Down with the philosophy...

I was recently reading some articles in Capitalist Magazine. Odd, I know, for a libertarian socialist, but I like to explore alternative viewpoints every so often, if only to remind myself why I think I'm right!

Although I agree with some of the views they hold - notably those on religion and abortion, it twigged last night what my nagging unease has always been with capitalism as a sociopolitical philosophy. It's the fact that they emphasise rampant, selfish individualism at the expense of community, and cold, sterile reason at the expense of the essential human experience of emotion.

It's a well-known saying (though I forget whence it comes) that no man is an island, and the biggest problem I have with capitalism is that it tends to ignore this notion. We can't ignore our emotional faculties, even if we don't allow them to control us; and none of us - even the least gregarious, amongst which I count myself - exist independently of our community. While freedom - the capitalist's ultimate catch-cry - is a value to be always sought and if necessary, fought for, we are not free to deny the freedom of others. This is the delicate balancing act with which staunch capitalists fail to engage.

Wish fulfillment!

I notice, while looking back over my posts for the last few months, that earlier this year I posted the following:

"And Countess Mathilde is a goddess, and a veritable goldmine of knowledge. There shall be many more late-period bodices cropping up over here soon!"

Boy, was I right!!

Over the past few months, there has been so much fantastic garb appearing amongst the Scadians in Perth that everywhere we looked at an event, we were overwhelmed with awesomeness.

Actually, despite all my rantings about the obligations and expectations attached to being the Baroness of Aneala, I have definitely taken some very good things from the experience.

One of the best was looking around at the Baronial changeover event and realising how much the Barony of Aneala has grown since Daniel and I stepped up. Not just in numbers - although this event was at least twice as big as our investiture - but in culture. Since the investiture of Lachlahn and Jane, late period garb has flourished, artisans - notably my beloved Japester - have made their presence felt, theatricality has grown (somewhat, anyway), and - something that has been very important to me - live music has started to become the norm at events. The efforts people have made to further the arts and sciences have been astounding, and I feel privileged to have reigned during such a period of artistic and cultural development.