General Discussion

Martin Eden

(14,752 posts)

79. Human nature evolves

Sat Nov 30, 2019, 09:33 AM

Nov 2019

Greedy Columbus and the curious natives had a common ancestor, but their psychologies diverged due to environmental and sociological factors. On a landmass as big as Eurasia competition between and within emerging nation states sparked technological development with the imperative to dominate. Greed and power go hand in hand.

The long term survival of human civilization depends on the rational part of our brains gaining ascendancy over the more base tribal instincts and the impulse for immediate gratification. Logically, enlightened self interest equates to the collective interests of us all.

The ascendancy of Donald Trump to the most powerful elected office on the planet does not bode well for evolution to a more enlightened civilization, but it could provoke a backlash of political engagement which pulls more people out of their civic lethargy.

Our best hope lies in youth. Even if collectively we haven't taught our children well, the young generation is often determined not to follow in the footsteps of the old.

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Joseph Stiglitz : The end of neoliberalism and the rebirth of history [View all] Celerity Nov 2019 OP

The malefactors of great wealth Martin Eden Nov 2019 #1

I agree with you, and I have the bad habit of not reading other people's posts b4 posting mine Perseus Nov 2019 #5

Pretty well summarizes things. KPN Nov 2019 #18

being right handed is 'human nature' but we don't have to do everything right handed certainot Nov 2019 #75

Human nature evolves Martin Eden Nov 2019 #79

trump 'ascended' mainly for two reasons - the 'left's' ignorance of talk radio, russian use of it certainot Nov 2019 #84

All hands on deck for this existential crisis Martin Eden Nov 2019 #86

So glad to see this malaise Nov 2019 #2

+1 Ferrets are Cool Nov 2019 #3

The most important line in the article malaise Nov 2019 #14

That stood out first thing as well, democracy is seriously at risk. Americans appalachiablue Nov 2019 #26

Sadly Americans weren't watching as their institutions were malaise Nov 2019 #27

The libertarian free market boys and Friedman were busy appalachiablue Nov 2019 #36

Great post malaise Nov 2019 #37

+2 Kurt V. Nov 2019 #7

They are not. PatrickforO Nov 2019 #8

People are fed up right across the globe malaise Nov 2019 #11

I sure hope you are correct my friend. nt Ferrets are Cool Nov 2019 #53

They've been trying to sell that "trickle down" shit since reagan. calimary Nov 2019 #10

aka, they piss on our heads and tell us it's raining Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2019 #34

Pretty much. calimary Nov 2019 #72

You aren't the only one. KPN Nov 2019 #25

I love this quote and now I'm saving it too. Thanks for sharing it. n/t ms liberty Nov 2019 #71

This part of the article.... Xolodno Dec 2019 #101

Good post malaise Dec 2019 #107

The real problem has been "deregulation" Perseus Nov 2019 #4

I liked your post, and believe CEO salaries and definitely bonuses should be capped. PatrickforO Nov 2019 #9

The neo-liberal corporate narrative pervades the news media that is owned by... corporations Eyeball_Kid Nov 2019 #12

That is only one of the major problems with neo-liberalism malaise Nov 2019 #15

Yup, add law enforcement, infrastruture and basic utilities TexasBushwhacker Nov 2019 #52

Not only does t not work but it also malaise Dec 2019 #108

"Deregulation" is made possible by deeper problems Martin Eden Nov 2019 #23

We can hope malaise Dec 2019 #126

+1000 smirkymonkey Nov 2019 #32

K n R ! Thanks for posting! JoeOtterbein Nov 2019 #6

More to the point, imo, is my favorite all time SCOTUS Justice Brandeis: empedocles Nov 2019 #13

Which is why this is the key line malaise Nov 2019 #16

Thanks for posting Stiglitz+1000 zentrum Nov 2019 #17

Never forget that both Jeffrey Sachs and Joseph Stiglitz supported neo-liberalism malaise Nov 2019 #22

Really? Oh Man...... zentrum Dec 2019 #121

I actually have his neo-liberal lecture in Jamaica saved somewhere malaise Dec 2019 #122

Fantastic, snappy read. Thanks again! zentrum Dec 2019 #128

1% Has Half America's Wealth DanieRains Nov 2019 #19

We were the idiots that voted for the idiots that lowered the top tax rate! FiveGoodMen Nov 2019 #42

Top Tax Rate On Income - They Grow Their Wealth By Buying Appreciating Assets And Never Pay DanieRains Nov 2019 #49

It's going to take a long time, gab13by13 Nov 2019 #20

NEver forget that even fewer elites controlled this planet malaise Nov 2019 #28

DURec leftstreet Nov 2019 #21

So, we like Stiglitz here now? ismnotwasm Nov 2019 #24

Third way is absolute fuckery malaise Nov 2019 #29

In my mind neo-liberalism ismnotwasm Nov 2019 #30

This message was self-deleted by its author SMC22307 Nov 2019 #38

Hmm ismnotwasm Nov 2019 #43

thirdway.org SMC22307 Nov 2019 #45

Democrats and neoliberalism and the Third Way Celerity Nov 2019 #50

Good analysis. eom BlueWI Nov 2019 #54

But isn't Stiglitz the original "Third Wayer"? lapucelle Nov 2019 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author SMC22307 Nov 2019 #66

Something to ponder, however, is this.. X_Digger Nov 2019 #31

No, WE are not doing OK Bradshaw3 Nov 2019 #35

So, one measure, suicide? That's it? More children are going to bed satiated.. X_Digger Nov 2019 #39

