I read this and think. The glorification of labor, the sanctification of labor and art 12, 1936 Soviet Constitution. from each according to his work, to each according to his need, in other words if you don't work, you don't eat.
There is no room in society, as such, for the disabled, the elderly, they become parasites, drain the system (hmm, have I touched on the philosophy of the oligarchy, the Republican party, Trumpists)?
There is no room for the artists, those who work with their mind, not their biceps
At the root of all this is the thing we call human dignity, I believe. Unfortunately, civilization or society appear to invariably undermine that basic concept and call it into question before we get to square one. Things happen spontaneously or inadvertently in families and groups because of variability and unpredictable events (weather, health, weakness, impulsiveness, accident, etc.) which pit one person against another or create feelings of unfairness, jealousy, frustration, anger, insecurity, distrust, etc. Unless a complex and comprehensive system is initiated universally to instill the organic value of human dignity from the moment of birth, I suspect grandiose ideas for such wonderful relationships and human organization are probably far off in some distant future, if not impossible. These are goals to be pursued very cautiously and strategically. I know, let's start with the schools!
Thom's story has a basis in fact. When everyone gets paid the same, how does one neighbor live better than the next? Do I buy the kids new clothes or paint the house? I cannot afford to do both. Do we skip meals for a year so we can buy a used Trabant? That is communism. That used to be life in Soviet Bulgaria. Like all Soviet nations, Bulgarians solved the affordability problem by turning the lawns around their houses into subsistence farms. They prevented food theft by erecting seven-foot walls around their property. All Bulgarian houses are still little fortresses.
My spouse's parents raised hogs, chickens (eggs & meat), grew corn, tomatoes, and potatoes, and when needed, butchered their livestock, often with the help of neighbors, who got to take parts of the animal home for their effort. Above it all was a trellis network for grapes later harvested and distilled to make liquor - grapa. Babushkas preserved vegetables in jars for winter. Not having to buy food to live generated unspent cash for luxuries. This continued until about 2010, once capitalism finally took hold. Most homes today no longer have livestock, but they often still grow veggies.
The 2BR house we inherited stands out because it now has an American-style lawn and the house has a fresh coat of paint. The little distillery building, cannery, hog barn, chicken coop, and tool shed are all gone now. Oh yes, the outhouse has moved indoors, and the kitchen has a garbage disposal and dishwasher, electric range, washer and dryer, big fridge, and granite countertops. Capitalism.
The New Yorker once had an article about the evolution of the lawn. According to that, it began in 18th century England when wealthy landowners wanted to show that they did not need all of their property to plant crops. From there it spread to the middle class as a mark of social standing. (I suppose sort of like how well into the 1960s most men who did not do manual work would routinely wear suits and ties.) So the lawn is a class thing, without most people even being aware of it.
I read this and think. The glorification of labor, the sanctification of labor and art 12, 1936 Soviet Constitution. from each according to his work, to each according to his need, in other words if you don't work, you don't eat.
There is no room in society, as such, for the disabled, the elderly, they become parasites, drain the system (hmm, have I touched on the philosophy of the oligarchy, the Republican party, Trumpists)?
There is no room for the artists, those who work with their mind, not their biceps
We be the Eloi, laboring for the Morlocks.
At the root of all this is the thing we call human dignity, I believe. Unfortunately, civilization or society appear to invariably undermine that basic concept and call it into question before we get to square one. Things happen spontaneously or inadvertently in families and groups because of variability and unpredictable events (weather, health, weakness, impulsiveness, accident, etc.) which pit one person against another or create feelings of unfairness, jealousy, frustration, anger, insecurity, distrust, etc. Unless a complex and comprehensive system is initiated universally to instill the organic value of human dignity from the moment of birth, I suspect grandiose ideas for such wonderful relationships and human organization are probably far off in some distant future, if not impossible. These are goals to be pursued very cautiously and strategically. I know, let's start with the schools!
Thom's story has a basis in fact. When everyone gets paid the same, how does one neighbor live better than the next? Do I buy the kids new clothes or paint the house? I cannot afford to do both. Do we skip meals for a year so we can buy a used Trabant? That is communism. That used to be life in Soviet Bulgaria. Like all Soviet nations, Bulgarians solved the affordability problem by turning the lawns around their houses into subsistence farms. They prevented food theft by erecting seven-foot walls around their property. All Bulgarian houses are still little fortresses.
My spouse's parents raised hogs, chickens (eggs & meat), grew corn, tomatoes, and potatoes, and when needed, butchered their livestock, often with the help of neighbors, who got to take parts of the animal home for their effort. Above it all was a trellis network for grapes later harvested and distilled to make liquor - grapa. Babushkas preserved vegetables in jars for winter. Not having to buy food to live generated unspent cash for luxuries. This continued until about 2010, once capitalism finally took hold. Most homes today no longer have livestock, but they often still grow veggies.
The 2BR house we inherited stands out because it now has an American-style lawn and the house has a fresh coat of paint. The little distillery building, cannery, hog barn, chicken coop, and tool shed are all gone now. Oh yes, the outhouse has moved indoors, and the kitchen has a garbage disposal and dishwasher, electric range, washer and dryer, big fridge, and granite countertops. Capitalism.
The New Yorker once had an article about the evolution of the lawn. According to that, it began in 18th century England when wealthy landowners wanted to show that they did not need all of their property to plant crops. From there it spread to the middle class as a mark of social standing. (I suppose sort of like how well into the 1960s most men who did not do manual work would routinely wear suits and ties.) So the lawn is a class thing, without most people even being aware of it.