[CutePuppy]

Politics of envy, ideology of envy - weapon of liberalism and path to socialism and economic and social ruin.

[scan59]

In primitive societies, "No one dares to show anything that might lead people to think he was better off," Schoeck observed. "Innovations are unlikely. Agricultural methods remain traditional and primitive, to the detriment of the whole village, because every deviation from previous practice comes up against the limitations set by envy."

I once read that in many places in Africa, having a better life than one's neighbor will get you accused of being a witch, with death and confiscation of your property soon to follow. No wonder these nations are still third world.

[Free Vulcan]

I despise envious people, people that are always looking around at others and trying to outdo the Joneses while never being happy with what they have. I could give a rat’s arse about what other people are doing, I do what makes me happy and have my own style.

I think it make you more decisive and creative, and more independent and stronger, which ironically brings even more envy from the enviers. Which is why I dismiss these weak and pathetic wastes with a standard answer - STFU and mind your own business.

[AnAmericanMother]

[StormEye]

"Politics of envy, ideology of envy - weapon of liberalism and path to socialism and economic and social ruin."

Thou shall not covet. The Bible seems to have it right on this one.

[Spok]

Dr. Charles Murray, author of The Bell Curve, pointed out that the flip side of envy is guilt, which is the genesis of modern liberalism. Misunderstood and unchecked, it leads to self hatred and the elevation of all who have less to a plane of superiority. IMO, spirituality (Christianity, in my case) helps me reconcile my failings and successes without being devoured by either of them. Self flagellation and debasement does not fulfill the human need to serve others as well as true acts of charity and volunteerism-it has to come from within us and can’t be dictated from politicial or social institutions. Again, IMHO, it is God who leads us to virtue, not the mandates of men.

[tpaine]

We almost never discuss envy anymore. "One may admit to pride, avarice, lust, anger, gluttony, and laziness, and one may even boast of them," Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora wrote 20 years ago in "Egalitarian Envy." "There is only one capital sin no one admits to: envy. ... Its symbol ought to be a mask." This is a shame; the most pathetic of the seven deadly sins is perhaps the most consequential.
Indeed, just look again on the 20th century. Envy turned Germany cruel. In Russia, the ideology of envy — socialism — likewise ran amok under the label Bolshevism and threatened to overrun the world.
The consequences of envy run even deeper. It will never be known how many millennia man endured in misery and darkness under the moldering blanket of envy. Helmut Schoeck writes in his timeless masterpiece, "Envy: A Theory of Social Behavior," that whole societies, hobbled by envy, rejected innovation and prosperity, preferring the arrested development of all to the advancement of the few. --"

We discuss socialism every day here on FR, -- with socialists who insist that our various levels of gov't can 'arrest the development of all to the advancement of "the goals" a supposed 'majority'.

I've never been a fan of Jonah Goldberg, -- but I have to admit he makes a great point this time.

[Greg F]

I’m not prone to envy. I have too much pride to think anyone is better than me.

; )

[tpaine]

I've never been a fan of Jonah Goldberg, -- but I have to admit he makes a great point with this essay.

Anybody know if Jonah [or his mom] still reads FR?

[perseid 67]

People do not understand envy. Envy is not seeing a nice car and saving your money buying one just like it. Envy is seeing a nice car and destroying it because it is not yours. Ask and you will receive. Still there is more strength in just saying no to desire.

[samm1148]

Liberals tend to be selective of who they are envious of: Rosie O’Donnell can make more in one year than one hundred American families will see in their lifetimes but she is sacrosanct.

Sam Walton and the company he helped to create from a small business is to be lambasted and criticized however.

One routinely spits on America and the values of decent people while the other was one of the innovators in selling cheap goods to average Americans. (Please spare me the Chinese diatribe; not when the people making it are regular Walmart shoppers)

[SamAdams76]

Actually I consider envy, hate and self-pity the "self-destructive" emotions.

People who let these emotions take over their life only hurt themselves.

When you hate somebody, the object of your hate doesn't suffer. But you will. You are also giving the object of your hate power over you.

When you envy somebody, the object of your envy doesn't become less fortunate. However, if you are busy envying others, you will not be able to improve your own station in life and your wasted emotion will only ensure that you continue feel inferior to others.

When you engage in self-pity, nobody is going to feel sorry for you but yourself. Self-pity is poor box office. Your self-pity will drive your successful friends away from you and you will be surrounded by losers like yourself.

So those are the three self-destructive emotions. The best thing you can do for your well-being is to hate nobody, envy nobody and stop feeling sorry for yourself.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

Great article. Thanks for posting.

[ran20]

The liberal will also think up reasons to destroy what another has, without revealing the true reason. For example an expensive SUV, the liberal will try to say to stop global warming you must give up your vehicle.

[Tanniker Smith]

You don’t hear about envy too much — mostly because too many people confuse it with jealousy and believe that the two are synonomous or interchangeable.