I recommend Michael J. Sandel’s book, The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? wherein he says the problem with Meritocracy, which has become the moral justification for unfettered capitalism, is that it divides society into winners (the rich) and losers (the poor and most of us). The “losers” feel humiliated and hopeless …
I recommend Michael J. Sandel’s book, The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? wherein he says the problem with Meritocracy, which has become the moral justification for unfettered capitalism, is that it divides society into winners (the rich) and losers (the poor and most of us). The “losers” feel humiliated and hopeless because they are told it’s their own fault for not getting an education and bettering themselves. We who are educated (somewhat) know it is more complicated than that and the system is rigged. Propaganda does the job of directing their anger and frustration away from the legitimate targets toward scapegoats and phantom menaces (immigrants, non-whites, political opponents).
The cure? Sandel says we need to adjust our definition of success, honor the dignity of work, and restore self-worth, esteeming those “losers” as citizens contributing to the common good.
Raising the minimum wage would be a good start, but until we can change the value system of society it won’t happen. Until then, we do as Jesus instructed: Feed the poor. House the homeless. Comfort the afflicted.
I recommend Michael J. Sandel’s book, The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? wherein he says the problem with Meritocracy, which has become the moral justification for unfettered capitalism, is that it divides society into winners (the rich) and losers (the poor and most of us). The “losers” feel humiliated and hopeless because they are told it’s their own fault for not getting an education and bettering themselves. We who are educated (somewhat) know it is more complicated than that and the system is rigged. Propaganda does the job of directing their anger and frustration away from the legitimate targets toward scapegoats and phantom menaces (immigrants, non-whites, political opponents).
The cure? Sandel says we need to adjust our definition of success, honor the dignity of work, and restore self-worth, esteeming those “losers” as citizens contributing to the common good.
Raising the minimum wage would be a good start, but until we can change the value system of society it won’t happen. Until then, we do as Jesus instructed: Feed the poor. House the homeless. Comfort the afflicted.
And afflict the comfortable, as needed.
SB, I have posted this Marge Piercy poem before, and probably will again—it is my criteria for public service: To Be Of Use https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57673/to-be-of-use