CompuServe Messages

Eet, actually, I spent the time trying to learn the particular method of analysis. It really does have applications in the real world. If you do not understand conflict theory, you are a babe in the woods when it comes to things like rent-seeking behavior by political interest groups (i.e. PACS trying to get tax breaks for their company). I actually took three courses, not just one, since I saw quite a bit of the strange behaviors I had observed over the years explained by one theory. Of course, you have to keep in mind other theories, but this does explain one segment of economic behavior in this society, and others. Think about it, why do people engage in what are fundamentally non-rational behaviors from a societal point of view? You would think that they would hold the interests of society at a slightly lesser level of interest, below those of individual and familial interests. While we see that behavior in quite a few individuals, we also see many an individual that places family, clan, state, and indeed national interests above those of their own. We call them soldiers today. Fundamentally, this isn't rational, is it? Volunteering to get shot at is never rational, imho, although I did do it. Other interests coelesce in similiar manners. Witness the guy that murdered the abortion doctor and his security escort. He was willing to put the interests of society and his 'cause' above those of his self and family, and he'll pay, rightfully, for that. What price do _you_ place upon your own collection of interests? How far does it extend? To many individuals, there are many interests that extend well beyond the family level. Conflict theory tends to explain the mechanism whereby each is balanced, and indeed justified, within any society. Group and societal preservation tend to rank higher with most individuals. Anyway, societies tend to build structures that reinforce the current societal structure. If you notice, the Founding Fathers hoped to do such with the Constitution being the highest order of devotion in our society. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the strict interpretation got lost. Now we have a 'living document' subject to the winds of public opinion. Similiarly, if you go back and analyze various episodes of our history, you can trace out the various conflicts between the groups in our society, and others. Ever wonder about the 'Jim Crow' laws? They were a mechanism to disenfrachise as recently enfranchised segment of society. Even earlier, there was the requirement that all voters be property holders, even if the property was only their tools. There are always limits. The trick is picking out why the selection criteria exists. I'm waiting for the day when all welfare receiptiants are denied the vote. I don't think it will be long in coming. And yes, my vote will disappear on that day.