I hate the term, always have. It's such an ugly word, that really does reflect an ugly side to the culture, but it is somehow seen as good.emordnilap wrote:Indeed, as recently debated in Sweden, people are no longer citizens. That word is only used when convenient, when spin is required. In every area, we are consumers. No area, even survival itself, is immune.
The transformative potential of the right to food
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Sorry, should have posted a link. It's here.
Of course, it's not just ordinary people who are reduced to being commodified. As further down that page a paragraph kicks off:The change from citizen to customer is in my opinion the greatest political shift that has occurred over the past twenty years. … there is an existential difference between being a citizen in a society, and being reduced to a customer on a market. The customer has only one obligation – to pay. … Purchasing power is central. Citizens, however, have the same rights, regardless of how much they earn.
I must remember that. "Crikey, that rock over there provides a great service, way below the usual market rate."A Swedish governmental report on ecosystem services...
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
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