The Anthropologist Wade Davis holds the Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia, wrote this, August 6 2020 in the magazine "Rolling Stone":
The American cult of the individual denies not just community but the very idea of society. No one owes anything to anyone.
All must be prepared to fight for everything: education, shelter, food, medical care.
What every prosperous and successful democracy deems to be fundamental rights — universal health care,
equal access to quality public education, a social safety net for the weak, elderly, and infirmed — America dismisses as socialist indulgences, as if so many signs of weakness.
How can the rest of the world expect America to lead on global threats — climate change, the extinction crisis, pandemics —
when the country no longer has a sense of benign purpose, or collective well-being, even within its own national community? -end quote-
In 1961 I was a pupil in the first grade of the secundary school and made the drawings you see behind me.
The American TV series "Father Knows Best" had just ended in May 1960, but I had watched lots of episodes,
End to answer CB, in 1961 the series "Mr. Ed" started, lasted for five years and I loved to watch it to....all on Dutch TV.
The drawings and the TV series are symbols for me, tell me how I grew up under the protective umbrella of that fantastic America.
Under that same umbrella....... In the wake of the war, with Europe and Japan in ashes, the United States with but 6 percent of the world’s population
accounted for half of the global economy, including the production of 93 percent of all automobiles.
Under that protective umbrella of such economic and military dominance I grew up in the Netherlands,
where, like in the US and other Western countries, emerged a well to do middleclass.
In the European countries there was this sense of social solidarity, the spirit to rebuild the country and help each other.
Politically it translated into the rise of socialist parties and the development of a welfare state:
medical care and education for all, no privileges for the rich and wealthy, equal chances for everyone.
When you re-read the quote from Wade Davis, you could conclude that the US developed in a different direction or just missed the boat.
This observation will make this project a special project because it is about the decline of the welfare state and about the individualism that has replaced it.
The individualism we in Europe share with America despite all those fancy "socialist" things we have.
So, during this project it may become clear what the differences in social safety nets and equal opportunities there are in an international comparison.
And most important is to investigate the question how it was possible that Europe more and more shaped its social system towards this (extreme) individualism.
Finally I hope to arrive at a perspective on a new future and new possibilities for Homo Sapiens. And since we know that most people are OK, we'll arrive there....
Thank you for your attention again....
The Discussion
[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:26] herman Bergson: Take your time to catch your breath again ^_^
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): is socialism in the Netherlands different from socialism in the US?
[13:28] herman Bergson: Beertje,,in the US they hardly can spell the word :-))
[13:28] CB Axel: :)
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ow:)
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:28] CB Axel: Americans tend to equate socialism with communism.
[13:28] herman Bergson: the whole debate about Medic Care for All in the US is called a socialist issue...
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no it's totally different from communism
[13:29] herman Bergson: yes...socialism == communism
[13:29] CB Axel: I know that, Beertje, but conservative politicians like to confuse them.
[13:30] herman Bergson: In Europe we dont, but nevertheless it has lost its attraction
[13:30] herman Bergson: Yet...the alternative....this neoliberalism...that is what we are going to investigate
[13:30] CB Axel: Why is that happening?
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we are mirroring us at the US, that's a mistake U guess
[13:31] herman Bergson: Due to this neoliberalism and this magic belief in the Market and the "Invisible Hand"...
[13:31] Faust (faust.saenz): The U.S. controls the narrative about what it means to be human.
[13:32] herman Bergson: Something like that Faust....indeed
[13:32] herman Bergson: But due the 2008 crisis and definitely the Trump era and COVID the US has lost its power over the narrative
[13:33] Faust (faust.saenz): The U.S. conservative philanthropists have done a fantastic job selling their worldview globally.
[13:33] herman Bergson: After admiration today people feel a totally new emotion regarding the US: PITY
[13:33] CB Axel: So, do you think Trump will inadvertently help socialism?
[13:34] theo Velde is online.
[13:34] herman Bergson: If you reconsider the words of Wade Davis, the US first has to deal with its extreme individualism...
[13:35] herman Bergson: and a second issue is its belief that it is an exceptional country....
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah indeed
[13:35] herman Bergson: Just take all efforts of voter suppression....and this is THE exemplary deomocracy????
[13:36] herman Bergson: Don't make me laugh....those voter suppression efforts are pure criminal acts against democracy
[13:36] CB Axel: Exactly
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i saw something about that also before
[13:37] herman Bergson: We never knew about it....but due to Internet we know all now
[13:37] herman Bergson: Jerrymandering....didnt know it since a year ago
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and now with the gigant baby trymp trying to do his best to carry this out again so noone cant vote him away
[13:37] CB Axel: That's what I'm afraid of, Bejiita.
[13:38] CB Axel: Gerrymandering has been around for decades.
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): when he left hospital now before i was dombfounded what h said. " OOO IM OK AND SINCE IM OK AGAIN THIS VIRUS IS NOT DANGEROUS REALLY, CONTINUE AS USUAL!"
[13:38] herman Bergson: Legalized crime it is....
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i jut WTF!
[13:39] herman Bergson: Neoliberalism dominated in the US and Europe....
[13:39] herman Bergson: In Europe it destroyed the welfare state more or less...
[13:40] herman Bergson: SO..this project will focus on questions like
[13:40] herman Bergson: Where did it come from
[13:40] herman Bergson: Why was it successful]
[13:40] herman Bergson: How id it decline
[13:40] herman Bergson: Is there an alternative....
