From: "Brian Drake" <thedrake000-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: Is free thought dead?
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 09:34:53 PST


Hello,

I am a under-graduate student at Mercer University.  We are a small 
Baptist college located in Macon, GA.  I recently had an encounter that 
I wish to share and pose a question.

While sitting in on an Ethics & Philosophy class, that I am not enrolled 
in, I observed a discussion about Ayn Rand and self-interest, etc.  Of 
course the issue of capitalism vs. morality began to surface in the 
discussion.

One idea presented was that capitalism creates a system of dependence 
upon the rich at the expense of the poor.  The popular example was that 
welfare systems (not the USA version alone) and other hand-outs crush 
the dignity and hope of many and only serve to perpetuate the cycle of 
capitalistic oppression.

The class refused to accept this idea as a viable truism.  I may be 
biased, but it seems that the argument that capitalism creates 
oppression is pretty compelling.  The class discussion continued and a  
young woman stated, "When my father came to America he worked hard to 
provide us with stuff."
The inqury to the statement was, "Given that fact, why do you think that 
the poor continue to be poor."

The young woman's response, "Because poor people are too dumb to 
succeed."

The question:  Is it my imagination or are the barriers to changing 
people's mindsets so great that they resort to classist (in the context 
of the discussion) and racist explanations to legitimate  their 
complicity toward inequality?

Thanks for reading,
Brian Drake
Mercer University

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