James E. Miller writes:
In a recent interview with On Being, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt described the paradox of capitalist systems engendering liberal values over time. “So here’s the irony: the left generally hates capitalism, but capitalism changes everybody’s values to be more leftist,” he said. Citing impoverished Koreans who rebuilt their country following the devastation of the Korean War, Haidt pointed out that the older, war-weary generation doesn’t “really care that much about human rights, and gender rights, and all these other sorts of things.” They were more concerned with making sure there was food for dinner than nonbinary sexuality. “But their kids,” according to Haidt, began “to care about all these things” because they weren’t “raised with…privation and fear.”
My comment:
Hmm. Except that “human rights” were invented and promoted right AFTER World War II. Were they promoted by the non-exhausted; the effete who hadn’t taken part? I’m not being sarcastic. Genuine question.
