May 23, 2010

The Dalai Lama - He Who Bites the Feeding Hand

It was the 20th of May, 2010 that The Associated Press reported "The Dalai Lama [condemned] capitalism as a system whose main goal is 'how to make profit.'" The article went on to say that the Dalai Lama said "Marxism has 'the only economy system expressing concern of equal distribution (of wealth); that is moral ethics [sic].'"

Well, I have massive problems with this. This statement ... the thinking, is so fundamentally dishonest at its core - and causes me to see the source as a fundamentally dishonest abuser of the gifts in his life.

Firstly, in any system including Marxism there are ruling elite. There has to be since someone needs to make decisions. Without an ultimate decision maker nothing gets done. Equals discuss and discuss until the weakest compromise is acted upon ... rather than the best solution. These elite are always better off than the average person - be it through legal or non-legal taxation. Within any system, the person taking responsibility is rewarded through monetary or beneficial means (ie, perks) for the additional responsibility under which (s)he toils.

In China there are the elite just as there were in the now defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, North Korea (although some would argue it's a dictatorship - not socialist at all) as there are in any dictatorial or socialist societies. By its very nature, Marxism cannot work because it denies individuals, with drive to contribute, the will to do so since they are (in principal) rewarded the same way as anyone who does the absolute minimum to have their full share. Rather than encouraging mutual contribution it discourages industry by denying reward proportionate to effort.

To go a step further, the Dalai Lama travels the world feeding from the table of capitalism - eating from the tax dollars earned from within the capitalist system - traveling, dining and sleeping in style courtesy of capitalist tax dollars. The thanks he offers is a slap in the face. "Thank you for spending your valuable time on me, for feeding me ... thanks - I despise the source of these gifts you heap upon me but I will come back and take the valuable time of your leaders, eat your food, stay in your hotels and ride in your cars ... again."

I absolutely respect his right to his opinion but, perhaps, if he is such a strong Marxist he should fly at his own expense ... in the cheapest economy seats (or, even, take cheap rides, by sea, on freighters); He should take subways and busses and not expect to take the very expensive time of world leaders (unlike working taxpayers who never get to "enjoy the company" of their elected and non-elected officials). Perhaps he should not eat from the table of capitalist tax payer.

Marxism is a delightful ideal that, by all accounts just doesn't work - how about the Dalai Lama getting a regular job and working like the rest of us immoral capitalists? It is certainly not, "Either he is with us or against us" but how about a bit of honesty? He benefits from capitalism and enjoys, by his own admission, New York, the capital of capitalism. So, how about shelving the big lie? Don't lie ... or don't come. Stand behind your own words and don't bite the hand that feeds you.

My conclusion? Well, the Dalai Lama is exceptionally charming and likeable ... even, perhaps, charismatic (so are many current leaders ... just as many past leaders - both benevolent and monsters) but in this he shows a significantly dishonest bent.

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