I have of late become a big fan of Slovenian philosopher Slovoj Zizek. His book First as Tragedy and then as Farce is an excellent read; in it, he tackles the idea that ethics is now a highly profitable commodity for capitalism; what is particularly interesting about this phenomenon is that ethics have, to this degree, never been profitable. However, it is a great selling point now, for instance, to say that your product or company is "green." Zizek draws very much from Marx, Hegel, and Lacan, to formulate his arguments. He draws especially heavy on Lacan.
So below you will find another video that you must watch. It is basically the TV version of parts of his new book Living in the End Times, which is also an excellent book. But don't get confused by the title. The book is not an apocalypse. Well, for capitalism it might be...
D
Showing posts with label marxism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marxism. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Banks...Suck
I was perusing the CNN website, and, as usual, they had a question poll. Today's question was something like, "Is the fact that banks are backing down on fees a sign of consumer power." I voted. It didn't take me long to figure out the answer, as it was obvious. Of course it isn't a sign of consumer power. But, not shockingly, 70+% of people said "yes." I then proceeded to have a "Lewis Black" moment*.
The truth is that banks don't give two shits or a fuck about you or I. They care about us in the sense that they want us around so that they can generate more revenue, but other than that there is no positive relationship between us and the banks. What will happen, and mark my words, is that banks will cut ATM fees and then they will complain about how they aren't making giant-fuck-you profits anymore. So what they will do is layoff works because the few at the top still want to make the giant-fuck-you profits, and coupled with layoffs will be the instituting of hidden fees or new fees in the other parts of your banking (e.g. loans).
The moral of the story is that the consumer, despite the popular myth, has no power in the American capitalist market. Sure, we may have our ATM fees waved, but the banks are just going to find another way to hold us hostage. Therefore, in the long-run, we have accomplished nothing. We must find, or create, a new alternative to the banking industry. Radically changing the landscape of the financial sector is the only in which we as a people will be able to have any power over our economic landscape. I don't know how to accomplish such a feat, but I do know that it has to be done.
D
*A Lewis Black moment (LBM) is what one has when they hear, read, see, etc. something so stupid that one feels like their head is going to explode. The symptoms accompanied with an LBM severe inner pressure against one's skull, a momentary lapse in being able to form complete words and sentences (sometimes one experience severe stuttering), a eyes crossing involuntarily, and a twitching of the extremities (usually the hands and fingers). The LBM usually comes to completion after screaming expletives like "FUCK."
The truth is that banks don't give two shits or a fuck about you or I. They care about us in the sense that they want us around so that they can generate more revenue, but other than that there is no positive relationship between us and the banks. What will happen, and mark my words, is that banks will cut ATM fees and then they will complain about how they aren't making giant-fuck-you profits anymore. So what they will do is layoff works because the few at the top still want to make the giant-fuck-you profits, and coupled with layoffs will be the instituting of hidden fees or new fees in the other parts of your banking (e.g. loans).
The moral of the story is that the consumer, despite the popular myth, has no power in the American capitalist market. Sure, we may have our ATM fees waved, but the banks are just going to find another way to hold us hostage. Therefore, in the long-run, we have accomplished nothing. We must find, or create, a new alternative to the banking industry. Radically changing the landscape of the financial sector is the only in which we as a people will be able to have any power over our economic landscape. I don't know how to accomplish such a feat, but I do know that it has to be done.
D
*A Lewis Black moment (LBM) is what one has when they hear, read, see, etc. something so stupid that one feels like their head is going to explode. The symptoms accompanied with an LBM severe inner pressure against one's skull, a momentary lapse in being able to form complete words and sentences (sometimes one experience severe stuttering), a eyes crossing involuntarily, and a twitching of the extremities (usually the hands and fingers). The LBM usually comes to completion after screaming expletives like "FUCK."
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