General Discussion

cheapdate

(3,811 posts)

1. I'm reading a book, 'Assholes -- A Theory' that provides compelling answers to

Sun Oct 19, 2014, 06:54 PM

Oct 2014

this question. There is an entire chapter devoted to "Asshole Capitalism".

The book explores questions such as, what is it to be an asshole? Do some societies generate more assholes than others? Does capitalism generate more assholes than other systems? Are assholes responsible for their assholery? What are the best strategies for asshole management?

The author, Aaron James holds a PhD from Harvard and is a professor of philosophy at UC Irvine.

It's a fascinating read, both fun and serious.

Capitalism, he argues, enriches and empowers assholes. It attracts the borderline assholes and turns them into full assholes. Capitalism has an inherently high rate of asshole production. Unchecked by traditional cooperative institutions, it can completely ruin a society. Ours is heading that way.

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"What shocks me about neoliberalism is how utterly unapologetic it is about the misery it produces." [View all] Hissyspit Oct 2014 OP

I'm reading a book, 'Assholes -- A Theory' that provides compelling answers to cheapdate Oct 2014 #1

That book sounds great! I plan on reading it when finances and time permit. adirondacker Oct 2014 #57

I have that book! I haven't started reading it yet. MontyPow Oct 2014 #68

Just requested that from the library. hifiguy Oct 2014 #69

Tell me about it. Baitball Blogger Oct 2014 #2

The people pushing for small government demwing Oct 2014 #43

One of the best kept secrets is the rich and powerful have to obey the law.... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #49

If "quaint" is used as an antonym for "reasonable" demwing Oct 2014 #63

I'm reminded of the line in "Dave"... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #65

K&R Solly Mack Oct 2014 #3

K&R&bookmark JEB Oct 2014 #4

I'm reading this awesome book by Todd May Helen Borg Oct 2014 #5

Great read malaise Oct 2014 #6

Being wrong at almost every stop Cosmocat Oct 2014 #40

Henry Giroux.... supercats Oct 2014 #7

Afraid it will take some sort of revolution . . . brush Oct 2014 #10

Non-violent revolution can be achieved it's called raising the consciousness. Dont call me Shirley Oct 2014 #13

Hope so, but once consciousness is raised . . . brush Oct 2014 #14

We have got to figure out a way to treat those afflicted with the disease of addiction to power. Dont call me Shirley Oct 2014 #15

Need to demand/fight (peaceful resistance) for Publicly Funded Elections and outlaw campaign Dustlawyer Oct 2014 #26

These Days Revolutions Always Get Hijacked by the �Religious Wrong� AndyTiedye Oct 2014 #34

Christian Dominionists have little real influence or power here Enthusiast Oct 2014 #37

Radical Islamists didn't have any power CJCRANE Oct 2014 #48

Much of our interference was counterproductive. Enthusiast Oct 2014 #53

Dominionists Have Pretty Much Taken Over the Air Force AndyTiedye Oct 2014 #81

There is hope. bvar22 Oct 2014 #77

Thanks for the reminder that there is hope brush Oct 2014 #80

Thank you woo me with science Oct 2014 #94

"it's self-healing and any Growing PainsTM will be more than worth it--look how much better we have MisterP Oct 2014 #8

+10000000000000000000000 woo me with science Oct 2014 #9

I'm not sure you could even call these fuckers human beings...... socialist_n_TN Oct 2014 #11

Think you made a comment on another recent post about the hungry tiger that has appalachiablue Oct 2014 #20

Yep. Regulating capitalism is like riding a hungry tiger........ socialist_n_TN Oct 2014 #82

That's it, super. Merci. appalachiablue Oct 2014 #87

C'est bonne........ socialist_n_TN Oct 2014 #97

This message was self-deleted by its author appalachiablue Oct 2014 #98

I prefer Leon Trotsky myself...... socialist_n_TN Oct 2014 #101

I don't understand why the Democratic Party embraces neo-liberalism at the national level whereisjustice Oct 2014 #12

After Carter's trouncing in 1980, Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #42

+1 deutsey Oct 2014 #59

the other reason many Democrats hated Carter hfojvt Oct 2014 #61

I know of no one who considered Carter Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #66

