What does it all Mean?

Yesterday I was reading some throw-away quote from Bush about how capitalism and individualism are always good and anything that gets in their way is always bad and I stopped to think about that for a moment.

First, I am not a fan of absolutes. I find that fundamentalism (especially of the religious and economic varieties) are serious problems and normally do more harm than good to the human community.

And I also think that people may mean different things with their use of the word 'individualism'. Surely Bush realizes that he did not become President (setting aside for a moment the many questions about both elections) because of his individual action and initiative. It took many people (deluded, evil, and otherwise) to move him to where he is today. Some sorts of individualism are totally invidious and horrid, for example, the Bush and Cheney machine that lies, cheats, and attacks based on their beliefs -- real or perceived.

I would like to think that many of us completely agree that economic individualism generally leads to some pretty nasty outcomes. Just ask folks who used to live in various bays in Alaska. Some of that oil is never coming off. And collectivism when not done by the state (the soviets, for example) can be a pretty good thing when the actions are based on what is good for all of us (especially the least among us).

This worship of aesthetic individualism and the notion of being an independent thinker (some people refer to that as individualism) can be good things in my book, when they take into account the consequences for others. I am pretty certain though, that when Bush spoke about individualism and capitalism he really did not mean either. Think of what real competition in the marketplace would do to the price of gas? Some companies seeing an opening could arrange to provide gas at consistently lower prices than the current oligopoly.

Of course, those oil companies that are benefiting are doing everything they can to stop other companies from entering the market. That is not capitalism. Individualistic certainly. Simple down and dirty capitalism, sorry but no -- it is not.

So perhaps there is much more disagreement as it may at first appear in regards to words like 'individualism'... People mean different things when they use that word. And to think that the republicans made fun of Clinton for parceling out meaning. And wrap themselves up in the language and imagery of community, values, and all that other horse hooey. Sheesh. I wonder what they really mean by all those words?

Because we have to wonder in an era where 'truth' becomes shattered -- one moment the Bush regimes are talking about mushroom clouds with regards to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and then the next claiming to have never made such direct connections (or in some few cases ever having made the statements) -- what do the words really mean?

In the end, we have to live with the result.