Thorstein Veblen noted the “instinct of workmanship” which emphasised cooperation rather than competition, individual equality and independence rather than pervasive relations of subordination, logical social interrelationships rather than ceremonial role playing, and peaceable rather than predatory dispositions.
He contrasted this with the notion of “predatory instinct” which admires predatory skills, acceptance of the hierarchy of subordination, and the widespread substitution of knowledge with myth and ceremony.
The African National Congress, it would seem fought a freedom struggle not to elevate cooperation, equality and independence. Instead they fought a “liberation” struggle to be part of the predatory class, to share in the pomp and ceremony and elevate themselves in the social hierarchy so that they too may be part of the “captains of Industry and business”, and join the “leisure class” who makes an income from owning instead of working while living off the fruits of exploitation of the working class and the poor.
No wonder more and more people are saying “we have not benefited from this democracy.”
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