Human nature is bursting at the seams, creating mental health epidemics across the world due to our slavish obsession with working ourselves to death over some arbitrary playground rule called "money." I've been thinking a lot about the "Butcher, Baker, Barber" allegory for capitalism, and I still don't understand why the butcher can't just get their haircut, the baker get their meat, and the barber get their bread when they need it. What is the reason for abstracting human interactions into worthless pieces of paper or coin (or digit on a spreadsheet) unless it's for the sake of despiritualizing humanity all together, passing the buck to future generations, and hoarding wealth over others?

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I feel this to my core. I’ve always hated the concept of taking something so infinitely valuable and precious as my attention and focus and boiling it down to a number. Honestly disrespectful when you think about it.

[–] in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 4 weeks ago

I can understand the need for some sort of credit system for luxuries, for instance I don't believe people are entitled to the best Playstation or gaming desktop every year, or a porche or hobby sailboat with a beachfront property as well as a home. I think one should be able to earn a life of luxury and comforts, but food? Housing? Education? The necessities to live and the opportunities to make something better for yourself and others? Some people can't work, some people just don't want to, I think that's fine and they're still entitled to a nice life, one that's at least comfortable and enjoyable with opportunities to take should they want it.

Being anti-capitalist nowadays feels like being an atheist in the 17th-18th centuries. It's like being an atheist except going one god further still, applying the same logic to money as you would religion. Most so-called atheists will find themselves making 17th-18th century Catholic arguments trying to defend money and "the markets" or their "economic models."

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