Something to ponder:
Big Question: Are so-called anti-capitalist alternative markets / gatherings actually any sort of long-term viable alternative?
Sharpened Point: I've read about the weeklong free/barter market of Burning Man, and just today read about the Really Really Free Market Movement. I am not questioning the value of repurposing or giving away items, nor the idea that consuming less is good. I'm wondering, however, is calling such temporary arrangements or get-togethers "alternatives" isn't actually a gross misuse of the term.
The ability of everyone to engage in these actions is created by the capitalism they claim to be protesting. Burning Man's weeklong economy "works" because people made enough money to allow them to indulge their altruistic impulses (I'm reminded of a Slate mention of a man who gave away thousands of hotdogs over the course of Burning Man--for free.) One could argue that hot dogs are of only dubious value, period, even when handed over--but there's a larger point. A man who can afford to give away thousands of hot dogs can only afford to do so because he makes a lot of money at his capitalist job and/or sacrifices in other ways to indulge his desire.
Curious point: Are there any viable non-capitalist economic systems that don't rely on human goodness to function properly? Given that human beings are very often *not* good, I consider this essential.
Sharpened Point: I've read about the weeklong free/barter market of Burning Man, and just today read about the Really Really Free Market Movement. I am not questioning the value of repurposing or giving away items, nor the idea that consuming less is good. I'm wondering, however, is calling such temporary arrangements or get-togethers "alternatives" isn't actually a gross misuse of the term.
The ability of everyone to engage in these actions is created by the capitalism they claim to be protesting. Burning Man's weeklong economy "works" because people made enough money to allow them to indulge their altruistic impulses (I'm reminded of a Slate mention of a man who gave away thousands of hotdogs over the course of Burning Man--for free.) One could argue that hot dogs are of only dubious value, period, even when handed over--but there's a larger point. A man who can afford to give away thousands of hot dogs can only afford to do so because he makes a lot of money at his capitalist job and/or sacrifices in other ways to indulge his desire.
Curious point: Are there any viable non-capitalist economic systems that don't rely on human goodness to function properly? Given that human beings are very often *not* good, I consider this essential.