[lit-ideas] Re: From today's paper

  • From: "Veronica Caley" <molleo1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 15:38:10 -0500

Ursula, I just posted on one of Exit Ghost's political points. Your comments immediately bring to mind Charles Dickens. Perhaps people would learn something important about themselves if they had ever read it.


But nowadays I despair of this. Where are the young people who have the vocabulary level to read Dickens?
To say nothing of the inclination.

Veronica
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ursula Stange" <Ursula@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 11:26 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: From today's paper


This has always been my take as well. What else could possibly explain the tenacity with which so many poor and struggling people defend the status quo? They must be so convinced that they will one day be rich that, yes, they want the system to remain tilted in expectation of that glorious day. Why else would 'socialist' be such an inflammatory term? So many have no idea how many of the things they take for granted were once considered socialist. Would they really want to go back to the days of private 'for-profit' fire departments? Or pay street urchins to sweep the street in front of them? Compulsory education for those street urchins was once considered radical and demonized by the churches as an intrusion on family rights. It's only when Horace Mann convinced them that the schools would be used not only for teaching reading and writing, but also for teaching the sanctity of private property and respect for authority that he managed to convince a majority. Ursula with a sugar high from all that left-over Halloween candy...there just aren't as many street urchins as there used to be...


From: Veronica Caley <molleo1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: From today's paper


What always sticks in my mind and helps me understand the American electorate, even though the story is set in Britain, is the episode with the balloon vendor. He is asked by one of the wealthy characters whether he would like a society in which the government helps him economically.

He says no, because he hopes to become rich one day...

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