For what ever masochistic reason, I have started listening to interviews with Charles A. Murray. He is the perfect embodiment of the sadistic conservative you describe. He circles all these issues that are the direct result of class and economic deprivation. As a libertarian, he cannot abide any class analysis, and sees capitalism as just a law of nature. The combination of these things makes his conclusions so cruel. He is also a perfect foil for liberals, because they like him cannot abide class analysis, and see capitalism as a force of nature. They are made for each other. Two sides of the same coin. His is the white mans burden, and they play the savior.
From the moment I read "narcissism" against the backdrop of U.S.-led hyper-capitalism, I expected the word's close cousin "nihilism" to pop up in your thought-provoking essay, Catherine. I was surprised it wasn't there. Given that American-style nihilism is a condition apart from other forms of nihilism, perhaps we will read about it in a future essay.
I would argue the Lib’s idea of self is shallow against the backdrop of individualist capitalism. Ie, The narrative that being a parent, especially a mother, means sacrifices one’s own self actualization perpetuates the neoliberal ideas of self. Personally speaking It wasn’t until I became a parent that I was forced to go more deeply into myself and learn to advocate for myself. Perhaps the binary of self/collective is reductive and our existence is much more complex and interdependent. But I agree with this article, the libs will never make the leap to wage labor because they fear losing ‘self’.
That's what I call clarity of thought and great writing.
For what ever masochistic reason, I have started listening to interviews with Charles A. Murray. He is the perfect embodiment of the sadistic conservative you describe. He circles all these issues that are the direct result of class and economic deprivation. As a libertarian, he cannot abide any class analysis, and sees capitalism as just a law of nature. The combination of these things makes his conclusions so cruel. He is also a perfect foil for liberals, because they like him cannot abide class analysis, and see capitalism as a force of nature. They are made for each other. Two sides of the same coin. His is the white mans burden, and they play the savior.
Yes. Two sides of the same coin
I LOVE Nancy Fraser. Bit over my head so if you ever do a reading group I would participate. “Sexual voluntarism”? Tell me more!
Like love attraction and seduction are all about good ‘choices’ as if we could optimize other people in our lives.
From the moment I read "narcissism" against the backdrop of U.S.-led hyper-capitalism, I expected the word's close cousin "nihilism" to pop up in your thought-provoking essay, Catherine. I was surprised it wasn't there. Given that American-style nihilism is a condition apart from other forms of nihilism, perhaps we will read about it in a future essay.
I would argue the Lib’s idea of self is shallow against the backdrop of individualist capitalism. Ie, The narrative that being a parent, especially a mother, means sacrifices one’s own self actualization perpetuates the neoliberal ideas of self. Personally speaking It wasn’t until I became a parent that I was forced to go more deeply into myself and learn to advocate for myself. Perhaps the binary of self/collective is reductive and our existence is much more complex and interdependent. But I agree with this article, the libs will never make the leap to wage labor because they fear losing ‘self’.