My perspective is based on fact, not slurs Bradshaw3 Nov 2019 #47

Statistics say, man has never been as well as we are right now. X_Digger Nov 2019 #58

Statistics and people say Anmericans are struggling regardless of your personal shots Bradshaw3 Nov 2019 #88

Yes, they're struggling, but they're not going to bed hungry, etc. X_Digger Nov 2019 #89

Every one of your replies has a personal attack in it Bradshaw3 Nov 2019 #90

Telling a person that their focus is demonstrably myopic is a personal attack? X_Digger Nov 2019 #91

They are trying to gaslight you. Celerity Dec 2019 #127

"not going to bed hungry"? No, we're not a Third World country whathehell Dec 2019 #102

Hunger used to be (and in some places still is) an issue in the US. X_Digger Dec 2019 #114

"Used to be" and "In 'some' places" being the key phrases whathehell Dec 2019 #116

I'm not being US centric, thanks. But your bias is showing through, loud & clear. n/t X_Digger Dec 2019 #117

Lol..The topic was "US centric" -- Your misunderstanding whathehell Dec 2019 #125

This is a pretty damning graphic Doremus Nov 2019 #40

Very damning, both of them Bradshaw3 Nov 2019 #46

My goodness, those are some rose colored glasses you have there Ferrets are Cool Nov 2019 #55

Are there counter stats that say that deaths from war are increasing over time? hunger? X_Digger Nov 2019 #60

No, I am saying that you are cherry picking Ferrets are Cool Nov 2019 #62

What general measure that has life-affecting ability did I miss? X_Digger Nov 2019 #63

Hunger is growing, homelessness is growing, infant mortality is growing, illiteracy is growing... Doremus Nov 2019 #67

Hunger had a slight uptick, not even as bad as 2000, much less 1993. X_Digger Nov 2019 #68

Ok, you're right, I'm wrong. Happy Holidays Ferrets are Cool Nov 2019 #82

Actually, undernourishment has been rising recently... Humanist_Activist Nov 2019 #59

If you look at the long tail, yes, hunger is variable. Nothing like it was, even in 2003, or 1993. X_Digger Nov 2019 #61

So are you arguing in favor of trickle-down economics? Buckeyeblue Dec 2019 #115

Post removed Post removed Dec 2019 #118

You posted your response in a thread about neoliberalism Buckeyeblue Dec 2019 #119

When I say, 'neoliberalism causes..' then I'll be connecting the two. X_Digger Dec 2019 #120

Post removed Post removed Dec 2019 #123

I think perspective is important. Pull your nose up out of the weeds sometimes. n/t X_Digger Dec 2019 #124

Stiglitz is so clear UpInArms Nov 2019 #33

The past 30 years have seen world poverty and inequality plummet Recursion Nov 2019 #41

But that's Turin_C3PO Nov 2019 #44

No it's because of globalized trade Recursion Nov 2019 #64

That's not really true. PETRUS Nov 2019 #87

Except I've actually lived in the global south Recursion Dec 2019 #99

... PETRUS Dec 2019 #129

I'm very politically aware, so how have I completely missed 40 years of this? CaptainTruth Nov 2019 #48

hopefully this helps, I would be happy to deal with any remaining questions after this Celerity Nov 2019 #51

"Neoliberal" is a smear aimed at centrist Democrats, radius777 Nov 2019 #56

it has actual definitions, and different permutations, to only dismiss it as a smear is disingenuous Celerity Nov 2019 #57

Please - it's primarily used by anti-Dem leftists radius777 Nov 2019 #93

Non sequitur Celerity Nov 2019 #96

Gaslighting. radius777 Nov 2019 #98

On DU maybe, but there's a whole world outside of DU. Garrett78 Dec 2019 #100

Completely the opposite. It is gaslighting to try and reduce a term Celerity Dec 2019 #103

Huh? A "smear"? On Democrats? KPN Nov 2019 #74

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Nov 2019 #69

Hi there Uncle Joe malaise Nov 2019 #73

malaise! Uncle Joe Nov 2019 #81

Saving this article/whole thread. BlancheSplanchnik Nov 2019 #70

👀 underpants Nov 2019 #80

! BlancheSplanchnik Nov 2019 #83

Neoliberalism equates to RW/libertarian economic extremism. Hortensis Nov 2019 #76

Exactly, they could've used 'neolibertarianism' radius777 Nov 2019 #94

A classicly used gaslighting term. Yes. Hortensis Nov 2019 #97

+1000. (nt) ehrnst Nov 2019 #95

simply not true, there are multiple forms of neoliberalism, and it is simply an attempt to stifle Celerity Dec 2019 #104

Such a great article! FM123 Nov 2019 #77

Elites blah blah blah neoliberals both sides Wall Street Democrats bad, university professor sez. betsuni Nov 2019 #78

I think you need to re-read Stiglitz's bio, he is not just some 'university professor' Celerity Dec 2019 #105

No. Not going to read it. It's 2019. This is "both sides" nonsense. betsuni Dec 2019 #106

Ridiculous, and he was Bill Clinton's chief economist, a Cabinet member, was 2nd in command Celerity Dec 2019 #109

When Democratic presidents have to deal with Republican majorities in the legislature, betsuni Dec 2019 #110

you are injecting something that had nothing to do with the discussion into this Celerity Dec 2019 #111

"verbiage" betsuni Dec 2019 #112

the way in which something is expressed; wording or diction nt Celerity Dec 2019 #113

So far a great article, saving the rest for later. Thanks for posting it Autumn Nov 2019 #85

I always think of this old segment from the Colbert Report Dark n Stormy Knight Nov 2019 #92