Posted by alexandra_k on March 7, 2014, at 23:08:22
In reply to Re: psychology of dependency on the government?? » Dr. Bob, posted by sleepygirl2 on March 6, 2014, at 18:14:53
> Denial of dependency in any form, with associated projection in the hated "other".
this reminded me of peter singer's claim that there isn't any such thing as pre-tax income. he makes it in response to those who claim that tax is theft.
he points out that however it is that you earn your money is dependent on the government's provision of certain services like roads and police and so on. so... the idea of pre-tax income is a myth - such government services must be paid for.
i took the claim to be that those who protest loudly about dole bludgers or government bludgers or whatever... typically have an over-inflated view of their own independence. they don't realize the many ways in which they, too, are also dependent on the government. for clean drinking water and sewerage treatment and for police and...
instead of hating the fact that they are dependent they hate those who they feel are more dependent... those who get more government assistance...
i'm not entirely sure i understand..
what i really don't understand... is why the middle people turn on the lower people instead of turning on the upper people. i mean... why get upset about the ones living on government assistance (who have next to nothing, lets face it). why not get upset about the paris hilton's of the world? those rolling in money... they're fairly dependent on the government leaving that situation be... leaving them to their wealth... why not get upset about that?
marx has stuff to say... but i haven't actually read any of it.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1061622
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20131211/msgs/1062035.html