Ah so you are quite the radical Michel, which you are entitled to be.
Life would be no fun if it were not for such debates. We are venturing out of mysticism into the domain of politics, of course, but I am fine with sharing my opinions.
Re: Bernie, as I said he's an advocate for a new kind of human-focused capitalism, and I voted for him thrice. He was the most viable choice of the three, the #2 in the Democratic primary. The other choices were Trump (nationalist capitalism?), Clinton (neoliberalism), and Biden (neoliberalism). Neoliberalism has of course created our great globalized world... but has also been quite detrimental to the livelihoods of many Americans which we are seeing the effects of.
Wolff can advocate for a more radical path than Sanders, of course... but the question is if even Sanders' moderate brand failed at the poll, how is this going to come into effect? So I look at things from this view, how it would be implemented in practical terms: "politics is the art of the possible."
I have listened to hundreds of hours of Wolff and Chomsky and do admire them both very much, but I do see them as idealists, there to criticize the current order for us, and envision a better world, but in the end best as commenters.
For my part, I am always asking myself... "quid est veritas?" (like Pilate) and "quid est iustitia?" (like Socrates in the
Republic) - "what is truth?" and "what is justice?" I try to keep these questions in mind as I navigate the complexities and dysfunctions of our civilization... And, by criticizing and revealing, I believe it is possible to cure the dysfunctions... certainly starting, at least, on an individual basis.
One issue I have found is that we often create new injustices in the process of trying to solve current ones... For example, I think of the Mexican Revolution, which tore down all the corrupt institutions of the country in the early 20th century. And... replaced them... with equally corrupt and dysfunctional institutions.
It is the great cycle of human experience.
I suppose it's why wisdom is the most elusive virtue... to be able to see how layered and interconnected the world is, and with that in mind advocate for change that
does tangibly and positively affect others (while avoiding creating new issues).
I do like this idea of psychiatry 'individualizing' problems that are created by a sick civilization. Ie, it's putting the blame on the person for the ailment (eg, anxiety) and not on the society itself. I find this a very good argument. As I certainly agree our civilization (especially the US, with its healthcare system and lack of time off) breeds anxiety disorders, alcoholism, lack of purpose, and so forth.
