, the American super-rich now enjoy a lifestyle comparable to the French nobility at the end of the ancient regime in Europe in the 18th century in terms of their complete control of all sources of power: economic, legal, political, the media, all concentrated in their (very) few and greedy hands; their utter arrogance and contempt toward the poor, their seeming disinterest in society at large; and their grotesque level of increasing wealth and luxury in relation to the average Joe or Jane (who actually pays to keep the society of the great Republic functioning as a going concern, does the actual work, dies in its wars, and gets a little house and a lot of debts as recompense for keeping their mouths shut). Also, (and very interestingly) these mega rich people are then actually glamorized, applauded and lionized for their extreme wealth, (however they have earned it); their usually extreme and vulgar nouveau riche consumption levels; and their generally irresponsible, callow, and supercillious attitude to the society which actually allows and enables them to live like latter-day Roman emperors, and without which they would be nothing, (again very like a nobility controlling their own ludicrous propaganda through the media of the day IMO). The myth is don't knock em, join em, as if it were possible that any more than a tiny, tiny minority of any society could exercise such economic hegemony and waste treasure in such a fashion, ludicrous, but highly effective as propaganda.

I would suggest that really, this is an unsustainable situation, (don't forget what happened to Maire Antoinette and Louis XVI), they would be wise to remember that America still remains a Republic of free citizens, not actually a post-industrial "kingdom" of half-educated, fully-terrorized, wage-slaves who have hocked their futures to own the latest consumer durables over a 40-year repayment plan until manumission at retirement, only to escape from this by worshiping at the altar of an infantile celebrity culture, and hyper-wealth as things to be uncritically admired in themselves and not for what they have been achieved for (or why), and are driven into endless foreign wars by their leaders to make sure the elites remain in power, and thereby ensuring the relevant companies who pay the wages remain in business. Don't forget political despotism isn't the only kind of despotism there is, economic despotism is alive and well, and lives in large tall buildings in our major cities around the world. All quite Orwellian really.

Though that seems to be the future the "undiscovered country" that many of these very powerful, and irresponsible concerns would like to actually create. It hasn't happened yet IMO, but I can see why some people think it well might, scary stuff. Well your future is in your own hands America as ever, (as is ours) its my belief that this nightmare scenario won't actually happen, because as the great American writer said (to paraphrase him) you can't fool all the people, all the time. But we shall see.

[Galbally]

Novelty;550716 wrote: This is not something new, Galbally, this is just a small part of a story designed to control it's peoples minds, Corporate Culture is already here, and Big Business, is the Government the Iraq War is an example of this merge,

beliefs and values are the basis of which people interpret experiences and behave, individually and in groups.

The Media, Government and Corporations,

The MGC, are all interdependent, and they are creating this consumer ideology with deep physiological effect, it is the manipulation of our hopes, fears and dreams that controls our beliefs, and this is whats happening today...

Values have no integrity in a Corporate culture, it is called: Brand loyalty



I look at the American and British culture as the same, besides the different laws and tradition we are spiritually the same, and what will be in the USA will be here and will be in the most of Europe,



Corporate Culture wins the Superbowl
Culture 10 Corporate Culture 50


I know that novelty, in fact corporatism in politics goes back to ancient china, and the romans debated the corrupting influence of gold, and eastern loot on their robust young republic, so these are old themes in human affairs. The pertinent thing is to always look to what is happening, and who is benefiting from it, that way, when the drop comes, you may have a chance to know its happening. Also yes, modern Britain has become very American, and much less "British" than it used to be, mores the pity, but Britain remains an Island off the north western coast of Europe and part of that continent, its not part of North America, and its people are a European people, no matter what right wing politicians like to think. So I wouldn't worry overmuch. These things have a way of balancing themselves out.