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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 9:37:25
"The invisible hand", a central idea in the free market philosophy, is only invisible to those who are successful in society. For those who are victims of this system, the "invisible hand" is clearly visible, and they see that it is indeed the Claw of the Beast.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 18, 2008, at 9:41:14
In reply to 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 9:37:25
Is that the same as this microchip thing?
Posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 12:12:39
In reply to 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 9:37:25
Posted by Sigismund on April 18, 2008, at 14:18:27
In reply to Re: 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 12:12:39
It might be interesting to compare the values of someone like Adam Smith with the values current in the ruling circles of our countries.
('Values'? I wonder if it's a weasel word, actually.)
He opposed slavery, I think.
I just imagine (or want to believe?) that there has been some kind of decline and that we are in the hands of people that it is uncivil to describe further, given my abilities.
Although sometimes a decent election result can start to head things in a better direction.
Any opinions?
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 19, 2008, at 0:26:58
In reply to 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 9:37:25
Walmart is quite visible to a serf like me & it's all over.
It's taking away the uniqueness of small towns everywhere in the U.S.
Is this the act of the 'invisible hand'?
Posted by Sigismund on April 19, 2008, at 3:17:27
In reply to Re: 'The invisible hand', posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 19, 2008, at 0:26:58
From citizens to consumers to serfs.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 19, 2008, at 7:44:21
In reply to 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 9:37:25
I am going to have to check out that book from the library by Adam Smith. It sounds really interesting.
Posted by antiserial on April 19, 2008, at 10:58:42
In reply to Re: 'The invisible hand', posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 19, 2008, at 7:44:21
> I am going to have to check out that book from the library by Adam Smith. It sounds really interesting.
Why would you want to do that? Am I missing something here?
Posted by caraher on April 19, 2008, at 13:15:38
In reply to Re: 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 19, 2008, at 10:58:42
Adam Smith is the patron saint of the "unfettered free-market capitalism" to which boosters of corporate hegemony hypocritically appeal. Reading Smith is therefore an excellent way of critically examining the intellectual foundations for our current economic system.
Posted by caraher on April 19, 2008, at 13:20:36
In reply to 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 18, 2008, at 9:37:25
http://dir.salon.com/story/comics/boll/2002/01/24/boll/index.html
Posted by Sigismund on April 19, 2008, at 16:03:54
In reply to Re: 'The invisible hand', posted by antiserial on April 19, 2008, at 10:58:42
The homogenisation of the planet is as much due to all the investment capital floating around, isn't it?
And those complex financial whatevertheyares that no one pretends to understand.I wonder if it was "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" that he wrote after "Wealth of Nations".
Maybe the Neocon story about Adam Smith and the free market could be worth checking out.
Posted by Sigismund on April 19, 2008, at 23:53:25
In reply to Re: 'The invisible hand', posted by Sigismund on April 19, 2008, at 16:03:54
Politics and evolution select for certain traits.
Consider WWII.
Churchill.......bipolar, alcoholic
Roosevelt.......mild bipolar
Stalin..........clinically paranoid
Hitler..........some combo including OCD, amphetamine intake.These people were selected, just as bipolar is selected through evolution as a trait worth inheriting.
So what types of people are selected to run our countries?
The thing these days seems to be someone who connects with the voters, and who is not part of the so called elites (Obama/guns/religion).
I say 'so called', because it seems that those elites are you and me.We have that here with our new Labor Government which uses the mantra 'working families', like a crucifix against the vampire accusation that the ALP is somehow part of the elites.
I haven't read "The Mask of Sanity"(1941) but I plan to.
I gather the gist of it is that our societies preferentially favour the leadership of the psycopathic, which I take to mean that you don't get far in this world unless you are prepared to stop being nice.
Posted by fayeroe on April 20, 2008, at 4:49:06
In reply to Random Babble, posted by Sigismund on April 19, 2008, at 23:53:25
Sisigmund said I haven't read "The Mask of Sanity"(1941) but I plan to.
I gather the gist of it is that our societies preferentially favour the leadership of the psycopathic, which I take to mean that you don't get far in this world unless you are prepared to stop being nice."You never cease to amaze me with your insight.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 20, 2008, at 8:21:32
In reply to Re: Random Babble » Sigismund, posted by fayeroe on April 20, 2008, at 4:49:06
I can't remember which deceased news reporter stated that Hitler was the best speaker he ever heard and had a hypnotic effect on the crowd. (Psychopaths can have charisma).
Posted by Sigismund on April 22, 2008, at 23:04:32
In reply to Re: Random Babble, posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 20, 2008, at 8:21:32
'I had the strange feeling that the man was feeding on the excitement that he himself had whipped up.'
'In all great decivers a remarkable process is at work to which they owe their power. In the very act of deception with all its preparations, the dreadful voice, expression and gestures, they are ovecome by their belief in themselves; it is this belief which then speaks, so persuasively, so miracle like, to the audience.'
Neitzche
This is the end of the thread.
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