“In the Soviet Union, capitalism triumphed over Communism; in this country, capitalism over democracy.” — The American author Fran Lebowitz, quoted in the New Yorker, May 16.
With reference to the United States, is this true?
Yes, if one equates capitalism with money and thinks, for example, of the effect of campaign contributions on the political process. However, there are many examples of popular campaigners losing to better-financed competitors. Fran Lebowitz is also right if one thinks of the recent display of outrageous greed on Wall Street and the extraordinary effectiveness of corporate lobbies in Washington.
But money can, of course, corrupt in a non-capitalist society like Fidel’s Cuba. Money and power.
But she is wrong if one reflects that capitalism is not the same as materialism and that materialism can easily co-exist with democracy. Early in the 19th century, de Tocqueville commented on crude American materialism while being deeply impressed by American democracy.
Other quotes by Fran Lebowitz:
I’ve done the calculation and your chances of winning the lottery are identical whether you play or not.
No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation.
Calling a taxi in Texas is like calling a rabbi in Iraq.
Polite conversation is rarely either.
Radio news is bearable. This is due to the fact that while the news is being broadcast, the disk jockey is not allowed to talk.
Remember that as a teenager you are in the last stage of your life when you will be happy to hear the phone is for you.
Success didn’t spoil me. I’ve always been insufferable.
Just the right quotes for the day before the world ends. Wonderful. Having already fallen over laughing, I don’t have much further to go – I expect no injuries the rest of the way down.
It seems to me that most people who live in a capitalist country don’t actually know what capitalism is. I strongly suggest everyone reads Robert Heilbroner’s wonderful book ‘The Worldly Philosophers’. You’ll then know a little bit about all the economic systems (and recognize when others know much less).
The US is a morphed form of capitalism with some socialism (and probably some other isms). Most importantly for today, the US has become a plutocracy, with a government that has become dysfunctional (the most polite adjective I can think of).
And historians can easily argue that about the time communism was imploding (the 60′s and 70′s) the US form of capitalism/democracy was heading south as well.
This ‘triumph’, like ‘mission accomplished’, seems to imply the US sees history as a series of NFL football games.
In the recent election in California the much poorer financed Jerry Brown won over the much higher spending Meg Whitman. What does this prove ?
It reminds us that fortunately money does not always have the last word.
My absolutely most favourite book is Robert Heilbroner’s wonderful book ‘The Worldly Philosophers’. A must read!
I totally agree. I will always remember Heilbroner’s description.