The Capitalist Threat ( George Soros speaks)

Atlantic Monthly ^ | February 1997 | George Soros

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What kind of society do we want? "Let the free market decide!" is the often-heard response. That response, a prominent capitalist argues,undermines the very values on which open and democratic societies depend.

IN The Philosophy of History, Hegel discerned a disturbing historical pattern -- the crack and fall of civilizations owing to a morbid intensification of their own first principles. Although I have made a fortune in the financial markets, I now fear that the untrammeled intensification of laissez-faire capitalism and the spread of market values into all areas of life is endangering our open and democratic society. The main enemy of the open society, I believe, is no longer the communist but the capitalist threat.

The term "open society" was coined by Henri Bergson, in his book The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1932), and given greater currency by the Austrian philosopher Karl Popper, in his book The Open Society and Its Enemies (1945). Popper showed that totalitarian ideologies like communism and Nazism have a common element: they claim to be in possession of the ultimate truth. Since the ultimate truth is beyond the reach of humankind, these ideologies have to resort to oppression in order to impose their vision on society. Popper juxtaposed with these totalitarian ideologies another view of society, which recognizes that nobody has a monopoly on the truth; different people have different views and different interests, and there is a need for institutions that allow them to live together in peace. These institutions protect the rights of citizens and ensure freedom of choice and freedom of speech. Popper called this form of social organization the "open society." Totalitarian ideologies were its enemies.

[investigateworld]

A bit simplified, but over all a 'spot on post'.

Thanks

[Alamo-Girl]

Do not depend on the idea that your average American these days has received a proper, liberal (as it used to be called) education. Ever since John Dewey, publicly-financed education has had little if anything to do with the cultivation of the individual human mind by exposing it to the history and culture of the human past, and training it in critical, logical thinking skills. It has not been about encouraging "independent thinking" at all. It has been — after the Prussian model that Dewey found so conducive to his purposes — singularly devoted to the making of "good citizens" — people with marketable skills who make for good, quiet, reliable taxpayers — while persuading them that certain problems of human existence ought properly be taken out of their hands and vested in the "wise, expert state" to handle on their behalf.

Indeed.

Thank you so very much for your outstanding essay-post, dearest sister in Christ!

[rabscuttle385]

*Ping!*

[unkus]

Soros is an EVIL S O B.

[Yardstick]

After reading the whole article, I was exhausted from all the slogging thru fundamental misconceptions.

It wore me out too. It was like watching a dog chase his tail. Soros is trying to square a circle and it just won't work. He rejects the notion of self-evident truth but is fixated on his notion of the open society as though its truth is self evident. He seems to be aware of the contradiction but doesn't have a way to resolve it.

[dervish]

Center for American Progress. By progress they mean Socialism and One World.

[TChris]

Now 3/4 of the country's broke, and the rest are whistling past the graveyard. Enjoy the denial while you can.

Wow, 3/4 now? I thought EVERYONE was broke!

Guess what, 3/4 is wrong too.

The exaggeration isn't helping your case.

[1010RD]

What kind of society do I want? The kind where me and my like-minded friends are on top, of course. What a dumb question my slave. - George Soros

[1010RD]

These radical control freaks like Soros create words without meaning - What is an Open Society?

From Wikipedia: The open society is a concept originally developed by philosopher Henri Bergson. In open societies, government is responsive and tolerant, and political mechanisms are transparent and flexible. The state keeps no secrets from itself in the public sense; it is a non-authoritarian society in which all are trusted with the knowledge of all. Political freedoms and human rights are the foundation of an open society.

What these numb skulls are describing is the United States of the 19th century, coupled with the technical advances of the 21st that allow us to "know" more than our government thinks we should. Yet their solution is more government power over your life and less transparency.

Obama promised to give the American people five days to review anything he signed before he signed it. He reneged on that promise right away.

Real transparency comes from liberty. The freedom to choose not to participate. Soros and his fellow travelers believe they should force you into their "open society". Manipulation and shadows are their tools in trade.

[sauropod]

read

[CowboyJay]

Guess what, 3/4 is wrong too.

Really? How many people do you think:

1) Lost their primary means of employment?
2) Have had to relocate or take pay cuts to remaing employed?
3) Lost a good part of the value of their 401K?
4) Lost a good portion of the perceived equity in their house?

[Kid Shelleen]

It’s not a free market when corrupt government officials are intervening. It's not a free market when tax cheats are regulating businesses. It’s not a free market when tax cheats are regulating businesses. It’s not a free market when sleazy plaintiff lawyers use litigation to extort money out of businesses. It’s not a free market when scum bag currency traders use insider information to manipulate currency..

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[EDINVA]

I’ve always believed Soros had something to do with the timing of the economic meltdown here, much as he manipulated the markets in Asia and currency in the UK. He is one evil man.

[GOPJ]

great post

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

Madoff trustee: No securities bought for customers in 13 years
MarketWatch | Feb. 20, 2009 11:44 a.m. EST | MarketWatch
Posted on 02/20/2009 10:27:09 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2190134/posts

[Sal]

It was an interview Soros did with someone(can’t remember the name) and he was asked about it and said that yes he did it and then he was asked if he felt any remorse...he said..’of course not’.

I'm pretty sure it was an interview in Jewish World Review. His father Tivador Soros also wrote a book designed to whitewash the collaboration, but it also documents it to some extent.

[Sal]

“Now, after I have made my billions, we need socialism for everyone else”

Yep. God forbid that younger, smarter, better men would catch up or pass him...

[Sal]

Just got down to your link to the American Thinker article which I had never seen. It’s very good. The Jewish World Review interview was from quite a few years ago and they do NOT contradict each other.

[Anti-Bubba182]

You would think some foreign government would have had Soros assassinated for the damage he caused through currency speculation. People have been killed for less.