In my limited experience, movement comes first, and as long as it grows no one worries much about abstract (after-the-fact) justification through "fairness" etc. As the movement ceases to be movement its participants spend more and more time arguing that their position is just. Moral arguments compensate for actual failure.
Carrol > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:pen-l- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Devine > Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 12:02 PM > To: Progressive Economics > Subject: Re: [Pen-l] Slate: "In College Admissions, Affirmative Action and Its > Critics Both Have The Same Problem" > > I think that history shows that (at least for the US, which I know best) ideas of > "fairness" (and even religion) helped mass movements _mobilize > themselves_. For example, look at the work of Eugene V. Debs. And of > course, capitalist visions of "fairness" differ from proletarian ones. > > > CC writes: > It is I suppose possible that the rhetoric of "fairness" could > mobilize millions, but I very much doubt it. It is too juzzy a concept, & most of > its meanings flow from capitalist ideology.< > > > On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 3:07 PM, Carrol Cox <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Jim D: > In the meantime, I see no reason why we can't talk about > fairness, > > since the > > "masses" can learn from our discussion. > > > It is fair that I get fair value for my money. If I have more money than > you, it I s unfair for me not to get a better education than you. > > It isn't fair for single mothers to sponge off taxpayers. > > It isn't fair for BART employees to interfere with my right to travel > from > Oakland to SF. > > The same old fellow saids something about when two rights collide. > > It is I suppose possible that the rhetoric of "fairness" could mobilize > millions, but I very much doubt it. It is too juzzy a concept, & most of > its > meanings flow from capitalist ideology. > > Carrol > > > > _______________________________________________ > pen-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l > > > > > > -- > > Jim Devine / "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go > away." -- Philip K. Dick _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
