Ha. That’s funny. There’s a good chance that back in April I was actually reading Tocqueville and was spending quite some time theorizing about it. I was theorizing revolutions too that month…

carry on.

i was only being a tad ironic (in seemingly advocating a static class socetiy like that of old england or france.) it is a serious question. i don’t necesarily believe it yet, i’m open to other theories…but taz’s post got me thinking of de Tocqueville.

I ask because I would have thought it exactly the other way around i.e. class disparities usually engender a social climate of bitterness which eventually boils over into rage

yes, it is counter-intuitive. Basicly, if you accept your lot in life you will never suffer from status anxiety and the unhappiness that follows. The poor in true class societies can be very happy. so it is not class disparities in and off itself that create a social climate of bitterness. there must be more.

This analysis of the poor seems lacking.

My mistake. it’s not really an analysis of the poor. de Tocqueville said this about all americans, even middle class ones. they are not happy because, he interpreted, they always thought they should be doing better…which was a result of a “classless mentality” that ws not prevalent in old europe. everyone thinks they could be president (so to speak), but no one thinks they could be King.

First, to call America a classless society based on the myth

understood. but there is a huge differnce between the american class system and the british one, or for that matter the indian caste system. it was these huge differnces that de toqueville was observing…and may help explain what Taz is seeing in Bhutan.

This analysis of the poor seems lacking. First, to call America a classless society based on the myth of the American dream overlooks what class actually is, i.e., class is an economic relationship and not an ideological point of view. Second, to say that the poor in India are generally peaceful overlooks quite a proud history of insurrection of various forms which continues to this day. The myth of the docile poor is definitely a part of our own class/caste system but it seems fairly untrue to me.

The so-called “left” is quite fragmented and weak in the US; which left are you referring to?

And to say that the “unrest” of the poor in America is due to envy also really misses out some important factors. Your political ideology and basic sense of decency will influence how important you think these factors are, but there are various forms of violence that are visited upon the poor in America on a daily basis – or am I wrong?

So yes, envy is real, wanting what you don’t have does affect you, but there’s more to it.

Also, for those of you who miss my race-baiting: whitey whitey whitey whitey whitey.

Thank you.

Alexis de Tocqueville made this observation long ago. He predicted that the US would be the wealthiest and freest nation the world has ever seen, but their people will be unhappy. He attributed this to the classless society. You see, in a real class society people are content and do not aspire to rise, and are therefore happy. This is why the poor in India are generally peaceful (though with the current economic liberalization we can expect more violence) while there is much more crime and social unrest among the poor in the US.

You see the American classless society creates envy and status anxiety among poor individuals who see themselves as essentially equal to wealthier counterparts. On some level, every American believes they can be president or a millionaire, and when they fail it creates envy and resentment. such feelings are not prevalent in societies where people “know” their place.

So it is not really the gap between the rich and the poor that creates social unrest and violence, it is social mobility itself. the left argues that the rich poor gap leads to instability; but if they want stability, they should simply create a society where the poor cannot rise, like bhutan.

If Bhutanese miss out on MTV they are missing out on nothing.

Alot of anxiety is created in the minds of young people regarding their looks and material possessions (or lack thereof) due to silly TV shows and commercials that contribute NOTHINGNESS to the intellectual development of the human being.

Material possessions and beauty do not a happy wo/man make.

What more does one need for happiness other than their basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, being met and satisfying relationships with family and friends?

If this simple foundation is there then a good platform is laid for inquiring into the nature of THE SELF. The discovery of that will bring true happiness. Not alcohol, cigerrettes, the latest American CDs and other pop-culture crap.

I hope Bhutan continues to give the middle finger to what is considered “progress” in the so-called “modern world”.

http://badmash.tv/laughing-yoga

You will be enlightened. Enjoy!