Thread: Century of the Self Documentary

Originally Posted by Seraph

It is not possible to discuss these accurately in broad lumps. Capitalism, democracy, corporations, are not single items/concepts. A company that makes whole wheat bread is very different from one that manufactures DU munitions.

Sheesh, why "whole wheat" bread specifically? Why "DU" munitions specifically?

(Possible answer: Because Seraph travels in circles where being "pro-whole-wheat" and "anti-DU" are the most fashionable positions to hold; but to be "pro-white-bread" is unfashionable, and to be "pro-DU" is somewhere between heresy and insanity. I mean -- what's with the simplistic black-and-white dichotomies, Seraph? I thought it was only right-wing idiots like Bush and Palin who refuse to speak about shades of gray...)

Originally Posted by Throbert McGee

Sheesh, why "whole wheat" bread specifically? Why "DU" munitions specifically?

Specifically, whole wheat and DU are not required. The activities of corporations are sufficiently diverse as to make it impossible to make blanket statements such as Crocodile's, from above ""I don't think that you believe that corporatism, capitalism or globalism are good and positive forces"?". Capitalism likewise is not a single thing and so no blanket statement can be made about it like that. No, I don't move in anti-DU circles, with bias for whole wheat.

Originally Posted by Seraph

The activities of corporations are sufficiently diverse as to make it impossible to make blanket statements such as Crocodile's, from above ""I don't think that you believe that corporatism, capitalism or globalism are good and positive forces"?".

It wasn't my statement. I quoted someone else.

Originally Posted by Crocodile

It wasn't my statement. I quoted someone else.

Apologies to you, Crocodile. You see, farming is something I know more about that just about anything else. And so when you said what you said about farming vs prehistoric practices, it immediately put my mind to all the herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers and other things that are used, and run off, and form persistent ecosystem contaminants, or do other things like eutrophication, that I said you don't have any credibility. The general population knows very little about what goes on in agriculture, and feed lots, and abattoirs, and things like deforestation used for short term farming. But now I read that you specifically point out about chemicals, and so I know, yes you do know something about it. The scope and scale of modern practices is orders of magnitude beyond prehistoric ecosystem impact.

Originally Posted by Seraph

term farming. But now I read that you specifically point out about chemicals, and so I know, yes you do know something about it. The scope and scale of modern practices is orders of magnitude beyond prehistoric ecosystem impact.

It definitely is. Also, there are numerous other nasty ways that some of the major ecosystems are being adversely affected, something that was unimaginable before. Btw, I have an impression that those genetically modified goodies is just another attempt to escape the nasty chemicals used in production of the so-called "natural and organic foods", aren't they?

Originally Posted by Crocodile

Btw, I have an impression that those genetically modified goodies is just another attempt to escape the nasty chemicals used in production of the so-called "natural and organic foods", aren't they?

Ostensibly. In reality, look into what Monsanto is doing with gm seeds with respect to monopolization of AG. Farmers are unable to keep seed over winter, but must buy new seed for new crop season. They are using the licensing gimmick that software companies are using. The gm seeds are patented, and can only be purchased with licensing type agreement. And so MON comes out with another new improved gm seed type just in time to avoid patent expiry, and everyone has to buy. The gm thing is more about commercialization/monopolization than anything else.