@SkitchP wrote:harmless wrote:
3) I don't think Ed, or PJ, rail against rich people. I never felt that the war they were waging was about class (good people have money too, and they know that). I think that Ed is more worried that religious fundamentalism and GOP / Republican attitude leads to prejudice and neo-fascism. That's not about money, even though money tends to accompany those types of people. I think the Ticketmaster battle they were in back in the day was more about them wanting their fans to have cheaper tickets. That's all. It wasn't a giant ethical standard they'd keep for all time.
Have you heard the song Soon Forget?
I agree with you to an extent if you're talking about the actual lyrics of the songs. However, he has spent plenty of time damning the haves vs. the have nots in his concert rants.
most people who rail against 'the rich' don't hate money per se (although I'm sure some do). it usually reflects a disgust with either the privilege that comes with wealth, the way in which excessive concern about money monetizes all other values, the oligarchic power that comes with wealth, or when wealthy people horde wealth, rather than contributing to the well being of the have nots (through charity and especially through supporting laws and social arrangements that address these imbalances). You can be perfectly wealthy personally and not run afoul of any of these categories. And having money is nice. It makes your life easier, makes you feel secure, and lets you do fun things.
The same is true of the corporate rants. People who are anti corporate are usually railing against the consequences of corporate power, not the physical existence of them. Shit, even Michael Moore acknowledges that.
And none of this stuff is addressed by you personally becoming an ascetic. The solution is not giving all your money to charity. it is addressing the larger structural conditions that create these power imbalances. That is what a sophisticated anti-corporate/anti oligarchic stance will reflect. That's where pearl jam is today. It's been what has always been best about their critique. It's really been what the critique has always been about--it's just that earlier there were also the gestures that were probably psychologically necessary to deal with the shock of suddenly becoming rich, the sense of unworthiness (why do I suddenly have privilege when I know all these good people who don't), and to try and avoid feeling like a traitor to your class. There have also been juvenile drunken rants, but that's what they are. Not a considered position.
