Contra la caritat. En defensa de la renda bàsica

by Daniel Raventós Panella, Julie Wark

La caritat sempre ha estat plena de bones intencions però mai no ha deixat d’expressar una relació de desigualtat. Avui, aquesta disposició a fer el bé envers els més desafavorits, canalitzada a través d’institucions i empreses, i gratificada fiscalment o en termes d’imatge, no fa més que agreujar la divisió entre la minoria rica i la gran majoria pobra.

Si volem que la llibertat, la justícia i la dignitat regeixin la vida de tota la humanitat, hem d’abandonar la caritat i reivindicar el dret d’una existència materialment possible, i la renda bàsica incondicional per a tota la població pot ser una de les vies per aconseguir-ho.

Julie Wark i Daniel Raventós en fan la defensa i donen arguments per demostrar que és econòmicament factible. No és l’única solució per capgirar les enormes desigualtats planetàries, però atenuaria l’impacte d’una pobresa insofrible.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Sociology, Economics, Philosophy

384 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Taufiqur rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas. Main takeaway charity is good but it’s a good idea to bite the hand that feeds you if it is the hand that is keeping you to feed yourself.

[Shannon Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pivot to UBI strategy was kind of abrupt and felt like it came out of nowhere kind of but very strong, well researched marxist theory with actual quantitative data (rare lol) nonetheless

[Pablo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Against Charity is an incredibly insightful book that provides a very comprehensive critique of charity culture in the “First World.” It begins by analyzing the relationship and power dynamics that charity engenders, and dismantles the myth of a “pure gift.” By first tracing the history of how other cultures first understood gifts and the practice of gift-giving, the authors juxtapose our current situation (celebrities, philanthropist, billionaires, *I would also add mindful consumerism*) to convincingly show how charity has transformed in the “Modern World” into a egoistic and vapid endeavor of neoliberalism and “philanthrocapitalism.”

When I first skimmed through the table of contents, I was excited to see that part 2 launches into arguments for Universal Basic Income and “Financing Justice.” Unfortunately, although Part 2 is entitled “Partial Solutions”, not even the semblance of a solution was proposed. Initially I was a little disappointed by this, but after more thought, I can’t really count that against the authors. I take that as an invitation to continue the conversation and wrestle with the particularities of our individual contexts. Often, general solutions simply become platitudes anyway. They have done the incredible work of fleshing out this timely critique, now it is our turn to apply it.

I will admit that I lost a chunk of hope in humanity after reading this. My take away is this: if Fanon was right in saying that the revolution cannot come from the first world — that it had to begin in the the third world — then, I think these authors showed that the movement toward UBI and economic justice can only come from the first world. This thought is incredibly depressing, and yet, painfully inspiring.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic premise; Charity is a Business that is fostered and facilitated by the capitalist system . A more equitable system would not require Philanthropists and Charity.
"PhilanthroCapitalists. " acquire more wealth by investing in short term fixes that return the biggest bang for their bucks! In the process they also acquire celebrity status.
A Celebrity Gala raises money by charging exorbitant entrance fees for access to congratulate other celebrities for public consumption and adulation. Contributing to celebrity causes makes folks believe are part of a movement and identify with the celebrity.
The authors poked fun at the coincidence that the two female celebrities who travel to Earth's most inhospitable places to adopt babies, are named "Madonna" & "Angel-ica" .
They also summarize the machinations of the Clinton, Gates, and Trump Family Foundations.
The last part deals with different strategies and definitions of "Basic Income"

[Sue Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be fair, I only skimmed this, but Ms. Wark has some interesting ideas. I hope politicians will read this book and at least consider it.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant and mind-shattering perspective. Raventós cuts through all the BS we've been indoctrinated with and exposes just how screwed up our current practices of charity are.

[maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautiful prose for political theory. Very correct charity is business not a gift through and through