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jazzy_daveRutger Bregman "Utopia For Realists" (Bloomsbury)
This is a timely, brilliant and important book arguing, not against capitalism, but making the case for adaptions that are vital if society is to face the challenges facing us and thrive. He makes cases for specifics such as Universal Basic Income, a fifteen-hour workweek, open borders, and more, but also challenges us to confront our values, most importantly the ridiculously out of proportion worth that we as a society we give to jobs that don't create any value ( investment banks, speculators of all kinds, much of the service industries that don't actually provide any services ) compared to those things that are vital, fulfilling or actually create wealth. The best example he gives is the contrasting strikes of garbage collectors in New York in 1968 which brought that great city to its knees in ten days ( leaving 100, 000 tons of trash on the streets ) and that of bank workers in Ireland two years later, who the country managed without for six months with almost no effect on the nation's economy.
I thought that the universal income idea is closest to being useful and adaptable. In fact, universal basic income is something that even Richard Nixon advocated.
The 15-hour workweek is interesting in concept, but unsure of its practical value...to what end?
The idea of eliminating all borders was the furthest removed from reality and the least supported.
Bregman's bold ideas about the feasibility of a better society and a brighter future made me feel more positive and optimistic, but at the same time, depressed about the state of the world today. He finishes with a bright, uplifting 'manifesto' for bringing Utopia to life. Above all, challenge the status quo, believe in the possible, and never stop projecting the change you want to see in your world.
This world needs healing, and these elegant and compassionate ideals are a path toward a happier tomorrow. This book gave me hope.
This is a timely, brilliant and important book arguing, not against capitalism, but making the case for adaptions that are vital if society is to face the challenges facing us and thrive. He makes cases for specifics such as Universal Basic Income, a fifteen-hour workweek, open borders, and more, but also challenges us to confront our values, most importantly the ridiculously out of proportion worth that we as a society we give to jobs that don't create any value ( investment banks, speculators of all kinds, much of the service industries that don't actually provide any services ) compared to those things that are vital, fulfilling or actually create wealth. The best example he gives is the contrasting strikes of garbage collectors in New York in 1968 which brought that great city to its knees in ten days ( leaving 100, 000 tons of trash on the streets ) and that of bank workers in Ireland two years later, who the country managed without for six months with almost no effect on the nation's economy.
I thought that the universal income idea is closest to being useful and adaptable. In fact, universal basic income is something that even Richard Nixon advocated.
The 15-hour workweek is interesting in concept, but unsure of its practical value...to what end?
The idea of eliminating all borders was the furthest removed from reality and the least supported.
Bregman's bold ideas about the feasibility of a better society and a brighter future made me feel more positive and optimistic, but at the same time, depressed about the state of the world today. He finishes with a bright, uplifting 'manifesto' for bringing Utopia to life. Above all, challenge the status quo, believe in the possible, and never stop projecting the change you want to see in your world.
This world needs healing, and these elegant and compassionate ideals are a path toward a happier tomorrow. This book gave me hope.
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Date: 2022-01-18 12:48 pm (UTC)The 15-hour workweek is interesting in concept, but unsure of its practical value...to what end?
There are a lot of benefits. There's no reason why most of us work as much as we do. Productivity has become decoupled from wages, and we need to decrease growth anyway.