How do you define "social justice" and "The Common Good"?

[OneGrassRoot]

I'm working on a project in response to the right-wing assault on language, triggered by the attack on words like "empathy," "compassion," "social justice" and "The Common Good."

The Glenn Becks of the world like to equate most of these words with "isms" -- communism, fascism, socialism (in their world, all the "isms" are lumped together, so it seems), not really understanding the meaning of ANY of the words being thrown around so carelessly.

I'm not interested in the viability of these ideas being implemented in today's world, nor how politically they can or cannot be implemented. I'm focused on the meanings themselves and how the meanings have been corrupted and/or co-opted.

I'm trying to get down to the basics of the words "progressive," "liberal," "conservative," etc., separate from the rhetoric, emotionality and hate mongering that have come to be associated with them.

Most of the words are easy to find clear definitions for; social justice and The Common Good aren't, so I'm curious what your definition would be.

Wikipedia has a good article on the origins of the phrase "social justice"; oh the irony of how the Christian Right has maligned the phrase... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice

Thanks! :hi:


P.S. If you care to share specific links of how the words have been corrupted, especially over the last two years since Palin entered the scene, I'd be most grateful. I've been researching the Fox News crowd at mediamatters.org until I'm now physically ill gathering examples...not sure I can dive into the Palin and Bachmann examples...:eyes:

[dkf]

1. I would define the common good as something many people must pay for as everyone uses it.

Social justice to me means being paid a living wage. But I don't believe it is Governments role to redistribute wealth. That is where I draw the line.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Thank you, dkf :)

:hi:

[annabanana]

3. The phrase "Goo-Goo Types" to mean those who are serious about

GOOd GOvernment is illustrative of the open contempt which is a deliberate tactic meant to demean and discourage those who would improve the system.

Another instance of this open contempt (the first time I noticed it) is when Cheney wore a parka to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. I've honestly never heard of "goo-goo" types!

That's a new one for me!

But you're right. It's an open attempt to discourage those who choose to improve life (for more than the top 1%) and make progress.

It's an open attempt to discourage EVOLUTION.

:(

[Toots]

4. Social justice. = Drones in Pakistan Common Good = Drones in Pakistan

Kill everything that moves, it is the American way...

[asdjrocky]

5. I'm not a religious guy, but I always go to Matt 25 on how to treat people.

I'm working on the rest. K&R for attention.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. :)

:pals:

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. They'll work and work and work to demonize anything not allowing them to make every decision

and to have total control.

:shrug:

I note that (from what little I know of it), the Jewish Mystics say that two EQUAL parts of the nature of the Universe, are justice and compassion. Without it being equal, both fail. I'd say that any common good must include equal measures of these, and as Republicanism is all about selfishness to the hideous extreme, they won't be able to deal with "compassion".

I would enjoy seeing them working to demonize compassion, so let's wave it in front of them and see if they bite :rofl:

And in general, the "common good" can be said to also exhibit "inclusion, integrity, honesty, equality, truthfulness", and other previously fictional characteristics which now must take center stage.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. I love this...

"Any common good must have equal measures of justice and compassion."

Thank you! :hi:

:hug:

[Romulox]

10. The "common good" is something that just magically happens when you give corporations what they want

-"Third Way" Democrat

[Lyric]

11. "Social justice" = government of the people stepping up to reduce income inequality

and economic unfairness.

"The common good" = Things that are for the benefit of the public

[asdjrocky]

12. kick for more discussion

[Tsiyu]

13. The idea of "Big Government" is the key to the beginning of

cuts to important programs.

Government that helped the poor was referred to as "Big Government" - big as in unwieldy, bloated, sucking resources, overly intrusive and oppressive.

The social programs that fought - and began to conquer - hunger, illiteracy, homelessness, poverty and injustice were defunded, because they were denigrated during the Reagan /Bush years as fluffy, do-no-good, enabling expenses that hard-working Americans were forced to pay.

We are not supposed to care about each other. We are supposed to be rugged individualists, each loading up our wagons every day to cross the Prairie, hoping the ox doesn't give out and the kids don't fall out and terrorized by Injuns and if we end up just bones bleaching in the sun, gawd didn't love us sinners and we deserved it.

It's not the model of any known surviving - and thriving - culture, nor is it in any way consistent with any of the teachings of the major religions, but it works for America, by gawd.

We're all jess cowboys, ridin' the range, fightin' the outlaws, bein' all Rugged and Individual :(

[OneGrassRoot]

14. I'm having a great discussion about this now...

on Facebook. It started with me asking what people think of the phrase "political correctness," which the Juan Williams' issue has brought front and center again as a talking point.

I hear you, Tsiyu...I hear you. :hug: :(

(If anyone is on FB and wants to be friends, please PM me. :hi:)