Actually, he started the neoliberalism, with early deregulation... JHB Oct 2014 #71

I disagree that he started neoliberalism, Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #73

Agree wrt to Carter, but the foundation had begun with JFK ... :) 2banon Oct 2014 #96

His administration also initiated the most extensive covert operation in US history, ronnie624 Oct 2014 #88

It wasn't Carter... Neo-Liberalism was initially promulgated under JFK.. pushed in South America n/t 2banon Oct 2014 #95

Well neither do I hfojvt Oct 2014 #72

re your last paragraph. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #74

Mondale also proclaimed that he was going to raise everyone's taxes Art_from_Ark Oct 2014 #83

Nail, meet hammer. hifiguy Oct 2014 #70

K&R Tierra_y_Libertad Oct 2014 #16

Yeay Hillary! Phlem Oct 2014 #17

We need this critique of neoliberalism to "go viral" deutsey Oct 2014 #18

Henry G. is a great thinker and writer. appalachiablue Oct 2014 #19

Agreed, he's a brilliant guy. hifiguy Oct 2014 #62

^ excellent nationalize the fed Oct 2014 #21

There have been reactions in other countries. In South America many of the disaster capital jwirr Oct 2014 #25

Thanks for pointing out SA and ME reactions against against govt. policies and actions appalachiablue Oct 2014 #29

I think that the SA and the Greece ones were against NL in the sense that they were against jwirr Oct 2014 #51

K/R marmar Oct 2014 #22

Excellent read. blackspade Oct 2014 #23

He is called one of the top thinkers in our age. He outlines the problem clearly. Does he take a jwirr Oct 2014 #24

Not sure there is an answer Cosmocat Oct 2014 #41

I know. Look at what this country has sent to congess in the last 30 years. jwirr Oct 2014 #54

Now were receiving the payback for those choices. WHEN CRABS ROAR Oct 2014 #75

And unfortunately we are going to continue to pay. Hopefully we will do better in November and jwirr Oct 2014 #76

K & R LeftInTX Oct 2014 #27

Great article with excellent insights. Everyone needs to read and reread this article. greatlaurel Oct 2014 #28

well said ... my constant surprise ... mettamega Oct 2014 #30

None of it can be done without men with guns. nt valerief Oct 2014 #31

This was a great interview. I passed it on to several friends. PatrickforO Oct 2014 #32

Neoliberalism's spread is a threat to all humanity nikto Oct 2014 #33

The wolf in sheep's clothing. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2014 #85

Exactly, and I can think of a perfect example too nikto Oct 2014 #99

, blkmusclmachine Oct 2014 #35

K&R Jamastiene Oct 2014 #36

It's as if they adopted an Ayn Rand attitude toward their fellow man. Enthusiast Oct 2014 #38

K&R! This post deserves hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Oct 2014 #39

Every shill for it. Every talking point dispenser for the Third Way, woo me with science Oct 2014 #44

What shocks me LWolf Oct 2014 #45

.... LiberalLovinLug Oct 2014 #67

I think most people out in the country woo me with science Oct 2014 #86

Maybe. LWolf Oct 2014 #90

Alternately excuse and deny. woo me with science Oct 2014 #91

Yep. nt LWolf Oct 2014 #92

bookmarked daleanime Oct 2014 #46

K&R liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #47

The only solution is world revolution. nt Zorra Oct 2014 #50

Simply outstanding...but ballyhoo Oct 2014 #52

Wow! Outstanding read. BIG K&R nt riderinthestorm Oct 2014 #55

thank you heaven05 Oct 2014 #56

K&R It all starts with us. raouldukelives Oct 2014 #58

That's one of the best things I've ever read here since joining DU in 2001 deutsey Oct 2014 #60

It's not personal. rug Oct 2014 #64

What To Do? colsohlibgal Oct 2014 #78

K&R n/t Martin Eden Oct 2014 #79

They learned a lot during the shrub years. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2014 #84

Spot on. woo me with science Oct 2014 #93

An excellent, thought-provoking read. ronnie624 Oct 2014 #89

Cutthroat Capitalism is what it should be called mb999 Oct 2014 #100