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Children have all of their basic financial needs met by others, free of charge, and all they're expected to do in return is to try their best to become productive members of society. In other words, each is provided for according to need, and each gives back to society according to ability.
And that's communism.
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I noticed this is an image without alternate text. Hereβs the text:
"We often hear about Capitalism's contradictions, but I think the most tragic one is that we teach children pro-social behaviors: to share, to be kind, to cooperate, and to work together. We try to raise them to be decent human beings.
But then, when they grow up, they are rewarded for outcompeting others, being cutthroat and ruthless in the workplace, and if they achieve wealth and power, they are often rewarded for many anti-social behaviors.
Police can ruin lives just by doing their jobs. Landlords can make us homeless just by evicting. An employer might fire you if it's good for the bottom line. It seems that Capitalism wants us to be decent as children but then expects us to be corrupt and awful to each other as adults. Perhaps a system that delivers on the potential of that pro-social behavior we are taught as kids is a better system than the one we live under."
β David Graeber
You are a good person, thank you for being pro-social!
Donβt look at my comment history.
The more I read by Graeber, the more I like him. Shame he died.
Debt is an amazing book. I really loved Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology too.
I'm about 3/4 through The Dawn of Everything right now, and it's the most compelling prehistory I've read.
Wait.. what? I had no idea. I just read Bullshit Jobs and will definitely read more of his stuff. That's tragic.
Yeah, he had so much to give to the world. Like you said, tragic.
The only thing I disagree with is the line, "Capitalism wants us to be good children..."
Capitalism doesn't give a shit what type of kid you are.
Unless you are a kid with money.
Love me some David Graeber. I keep this link handy in case anyone wants to introduce themselves to his ideas or anarchism in general. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/david-graeber-are-you-an-anarchist-the-answer-may-surprise-you