As ridiculous as those little things are, I think the “Shmoos” from the cartoon in the article ‘Class Counts’ by Erik Olin Wright are an interesting concept. They exist for no other reason than to make humans happy, or at least live more comfortably. They transform into the things we need as humans to survive. I briefly tried to imagine what my world would be like if I didn’t have to work for the things I needed just to survive. Work and education wouldn’t be nearly as important. I’d probably live longer because I would never stress out over the small things. I literally think my entire life would be different.
I also briefly tried to think of the real-life equivalent of the “Shmoo”, something that exists solely for the purpose of making the lives of men and women more comfortable, more livable. About the only thing I could think of is welfare and I think that analogy is really pushing it. Welfare is available, but not for everyone. It can be used to buy life’s essentials, but it doesn’t have to be used in that way.
Like I said, I briefly tried to find the “Shmoo’s” equivalent, but I don’t think it exists.
As I read this section, I pondered the same thing and concluded with the same answer! I was also thinking although this is so far-fetched, we (America) could use something of this nature at this point in time. We have surpassed the use of the necessities and wants that now we (America) find ourselves in all types of debt. The shmoo wouldn't be a bad concept right now (although completely unrealistic).
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, would you consider the life of a farmer or naturalistic living similar to the concept of a shmoo?