« Does Martial Law Trump Impeachment? | Main | Yanqui Social Venturers Profit from Misery »

August 01, 2007

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Stuart Johnson

I wonder if there's a pharisaic tradition in every domain, including philanthropy. Narrow, intolerant of ambiguity, unable to deal with the messy complexity of human behavior. This tradition believes it's less important that the innocent be spared than that we punish those who would game the system. Being most familiar with their own foibles, those who are part of this tradition would naturally mistrust others.

I grew up poor and I don't think the poor are especially good people. I also don't believe you have to like the poor to see that they're getting a raw deal, struggling both against their own poverty and the multiple daily (hourly?) confirmations of their status as losers. Having this conviction is what think-tankers call "patronizing the poor."

Phil

Alibis for not caring are much in demand, as are self-lauding rationales for great wealth. The result are the moral grotesques that animate the works of, say, Blake and Dickens. You see that type too, as you note, in the Gospels.

The comments to this entry are closed.

About

Wealth Bondage Premium Content

  • Castle by the Sea
    Provided as a professional courtesy at no extra charge to those with net worth of $25 million or more and/or family income of $500,000 a year or more, and to their Serving Professionals of all genders.