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lorenzo b · 04-09-2009, 13:08

Great little story in the Sept 7 issue of the New Yorker page 72 on the history of pirates.

Therapy · 04-09-2009, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

Great little story in the Sept 7 issue of the New Yorker page 72 on the history of pirates.

My subscription ran out.

Can you mail it to me?

lorenzo b · 04-09-2009, 13:38

A history of pirates : The New Yorker

Therapy · 04-09-2009, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

A history of pirates : The New Yorker

OOH, thanks.

I will be over there for a while...

Therapy · 04-09-2009, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

A history of pirates : The New Yorker

Hey, everybody should read this.

clip:

Piracy seems to thrive when capitalism is advancing—when it has put enough wealth in motion to tempt criminals to kill for it but not yet enough for sailors to die in its defense—and perhaps, as in Somalia, when government is retreating. In several ways, Somalia’s contemporary pirates resemble those of three centuries ago. Violent and dangerous, they nonetheless are careful not to hurt coöperative hostages; they look to piracy to take them from poverty to a life of leisure; they have been known to regulate their own behavior with written rules; and they believe that their cause is just. The timing of their end, too, will probably be similar, coming whenever a major power decides that a crackdown costs less than the nuisance.
Are pirates socialists or capitalists? Lately, it’s become hard to tell the categories apart. Toward the end of his book, Leeson suggests that pirate self-governance proves that companies can regulate themselves better than governments can, as if he sees the pirate ship as a prototype of the modern corporation, sailing through treacherously liberal waters. Such arguments haven’t aged well over the past year, but even in piracy’s golden age people were aware that an unregulated marketplace invites predators. During the South Sea Bubble of 1720, speculators claiming to be able to make wealth out of debt fleeced British investors and ruined many banks. Pirates who spent that year killing and plundering, Nathaniel Mist grumpily wrote, could salve their guilty consciences, if they had any: “Whatever Robberies they had committed, they might be pretty sure they were not the greatest Villains then living in the World.” ♦

Pretty cool.

**David M** · 04-09-2009, 15:05

Outright theft is neither capitalism nor socialism. Its called stealing. There is nothing glamorous or noble about pirates. In my opinion they are nothing but dirtballs who should center their efforts on making an honest living and learn how to live cooperatively with the rest of the world. There are plenty of countries which have virtually no natural resources which have done well for themselves legally. Japan comes to mind. Poverty is not a legitimate excuse for putting guns to peoples heads and stealing from them. We have truly lost it as a civilized society when piracy can be justified.

anjou · 04-09-2009, 15:20

My sister runs the catering department at an institution and they employ a lot of eastern european staff in the kitchens. These people who i wont identify by nationality, openly steal food from freezers and the excuse is, 'you have more than we do, so its fair and justified' They dont understand its stealing

lorenzo b · 05-09-2009, 10:36

Ah yes yes I know these people They are dark and swarthy and come under cover of night to steal chickens and molest our livestock Some say they came out of Africa, some say the East And now you say they are working in our kitchens, tending our gardens, and caring for our children
Um Gottes Himmel

barnakiel · 05-09-2009, 14:24

And not only. Imagine guys, some Eastern Europeans went one step further than this - they got themselves a BOAT and sailed around the WESTERN world. Rather than stealing food from that sister's freezers.

BTW When people steal from their employer it might be a sign that what they are paid is not enough to buy them food. But it is not an excuse to hang them on the public yard.

b.

Christian Van H · 05-09-2009, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

Ah yes yes I know these people They are dark and swarthy and come under cover of night to steal chickens and molest our livestock Some say they came out of Africa, some say the East And now you say they are working in our kitchens, tending our gardens, and caring for our children
Um Gottes Himmel

No dude, that's a Chupacabra!

ColdFusion · 05-09-2009, 16:28

PIRATES?!

Where?

Jace · 21-09-2009, 10:03

To Anjou -

You go girl, good words.

Socialism is the practice of taking what someone has worked for and giving it someone else. Pretty much sums up stealing to me, so I'd conclude pirates are definitely socialists.

04 Marine · 21-09-2009, 10:35

Wow! In the United States when someone wants to take from those who work hard and give it to those who would rather receive than earn, we call them politicians. However, pirates may be a more appropriate term come to think of it.