----- Original Message ----- From: B. To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 2:43 PM Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] internet connectivity as vice and other bull dada
Kalle Lasn's notion of "down-shifting" one's life fits into this discussion nicely; it seems to be what Tully's talking about.
Welfare escapism, 'dropping out of the rat race' -- hard to find fault with that lifestyle choice really any more than someone choosing to live almost any other kind of lifestyle the US opportunity structure affords.
But people who choose such things shouldn't pretend that that will fundamentally change the socio-politico-economic structure. You can't "down-shift" imperialist capitalism out of existence -- at best you can carve a semi-tolerable niche for yourself out of it, which is a far different thing from social change.
It's like Chomsky said, if you drop out of the rat race and think it will change anything, that's like committing suicide: The world will go on as before, just without you in it.
-B.
<...>
As someone who has spent most of his life since adolescence living a voluntarily simple life, with great joy, no ulcers, and bad teeth, I absolutely agree.
It's just a way to live, and it should be (relatively) joyous for the person... or they need to go back a few steps and try again.
It's NOT supposed to be sacrifice, and you CAN make it a political statement... but it really degrades the experience.
Political... and chosen lifestyle.
So then it becomes: ...kudos... now what are you going to do?
Organize of course.
"Welfare escapism" *is* a form of social rebellion, but it's a tactic not a strategy... Kalle Lasn knows that... Abbie Hoffman knew that... others.
The strategy is a push for a more humane society, and perhaps insanely enough, 'Work worth doing' in a society worth doing it for...
Imagine that!
Leigh