OddBlog
Out of context: Reply #60
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- Horp0
In considering the requirements for the rehabilitation of the democratic world; the physical loss of enthusiasm; the visible destruction of motivation; hopes, spirits, and self esteem was correctly estimated.
But it has become obvious during recent months that this tangible collapse was probably less serious than the dislocation of the entire fabric of the moral landscape. For the past ten years conditions have been abnormal. The feverish consumption and the more feverish upgrading of products engulfed all aspects of national economies.
The will has fallen into disrepair or is entirely obsolete. Under the arbitrary and destructive rule of credit, virtually every possible enterprise has been geared into the great money machine.
It is already evident that, before the people can begin to alleviate the situation and help start the democratic world on its way to recovery, there must be some agreement among the countries of as to the requirements of the situation and the part those countries themselves will take in order to give proper effect to whatever action might be undertaken. It would be neither fitting nor efficacious for anybody to undertake a unilateral program designed to place democracy back on its feet until then.
This is the business of the bankers. This is a job for the money men. The initiative, I think, must come from the city. The role of the city should consist of friendly encouragement in the drafting of a new consumer program and of credit support for such a program so far as it may be practical. The program should be a joint one, agreed to by a number, if not all, democratic nations.
I am sorry that on each occasion I have said something publicly in regard to our international situation, I've been forced by the necessities of the case to enter into rather technical discussions. But to my mind, it is of vast importance that our people reach some general understanding of what the complications really are, rather than react from a passion or a prejudice or an emotion of the moment. Such passion and impulse should be held in check until the great sale begins, after midnight.
As I said more formally a moment ago, we are remote from the scene of these troubles. I myself shop exclusively online via a pay-per-month concierge service. It is virtually impossible at this distance merely by reading, or listening, or even seeing photographs or motion pictures, to grasp at all the real significance of the situation on the high streets. I don't even know what poor people smell of.
And yet the whole of the future hangs on a proper marketing of even more stuff poor people can buy. It hangs, I think, to a large extent on the realization of the people that they still need stuff to feel good about their shitty selves.
What are the reactions of the people? What are the justifications of those reactions? What are the sufferings? What is needed? What can best be done? What must be done? What can we sell you? What can you buy? What can you afford? What can you put up as security against a loan?
Thank you for your time.