[John] Well it's a complex set that we shorthandedly refer to as "the protestant ethos". Lemme see if I remember them (it's been so long since I've actually seen 'em)
[Arlo] Do not forget "ethos" on the part of the capistocrat as well. [John] refusing to steal: Why is it that if I go into a bank and rob $2000 from a teller, that lands me in jail. But running up my bank card to 10 times that amount, when I know I can't pay it back, is morally and legally acceptable? [Arlo] How many people lost their entire retirement due to greed and unregulated behavior on Wall Street? Why was that not "stealing"? What about the insane accumulative interest rate on credit cards, trapping people in impossible to pay-off growing debt? [John] delayed gratification: Capital only accumulates if you don't spend it on goodies. [Arlo] There was a recent article in Newsweek about how (some) corporations are only now beginning to realize that downsizing actually hurts them in long run (even if it increases quarterly profit margins). A little "delayed gratification" goes good all around... I think the recent economic crisis proves the greed and lack of "protestant ethos" when regulations are lifted... [John] the ethic of working productively, making something useful as opposed to pimping, running a gambling parlor or owning a bar. [Arlo] Ah, the smack down on "vice".... Without getting into this entire list, how dare you say operating a tavern is not "useful"? It's one of the more "useful" occupations I can think of. You suggest that the presence of "bars" is going to cause society to "degrade"? You can keep your prohibitionary view, John, I'd loathe to live in a society with no taverns or pubs... Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
