Thursday, October 27, 2016
The American Dream
Edward Abbey, Journals (November 27, 1982), in Confessions of a Barbarian: Selections from the Journals of Edward Abbey (Boulder: Johnson Books, 2003), p. 304:
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Money means power, not merely wealth. Money gives us power over others—to command their labor, their minds, even their souls. Even their behavior, conduct, attitudes. No wonder money possesses such glittering attraction for those who crave power. If all people were self-reliant—a nation of artisans, craftsmen, hunters, trappers, farmers, ranchers—the rich would have no means to dominate us. Their wealth would be useless.
Cities: The realm of masters and slaves.
Our dream is to escape the hierarchical order: neither to serve nor to rule. The classic American dream. A society of equals.
