An Alternative View of Life

I like a lot of what I read by Douglas Rushkoff, but in the end I view him as a snake oil salesman. I agree that change is needed, but I don't trust any one person's view of what that change is. I think the change will emerge cooperatively from many people making adjustments in their own life.

I fear any one person's vision because so often in history the reality has fallen far short of the promise. But it is always interesting to hear about possibilities...



On the surface, his claim that our anomie has destroyed our lives sounds credible. But going back to the reformers of the 19th century, the socialist, Marx, and the rest, they all claimed that modern life was turning us soulless. But the institutions that these people put forward, the utopian communities in America, the iron-fisted "societies" created under Stalin, Mao, or Pol Pot don't look attractive to me.

His heart-warming story about "Comfort dollars" and how a little community built up of people investing in John Comfort's restaurant sounds wonderful. But collectivist systems like this have been with us since the 19th century. I belong to a credit union (we own the bank). There are lots of co-ops where you can own the store. If this concept is so compelling, why haven't these taken over the world? Rushkoff is selling us the sizzle, but where is the steak?

In short, enjoy social visions. Let them give you hope and direction. But don't let yourself become swept up in a utopianism that won't deliver. You need to know a little history to realize that these visions come and go throughout history. They do have value, but they seldom deliver what their advocates claim for them.

Update: You can read excerpts from Rushkoff's latest book here.