At 3:41 PM +0200 on 7/11/99, M. Uli Kusterer wrote:
>>>> Let me add in "Altruism causes war" to the list, too.
>>If an altruistic country ultimately decays to starvation (which I argue it
>>does) it may then see a country that did not decay. It's people, being
>>conditioned that need justifies the means, would not hesitate to start a
>>war to satisfy their "need" by pluder of a more successfull nation (i.e.,
>>one that is capitalistic)
>
>Anthony,
>
> this war is not due to altruism, it's due to inequality. I'd sign
>"inequality causes war", but I won't sign that it's altruism.
It's not the inequality that causes the war, but rather the doctrine of the
altruistic country that _need_ is the justifaction for ownership: They need
the food, the resources, the products of the more affluent country, and
because their idea is that need is a end justifying all means, they believe
it is right to declare war -- because they need it. Someone will use the
justiciation of "need" to justify a war -- turning it from a act seen as
wrong to an act seen as right and neccissary because the more afluent
nation is "greedy" and "selfish."
OTOH, in capitalism production is the basis for ownership. You can't use
"need" to justify war in a society that believes in capitalism.