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it destroys any welfare state by telling everyone to basically shoot their neighbor and scream FUCK YOU to them
[13:41] herman Bergson: Questions like that...
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all for themself and everyone around is your enemy
[13:42] herman Bergson: I notice that Bejiita already has his gun out.....calm down Bejiita :-)
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but this is more or less what happens
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we separate from each other instead of getting together
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that's the big issue
[13:42] herman Bergson: Yes...that IS indeed a real problem
[13:42] CB Axel: I wonder how much Russia has to do with molding people's opinions.
[13:43] CB Axel: Why are people turning against socialism? Has it disappointed people in some way?
[13:43] herman Bergson: At least Russia is applauding everything that is happening now in the West, I assume
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): more or less
[13:43] Faust (faust.saenz): i think the idea that the individual will stand in judgement before god is the enabling idea that allows neoliberalism to flourish. My hunch is that the current religion will need to be replaced by a better religion before any real reform can begin.
[13:44] CB Axel: Do people not like their health care and educational systems? Or are they being influenced by an outside force?
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm mixing religion and politics never ends well
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): IN GOD WE TRUST
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): PFFFFF
[13:44] herman Bergson: This God belief is in serious decline in Europe, Faust....
[13:45] Faust (faust.saenz): good to hear
[13:45] herman Bergson: Rome regards the Netherlands already as a missionary country....
[13:45] Faust (faust.saenz): If only it were so in the U.S.
[13:45] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol yes
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): replace I GOD WE TRUST to IN SCIENCE WE TRUST or IN FACT WE TRUST would be a beginning
[13:46] CB Axel: It is declining in the US, I believe, and that is why religious people are fighting back so strenuously.
[13:46] herman Bergson: I am amazed about what is called christianity in the US, Faust....
[13:46] CB Axel: Bejiita, I'd go with in no one I trust. lol
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hhe
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:47] herman Bergson: that si why whites are fighting back so hard......the society is becomming more multicultural..
[13:47] CB Axel: American Christianity is just a cover for white supremacy.
[13:47] herman Bergson: That is the impression I get indeed
[13:48] CB Axel: Even though there is not a single white person in the Bible.
[13:48] CB Axel: Not in either testament.
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they want to go back to slavery times again i guess :(
[13:48] herman Bergson smiles
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or something similar
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that would be horrible
[13:48] herman Bergson: Never thought of that CB, but you are right :-)
[13:48] herman Bergson: funny thought
[13:49] Faust (faust.saenz): "[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): replace I GOD WE TRUST to IN SCIENCE WE TRUST or IN FACT WE TRUST would be a beginning" is not sufficient
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats true
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but at leat a start
[[13:49] herman Bergson: what is missing Faust?
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but LOTS have to change over there
[13:50] CB Axel: When I was a kid and we'd say the Pledge of Allegiance in school, when we got to the "under God" part, I'd just take a breath while not saying those words.
[13:51] CB Axel: And I wasn't even an atheist then.
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): the us is like a rudderless tanker, far too unwieldy and too big to turn the tide
[13:52] CB Axel: Nice metaphor, Beertje.
[13:52] CB Axel: Or simile, I guess.
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:52] herman Bergson: Well..let's see where this project will lead us.....
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hopefully to the ultimate solution
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): LETS SAVE THE WORLD AGAIN!
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:53] herman Bergson: At least past November 3
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): will be interesting for sure again
[13:53] herman Bergson: Yes Bejiita....:-))
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and this hoos well together with the last project too
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hooks
[13:54] CB Axel: A guy I know, even though he hates guns, recently bought a gun because he's afraid of what will happen after the election.
[13:54] herman Bergson: Working on a better world,, Bejiita...that is what we do
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): WW3?
[13:54] CB Axel: He wants to be able to protect himself and his family from right-wing thugs.
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think cicil war
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well i hope it wont end in any chaos or war for sure
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): civil
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well its a bit scary now
[13:55] CB Axel: It wouldn't surprise me, Beertje.
[13:55] ღ Carma ღ (carma.caerndow) is offline.
[13:55] Faust (faust.saenz): I think you also need philosophy and art in addition to science to create a sufficient substitute the the present religions.
[13:55] herman Bergson: So much for the most powerful democracy on earth....
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true Faust
[13:55] herman Bergson: I agree Faust....
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it will be an autocracy
[13:55] CB Axel: I agree, Faust. Our educational system has gone too far with stressing STEM subjects.
[13:56] herman Bergson: In fact everything begins with philosophy....with the wondering about how things are
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so im now gonna fire up my Wacom tablet and art software and create some new art, actually continuing on a python game with surreal theme
[13:56] CB Axel: Have fun, Bejiita.
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats another theme i like beside steampunk, its so mystical
[13:57] herman Bergson: Enjoy Bejiita :-)
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and well it is just that
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): dream art
[13:57] CB Axel: And I need to go tend to my laundry. :)
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:57] CB Axel: I'll see you all Thursday.
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok ㋡
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and we have work to do:)
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa we do
[13:57] CB Axel: Bye.
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:57] Faust (faust.saenz): i am angry with the U.S. public school system that I did not encounter philosophy until college
[13:57] herman Bergson: Time to go our own way again....
[13:57] herman Bergson: Class dismissed.....^_^
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hugs
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu soon
