From: laelth@yabbs
To: Xela@yabbs
Subject: "Earn"
Date: Thu Feb 17 12:12:30 1994

But Alex, don't you see?  I've been trying to help YOU to re-examine what 
it means to "earn."  That's why I've been saying it over and over.  If you 
choose not to listen that's your option, of course.  But please, save your 
economics lesson.  You could use some boning-up yourself. :)

Just look at your programming for a minute.  You work hard (you make the
rich richer through your labor).  You're honest (you're not a threat to 
take the rich people's property.  They like you to be honest, but are the 
rich people honest?).  And lastly, you don't expect instant gratification 
(no, or few rewards for your labor).  It's hilarious for me to see you 
middle-classed people defending your middle-classed values when those very 
values are the mechanism by which you are exploited.  And what's funniest 
of all is that you don't even think you're being exploited.  You're happy 
to be a lackey for people who are enjoying the fruits of our society.

It is true that your programming will help you to survive.  As long as you 
work hard, are honest, and don't expect rewards for your labor (as long as 
you do what the rich people want) then they'll allow you to live.  They'll 
give you a job making middle-classed wages, and they'll let you think that 
you're happy collecting the products of capitalism (cars, houses in the 
suburbs, computers, TVs, etc.).  What you may want to ask yourself is 
this:  What have I lost in buying into this system?  While I lived the 
comfortable middle-classed life, how many people suffered in poverty as a 
result?  What have I really done by advocating the injustices of the 
status quo?  Couldn't I have done something else?  Couldn't I have made 
the world a better place?

Just a thought ...

-laelth