Cohousing-L Mailing List: More inappropriate stuff for this group

[Fred H Olson WB0YQM (fholson]

KARP [at] XMISSION.XMISSION.COM 
is the author of the message below (dated 12/14) but due
to a listserv problem it was posted by the COHOUSING-L sysop (Fred).

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SNIP>
>It was mentioned that my "liberal" bias was a predictable
>knee jerk.  I'd like to point out that the demands that
>I "civilize" my remarks, and take the discussion of 
>political beliefs elsewhere is rather a typical
>conservative reflex also.  It well serves the purpose of
>squelching access as well as passion.  The politico-
>economic orientation of cohousing is a crucial issue which
>I will continue to press as forcefully as I need to.
SNIP>

Amen!  I never spoke up for fear of intolerance but now that the stage has
been set let me voice my opinion too.

I got my master's degree in poitical science with an emphasis in neo-marxism
and political sociology.  I  truly understand this debate as I lived it for
a number of years.

Let me now tell you that when I read such pathetic weeping from a grown
adult it makes me truly sick.  You see, I have learned that there are some
differences between me and my Komrades in college.  They would bitch and
moan about how the class struggle is even harder than in Marx's time and
that the disparity of income is even greater between that bourgeoise and the
proletariat now than ever before.

My revelation occured through spiritual pursuits where I realised that I
must live my own life, not be a slave to old dead dogma be it correct or
not.  When I searched deeper I found that the dogma I was clinging to also
made me feel like a LOSER!

Why?  I realised that so many people spend so much time working at things that 
A)  They will never succeed at.
B)  They have defined in such a manner that they CAN'T be successful.

Now why would people like you pursue goals like these?  Well society loves
martyrs for one.  Also, don't we really just love all the little yuppie
causes to fill the void in our yuppie lives?

The real reason is even more frightening.  Its an ego protection.  If you
are always involved in loser causes how can anyone judge you?  Do people
ever talk behind your back saying "Look at Loser, still hasn't smashed the
State"
-I doubt it.  You're not judged bacause there is no scale to determine your
success.

So what did I do?  I opened a health food restaurant.  I had always wanted
to.  Its been fun and it makes a profit by my: charging more for the
products than I paid for them (commodity fetishism)  as well as pay my
workers less than the dollar amount that they produce for me. 

I then went into real estate and own most of my block.  Hence I am
interested in this group.  Why?  To help people who can't help themselves?
Nope, to develop a community that inspires us to make the most of our lives
and NEVER EVER tolerate the defeatist attitude (like yours) that permeates
the world.

By the way, please don't try to put me in a box.  I am 28, don't care for
republicans, don't care for democrats, hypothetically use chemicals
authorities say you shouldn't, am Buddhist, and do my best every day to
bring out the extropian positive element in everyone I meet.

Peace and Big Money,

Karp 


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