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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jbe who wrote (46749)	7/24/1999 2:16:00 AM
From: Brumar89	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Hi, thought I'd get in a late reply. I'm very flattered and think you might be giving me more credit than I deserve. I'm quite impressed with the writing and thinking of many I see on SI and know there a lot of people here who are my betters in education and writing skill - and you are one of those. On money and ideology: I think, based on my own observations, that most businessmen, as individuals, are "conservative" and Republican politically. There are exceptions, of course. But when it comes to political activity, and by this I mean such things as contributions and lobbying activities, business is driven by it's financial interests. Political ideas and allegiances of the individual businessmen count for little next to the corporate bottom line. That's how things look to me. You're probably right about my (intellectually sloppy) use of the word ideology not being quite correct sociologically or philosophically. Good night, Bruce

To: jbe who wrote (46749)	7/24/1999 12:40:00 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Dear Joan, according to my OED, the word "ideology" was invented in France in 1796 by the Compte de Tracy, a member of the National Institute of France, to name the "science of ideas." Apparently the term was frequently used disparagingly by Napoleon to describe "every species of theory, which, resting in no respect upon the basis of self-interest, could, he thought, prevail with none save hot-brained boys and crazed enthusiasts." Now as for Karl Marx being the first to ascribe differing ideologies to differing social classes, I don't know whether that's true, but as Marx divided everything else up according to social class, I have no reason to doubt that he attempted to reduce the aspirations and goals of a heterogenous group of people sharing little besides membership in differing socio-economic categories into a so-called "ideology." It was the folly of Marx to believe that humans could be categorized thus. But I thought that we had learned how fallacious it was to use such terms as "corporate class" or "corporate ideology." Apparently not. Pray tell, how does one discern the "corporate class"? Do you mean everyone who has a Lexus and a 401K? Entrepeneurs don't always have corporations, so they don't count? Lawyers are usually not in corporations, so they don't count, either? And what is the "corporate ideology"? When Loral lobbies Congress, does it have the same "ideology" as Bethlehem Steel?