If it wasn't so terminal the continual reflex of Utilitarian Europeans to
either/or; or Socialism/Communism vs Democracy/free market would be
amusing. For example, Socialism has been "defeated" according to the
local "Capitalist" media but what about Sweden, France and other parts of
the world that haven't gotten the message? Communism must, like
America's Capitalist story, just be
one of many alternatives on the scale of what the West likes to call left
and right. I find their metaphor to be flawed from the getgo.
Any body that contains only a left or right brain or a left or right hand,
etc. is only half a body. Both radical elements are incapable of
creating harmony or balance alone.
For those of us in the trenches of economic life there is just the issue
of whether we wish to work for someone or for ourselves.
Working for a boss who provides the impetus for our efforts or for our own
imagination based in our skills and ability to draw clients
for our products. The issue of Utility, as drawn in the previous paper,
is less important than the sense of fulfillment that comes
from the work that consumes a large part of our existence.
I have personally done more important work for little to no pay than that
which I have been paid for. The pay was simply for the purpose of making
it possible for me to complete work that interested and exited me. The
same was true for my Cherokee Father who once completed a Doctoral
candidate's thesis because he wanted to do the study and know the outcome
more than that he get credit for it or make money from having done it. He
didn't have the money to complete the study on his meager teacher's salary
even though he had his own Doctor's Degree already so the other man paid
for the study and my father did it.
This would amount to heresy in both systems since the other man got the
credit and an ill deserved Doctor's Degree. While the wars and storms of
the meta-economists rage, we on the ground must often swear fealty to
which ever one seems to be in the area at the time in order to get our
life's work done.
Socialism isn't dead and neither is Capitalism in China. This examination
from a Yale professor, of an obscure movement in France, asks serious
questions about the basis for much of our economic thinking. As a
Cherokee I resonate with the "gift as life" much more than "the gift as
negotiation" although we have that as well. I believe the questions
that it raises, should be raised lest we become simple minded in our
intellectual duality. After all is said and done there is a circle of
life and there are thousands of possibilities when we know our history,
live in the present and are imaginative in our future walk. "The path
knows much more than the one who walks it."
Ray Evans Harrell
Michael Gurstein wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob Wallace <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 3:55 PM
> Subject: Giving vs Economics
>
> from: In These Times, August 21, 2000
>
> Give It Away
> By David Graeber
>
