I do try not to assume that people's political views never change, though. And I think I would be right in saying that you are less left-wing than you used to be. I'm very glad to be wrong, and I apologise for doubting you!
I think even the poorer members of the UK need to make sacrifices to achieve global equality
Depends how poor you're talking about. Part of global equality, to my mind, would be achieving some basic level of quality of life for everyone that exceeds the level that some people in the UK are at. I don't think that people who aren't getting enough food to avoid some level of malnutrition, or who don't have a habitable home (or a home at all), or who have to choose between heat or food over the winter (etc.) should have to make any sacrifices - and there are plenty of people who are or who have been in that kind of situation, including people we know - because *no one* should be in that kind of position, wherever in the world they live, and that includes the UK. Especially when the rest of us could be making much more sacrifice to make up for it!
Nation states encourage the attitude of 'mine is better than yours, look how good we are, are you not as good as us, well, that's your problem.'
I do see what you mean, and I thoroughly agree that the "that's your problem" issue is one of the nastiest things that needs to be faced in achieving global peace, justice and the integrity of creation. I'm not sure that I think that the issue is an inevitable part of having nation states, though. I mean, some people have an attitude that their family is better than other people's family*, and that's not a good reason to discard families! Likewise towns, etc. It's encouraging compassion, respect and the recognition of the humanity and fellowship of all, including those who are far away and/or very different from ourselves that's the necessary thing. Prejudiced patriotism is only one strand of that, though of course it's a very practical one.
* whereas I have an attitude that mirrorshard's family is better than other people's families. ;-)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-27 05:29 pm (UTC)I do try not to assume that people's political views never change, though. And I think I would be right in saying that you are less left-wing than you used to be. I'm very glad to be wrong, and I apologise for doubting you!
I think even the poorer members of the UK need to make sacrifices to achieve global equality
Depends how poor you're talking about. Part of global equality, to my mind, would be achieving some basic level of quality of life for everyone that exceeds the level that some people in the UK are at. I don't think that people who aren't getting enough food to avoid some level of malnutrition, or who don't have a habitable home (or a home at all), or who have to choose between heat or food over the winter (etc.) should have to make any sacrifices - and there are plenty of people who are or who have been in that kind of situation, including people we know - because *no one* should be in that kind of position, wherever in the world they live, and that includes the UK. Especially when the rest of us could be making much more sacrifice to make up for it!
Nation states encourage the attitude of 'mine is better than yours, look how good we are, are you not as good as us, well, that's your problem.'
I do see what you mean, and I thoroughly agree that the "that's your problem" issue is one of the nastiest things that needs to be faced in achieving global peace, justice and the integrity of creation. I'm not sure that I think that the issue is an inevitable part of having nation states, though. I mean, some people have an attitude that their family is better than other people's family*, and that's not a good reason to discard families! Likewise towns, etc. It's encouraging compassion, respect and the recognition of the humanity and fellowship of all, including those who are far away and/or very different from ourselves that's the necessary thing. Prejudiced patriotism is only one strand of that, though of course it's a very practical one.
* whereas I have an attitude that