So, here I was in Political Economy class and the professor is asking a question. As an aside, I really like my Political Economy professor. Political economy was a class I was gonna enjoy anyways, but a good professor always makes the class better. This guy is something special, too. He's intelligent, well-spoken, and most importantly, conservative. Although I don't share his political views (basically at all), I learn a lot more from interacting with him than with my more liberal professors and friends. Right, so in any case, Political Economy is a class about the way economic structures are set up and governments interact with them. We talk about the transition from mercantilism economies to capitalism, and the mixture of capitalism and socialism that exists in the modern world. We read Hayek, Smith, Marx and Engels. It's good times all around.
It's probably about halfway through today's lecture that the professor decides to go on a mild tangent. We're discussing the changing of political regimes and how elites or the populace can effect political change. In democratic societies, this is typically done via voting. If the rule party (or coalition) is unpopular, an election can install a new government. This is all fairly old hat, so to speak. We then reach one of those horrible moments that every student fears: the professor asks us a question and waits for someone to volunteer an answer.
"So, a lot of the time, voting in an election doesn't make a huge difference, especially on an individual scale. If this isn't working to change your government, what else can a citizen do?"
He pauses, waiting for a student to raise a hand or volunteer an answer. It's one of those awkward moments when most students don't know what to say and those who do would rather be silent.
A moment passes by.
"Anyone? What other option do citizens have?"
Still we are engulfed in silence. Another three heartbeats pass. He looks annoyed.
"Alright, I'll give you a hint: It's two words."
Another beat passes. Suddenly, an answer occurs to me, and in order to break the incredibly awkward silence, I blurt it out:
"Violent Revolution!"
Multiple heads turn. Most people are alarmed of confused. One girl smiles at me (yes!). The professor gives me a strange look, then replies, "No... no, that's not it. I'm talking about political activism..."
Just wondering. what political direction is that professor on?
He seems to be quite different to me to!
Now i don't know if you wanted a political uproar from this blog, but i personally cannot stand the notion that you can make everything better just by voting or activism. It's not like the people at power will give up their power just because they have people against them! And i don't mean politicians, i mean the people with the big money! The people with the POWER!
Haha, im speaking out of my ass now :D maybe. In short, i don't really think that the democracy we have now (at least in Norway) is the best way of maximising happiness. It is damn close though
The weird thing is, even tough the power structure centered around money is in its core immoral and unfair in so many ways, its probably better than any other form of power strucure in reality. And we have to talk about what is actually possible and not what is potentially the most optimal. In the real world people are greedy for power. In the old days you had to kill for that power and the guy that was best at killing was the guy with the most power. Now you can bribe people and control people by giving them jobs and making sure they consume enough to make the wheel go round and round. Its all a big mess. But i think its better than to have vikings rape and pillage your village.
At the same token, you could make a case for capitalism killing our planet with the ever so growing economy and energy demand.
Sometimes political activism won't make a huge difference. If this isn't working to change your government, what else can a citizen do? hint: two more words!
On May 10 2012 05:42 tanngard wrote: The weird thing is, even tough the power structure centered around money is in its core immoral and unfair in so many ways, its probably better than any other form of power strucure in reality. And we have to talk about what is actually possible and not what is potentially the most optimal. In the real world people are greedy for power. In the old days you had to kill for that power and the guy that was best at killing was the guy with the most power. Now you can bribe people and control people by giving them jobs and making sure they consume enough to make the wheel go round and round. Its all a big mess. But i think its better than to have vikings rape and pillage your village.
At the same token, you could make a case for capitalism killing our planet with the ever so growing economy and energy demand.
We are fucked anyway basically.
I partly agree with you. Sure, There are non-money based structures that are worse than money, and we are probably better of now than what people used to get power before.
But you need to remember that the money based power system still kills people and puts them in horrible situations just as before. People with no money will in many places starve on the street, and many people work almost to death to keep the people in power. So i don't nessesarily think that capitalism as a power source is that good for most people possibly
I also think that we should always fight for the things that we think is most optimal, because what is actually possible changes on a yearly basis. Do you think anyone could predict for example cell phones or cars in the 1200? I think we defietnly should reach for the impossible, and outside of technology, basicly anything is possible!
On May 10 2012 05:19 Teoman wrote: Just wondering. what political direction is that professor on?
He seems to be quite different to me to!
He's an American Libertarian, which means he's in favor of curtailing government involvement in healthcare, welfare, and business, and military expenses. He is in favor of lower taxes. He is in favor of gay marriage and abortion rights.
On May 10 2012 05:19 Teoman wrote: Now i don't know if you wanted a political uproar from this blog, but i personally cannot stand the notion that you can make everything better just by voting or activism. It's not like the people at power will give up their power just because they have people against them! And i don't mean politicians, i mean the people with the big money! The people with the POWER!
Haha, im speaking out of my ass now :D maybe. In short, i don't really think that the democracy we have now (at least in Norway) is the best way of maximising happiness. It is damn close though
Good luck with the studies though!
Oh I'm not actually in favor of violent revolution ;_; it was just kinda funny that that's what occurred to me instead of political activism.
On May 10 2012 05:19 Teoman wrote: Just wondering. what political direction is that professor on?
He seems to be quite different to me to!
He's an American Libertarian, which means he's in favor of curtailing government involvement in healthcare, welfare, and business, and military expenses. He is in favor of lower taxes. He is in favor of gay marriage and abortion rights.
On May 10 2012 05:19 Teoman wrote: Now i don't know if you wanted a political uproar from this blog, but i personally cannot stand the notion that you can make everything better just by voting or activism. It's not like the people at power will give up their power just because they have people against them! And i don't mean politicians, i mean the people with the big money! The people with the POWER!
Haha, im speaking out of my ass now :D maybe. In short, i don't really think that the democracy we have now (at least in Norway) is the best way of maximising happiness. It is damn close though
Good luck with the studies though!
Oh I'm not actually in favor of violent revolution ;_; it was just kinda funny that that's what occurred to me instead of political activism.
Haha! I thought you were trying to get the class (and the girl) with you on a spontanious revolution and marching on the white house by saying that in class :D Misunderstandment?
Not really in favour of violent revoultions myself, just wanna make the world a better place.
lol I think you might have missed your timing on that one ;p That answer is funny if you say it right away, but people will just think you're dense if it took you awhile to think of.
On May 10 2012 09:40 Chef wrote: lol I think you might have missed your timing on that one ;p That answer is funny if you say it right away, but people will just think you're dense if it took you awhile to think of.
I see it the other way. If someone immediately yelled out "violent revolution" I'd be like WTF? But if there is a long pause, and we are waiting for something to happen, and eventually someone yells that out, I will receive it much better.
Well, the silence for a dumb question like that is caused by tediousness because intelligent students don't want to answer a question that is obvious. I'm sure at least a few people are thankful someone said something so they could move on, but it's one of those classes you just don't wanna go to if it happens a lot.
EPT
