Thanks John for unpacking the NY Times article on Egalitarianism and putting the carrot and the stick approach to social control into the proper historical context. What is remarkable to me is that they, the NY Times, are using the word Egalitarian at all. By using it they they are rationalizing the idea as somewhat noble, good for society, which I suppose shows the ruling classes really are a little bit worried. They could have dragged the concept through the mud, as it were, to discredit it as democratic folly, but they didn't do this. Obviously, one function of this article is to try to contain the scope of the meaning of the word, and place it into the framework of classical liberal theory. But in the end, they are wrestling with a pig in a sty; the people are wriggling out of the grip ( I think) and I agree with you, we need to lead with the demand for authentic egalitarianism, and reclaim this word from the NY Times to tell people what it really means. Good on you! Keep up your mighty effort to explain that we the people are on the right side of history in a demand for a real egalitarian society.
Thanks John for unpacking the NY Times article on Egalitarianism and putting the carrot and the stick approach to social control into the proper historical context. What is remarkable to me is that they, the NY Times, are using the word Egalitarian at all. By using it they they are rationalizing the idea as somewhat noble, good for society, which I suppose shows the ruling classes really are a little bit worried. They could have dragged the concept through the mud, as it were, to discredit it as democratic folly, but they didn't do this. Obviously, one function of this article is to try to contain the scope of the meaning of the word, and place it into the framework of classical liberal theory. But in the end, they are wrestling with a pig in a sty; the people are wriggling out of the grip ( I think) and I agree with you, we need to lead with the demand for authentic egalitarianism, and reclaim this word from the NY Times to tell people what it really means. Good on you! Keep up your mighty effort to explain that we the people are on the right side of history in a demand for a real egalitarian society.
Thank you and also thank you for calling this NYT article to my attention and urging me to respond to it.
Your researching, writing, and values are superb!
Thank you.