#TED: Michael Sandel: Why we shouldn't trust markets with our civic life?

Having a small gap between rich and poor puts our lives into the same spaces, makes us rub up against each other. We work and shop in the same places, our children go to the same schools. Democracy requires that we share in a common life, that we encounter one another. This teaches us to abide our differences and care for the common good. There's a moral and civic good that the market cannot honor.
http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_sandel_why_we_shouldn_t_trust_markets_with_our_civic_life.html

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On 'natural'

I don't think 'natural' is good. There are many things that we apply (some almost arbitrary) (some ignorant and backward ideas of natural and not-natural agenda-propagating) rules of morality. I think 'natural' is a political rhetoric, profoundly abused. 'Diversity' is the only defensible rhetoric for 'thinking' beings. We are not, of course, the only creatures that do thinking, but we are the only creatures with the power to oppress others and other creatures whose languages we don't understand. Us (badly) thinking creatures, slowly, ponderously gathering the evidence of our badness (I see no reason for your (god's) patience with us), have the ability to decide to be better than (the fashionable) 'natural' of the day. It is our responsibility to transcend our vileness. Just that. That one task. Our thinkingness I believe is for that. A world (constructed by god) to demonstrate this point. And we will find every rhetor...

Richard Dawkins on militant atheism

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Flying Shortbread

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