-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- R. A. Hettinga quoted:

The fear of being fined keeps potential defectors in line, and the power to punish gives willing cooperators a sense of security. ... "For a very long time in economics and biology there's been an assumption of self-interest," says economist Herbert Gintis of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Instead, he says, it seems that egalitarianism is "a basic part of human behaviour".

Does anyone here actually think of this as good thing? At first glance, one wouldn't assume so--but after seeing the zeal with which some of you bond over shitting on people who have views different from what somehow mysteriously passes for "acceptable", I started wondering if maybe you take this finding as some sort of positive sign of what people can "achieve" through voluntary cooperation without the heavy hand of government, etc. I find it literally nauseating. And as I was reading it, I couldn't help remembering a passage from Zarathustra which bears repeating. Once you turn an ice-cold eye toward yourself, this work becomes a lot more meaningful than just another way to sneer at the sheeple... ~F. *** Alas! There cometh the time when man will no longer give birth to any star. Alas! There cometh the time of the most despicable man, who can no longer despise himself. Lo! I show you the last man. "What is love? What is creation? What is longing? What is a star?"-- so asketh the last man and blinketh. The earth hath then become small, and on it there hoppeth the last man who maketh everything small. His species is ineradicable like that of the ground-flea; the last man liveth longest. "We have discovered happiness"-- say the last men, and blink thereby. They have left the regions where it is hard to live; for they need warmth. One still loveth one's neighbour and rubbeth against him; for one needeth warmth. Turning ill and being distrustful, they consider sinful: they walk warily. He is a fool who still stumbleth over stones or men! A little poison now and then: that maketh pleasant dreams. And much poison at last for a pleasant death. One still worketh, for work is a pastime. But one is careful lest the pastime should hurt one. One no longer becometh poor or rich; both are too burdensome. Who still wanteth to rule? Who still wanteth to obey? Both are too burdensome. No shepherd, and one herd! Everyone wanteth the same; everyone is equal: he who hath other sentiments goeth voluntarily into the madhouse. "Formerly all the world was insane,"-- say the subtlest of them, and blink thereby. They are clever and know all that hath happened: so there is no end to their raillery. People still fall out, but are soon reconciled--otherwise it spoileth their stomachs. They have their little pleasures for the day, and their little pleasures for the night, but they have a regard for health. "We have discovered happiness,"--say the last men, and blink thereby. And here ended the first discourse of Zarathustra, which is also called "The Prologue", for at this point the shouting and mirth of the multitude interrupted him. "Give us this last man, O Zarathustra,"-- they called out-- "make us into these last men! Then will we make thee a present of the Superman!" And all the people exulted and smacked their lips. Zarathustra, however, turned sad, and said to his heart: They understand me not: I am not the mouth for these ears. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: Hush 2.1 Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com wl4EARECAB4FAjw+MWUXHGZhdXN0aW5lLkBodXNobWFpbC5jb20ACgkQGwpHwwWoj8Wa +gCfTC5hyoxtc8fl80yDrMhJEdUwptgAniCnYxT8jMEh1g+tgGIa4YO8fWLu =sR/h -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----