I have come to the conclusion that capitalism is the most efficient economic system. However, I just realized that it is also a tool of sexism and racism. For example, prostitution and pornography, two of the most evil forms of male oppression, can exist only in a society with capitalistic elements. If everyone were made equal economically, no woman would be desperate and sell herself into such horrible forms of slavery.
The basis of racism, moreover, is economic rivalry. Slavery was motivated solely by economics, and economic rivalry between African Americans and working class whites is the cause of current racism. If everyone were made equal economically, there would be no such rivalry and racism would all but disappear. In conclusion, you may consider me a radical populist.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

Prostitution has existed longer than capitalism.
Racism is kept alive by the concentration of wealth but was ultimately the creation of government or populous control, not the market. The market would allow all people with skills or talents to succeed, regardless of arbitrary physical traits. It is a challenge to remove the legacy of racism, but it is one government is not very well-accustomed to.
I think more and more, I prefer to see grassroots groups and NGOs do their work, not the government. Both women's rights and black rights were aided most by the actions of independent people belonging to the oppressed groups, not by impersonal bureaucracies controlled primarily by self-righteous white men. Concerned citizens who belong to or sympathize with the oppressed should build coalitions from the bottom up.

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"It's never over... BOY!"
The Tall Man, Phantasm III

Actually, I'd require proportional gender and racial representation in government. By the way, I'm still an isolationist. I just gave up trying to fight my radical populist tendencies on domestic issues.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

I believe there is a certain problem I see that you're not seeing. No offense, Force, but it's the same trouble I have with neocons. People are more empowered when they fight their own battles. If they are to receive help, it should be help that they ask for. MLK and the early feminists fought for rights and accomplished a lot. The government attempts since then have not had nearly the same power to affect the public's perception. In fact, often they've caused reactions against progress. And by helping those who don't ask for your help, you disempower them just as their oppressors.
Sometimes outside education is necessary. Gandhi was schooled in England. Great African-American leaders came forth from strong American educations seeping in democratic values. But they were also part of the people they were empowering, not outsiders. They understood the problems as only insiders could and applied democratic thought as it fit with those understandings.

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"It's never over... BOY!"
The Tall Man, Phantasm III

That is precisely why I would require proportional gender and race representation in government. With that, women and minorities would have their rightful say about sociopolitical problems.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

It is just your opinion that prostitution and pornography are necessarily male oppression. A case can be made that a woman should be able to use her body as she chooses, and that if she chooses to enter into a commercial agreement with a man because she feels it is in her interest, she should be able to do so. UNFORCED prostitution should be up to the woman, if she chooses to sell sex, a law based on religion should not prohibit her from doing so. JMHO

There are male porn stars and male prostitutes.

Racism is based partly on rivalry, but there are other factors. At it's core, it is based on ignorance and fear of the unknown.

Racism as it exists in the West today is based mainly on economic rivalry, but it also exists because of the after affects of slavery and segregation. Stereotypes that were used to justify the past treatment of minorities still exist and although they will fade, they will, in all likelihood, still remain.

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It's the difference between suicide and slow capitulation... - Jim Morrison

I think that racial stereotypes will gradually disappear after the economic rivalry that was the initial reason for them disappears. I support freeing oppressed men as well, though there are far fewer of them.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

How did you come to that conclusion?


I agree that racial stereotypes will cease to be excepted by all but a few, as we learn to live alongside one another and as there is greater equality of opportunity. However, just like gender stereotypes, racial stereotypes will still remain as they continue to be passed along. They will be all but gone, and they will have no impact, but they will exist.

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It's the difference between suicide and slow capitulation... - Jim Morrison

I think of it in this way. Racism may be passed on for a few generations, but once the cause of racism is gone, it will be like an automobile running out of gasoline and eventually it will stop.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)