We Get Hedons from Catching Flies, Too

April 9, 2006

As usual, a couple of interesting posts from Wilkinson.

Examining the difference between prestige and dominance, Wilkinson notes that complexity of societies and markets multiplies dimensions of excellence, thus of prestige. Prestige in our shorthand terms is "more civilized" than dominance, because it has to do more with recognized excellence and perceived value than with brute strength and menace. Acknowledging someone's prestige is voluntary (though there may be peer pressure to agree with group attributions). But true dominance means that behavior can be coerced.

The other ends in a swerve with this:

Does support for the state depend on a kind of gratitude stemming from an (illusory for most people) sense that the value of public goods consumed is greater than taxes (direct and indirect) paid? It’s like thinking somebody’s your best friend since [he] gave you $4 bucks after [taking] $5 out of your wallet but gave you the $4 so warmly.

Well, yaah...

If you don't mind being discouraged, start to count how many people you know that are susceptible to the above "so warmly..."