Marx and Equality (Was: Why Decry the Wealth Gap?)

JKSCHW at aol.com JKSCHW at aol.com
Thu Jan 27 08:13:05 PST 2000


An old pre-PC Trot joke:

The speaker is waving the red flag on the soapbox. "Under Communism, eveyone will smoke big cigars! Under Communism, everyone will drive around in fast cars! Under Communism, everyone will have a blonde by his side!"

"But," says the listener, "I don't want to drive around in a fast car, smkoing a cigar, with a blonde by my side."

"Under Communism." says the speaker, "you will do what you are told!"

Doug suggests, "To each according to his desires" (rather than needs). How very postmodernist. Or neoclassical economistic.

--jks

In a message dated Thu, 27 Jan 2000 10:32:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> writes:


> Max Sawicky wrote:
>
> >Suppose I have an expensive hobby -- jumping
> >out of airplanes, and someone else is into
> >tiddly winks.
>
> Under communism, you will no longer want to jump out of airplanes.
> Your desire to do so is a product of your alienation under
> capitalism: a temporarily exhilarating mix of conspicuous consumption
> and risky behavior distracts you from your alienation, but once you
> hit ground, you are back in the fallen world. After the revo, no
> "need" to skydive.
>
> But, as a friend of mine said the other day, kids have needs, adults
> mostly have desires. To each according to her desire....?
>
> Doug



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