Poor and Free or Rich and Oppressed?

[Narz]

You can't have both now

I'm not talking about now, I'm talking about the future. You can make me poor but you can't make me stay poor (without being oppressive).

 

[Narz]

What if the whole country was dirt poor? With little or no prospects of you ever moving out of your economic position?

I'd sneak aboard a ship and get out of there!

 

[CaptainF]

I'd sneak aboard a ship and get out of there!

Thats the spirit!

 

[Tee Kay]

poor and free.

If you're rich but your govt is oppressive then the latter would probably take your money for themselves and take you and put you in front of a firing squad.

 

[Lotus49]

This is a piece of cake answer. Just do what my ancestors did - they were the royals of Lithuania (Baltic state, north of Poland & west of Russia). They were naturally wealthy, and under the control of the Russian Empire. Then, when the Russians became more oppressive (the monarch was losing control, and the revolution was coming near), well... they left! Actually only my great-grandfather left (as a 16 y/o), by himself.

The others were content to stay, and ride it out. They were rich, had some power, and didn't want to leave it. Then the USSR emerged shortly thereafter, and who knows what happened to them. Siberia, probably.

But anyway, my great-grandfather (technically an aristocratic prince), came to America with nothing, seeking adventure in the land of opportunity. He learned English, from a sailor, who taught him out of the King James Bible on the trip over. So, he arrived speaking kinda funny.

The US entered WWI, he lied about his age, and fought on the Western front. After armisitce, he met a lady in Germany, married her, and returned to the US, where he lived a prosperous middle-class life (starting with nothing, of course).

So, that's his story. Where are the oppressed royalty, that stayed behind - as the USSR emerged? God only knows.

Obviously oppression leads you into the abyss...

 

[Eukaryote]

Rich and Oppresed, because we would have enough money to form an army of the people and kick out the goverment to create democracy. But if I assume that weren't possible I choose Poor and free.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Okay i'll clarify

In the rich society, you are indeed taking part in the wealth. I'm thinking something along the lines of a paid for house, a stable job, many luxury items, and other nice benefits

The opression is that you have no freedom of speech, you cannot elect your leaders, your communications are bugged (telephone, internet, etc), people can be locked up at the whim of the government without trial or only a show trial but only if you speak out or complain, torture is allowed, and government officials are corrupt.

In the poor society you don't have a stable job, you may not have enough to eat, you might live in a farm or a slum but you can elect your representatives and they are not corrupt or incompetent and you have freedom of expression, right to a fair trial, checks and balances againest governmental abuse, etc

Poor and free for me. I like my freedom's more than I like a big house and a big car.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Rich. What more do I need if I have my gold house, bevy of pageboys and rocket car?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Freedom is just a word. A roof over your head, food on the table, a job, those things are real, and all that people really care about. I pick wealthy and 'oppressed'. Whats the use of 'freedom' if you cant feed yourself or your family, or keep a roof over your heads?

 

[JerichoHill]

This isnt a fair question, since by the very nature of wealth those individuals share in the power, and therefore would not be oppressed

 

[Shaihulud]

An economically prosperous country requires a minimum of social stability, or it won't remain prosperous for very long. That means no rounding up of people, confiscating of assets etc or you will scare away investors and business does not thrive in those conditions. I would rather live in the prosperous but oppressive society, it is a better place for me to leapfrog to more inviting places. Btw i think poor but democratically inclined society are a myth.

 

[Kozmos]

This reminds me about Equilibrium. You can give up emotions and be well of in material terms OR keep your emotions and live in the slums fighting for survival.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Freedom is just a word. A roof over your head, food on the table, a job, those things are real, and all that people really care about. I pick wealthy and 'oppressed'. Whats the use of 'freedom' if you cant feed yourself or your family, or keep a roof over your heads?

What use is money when I would be jailed just for muttering words against the government?

All those saying 'wealthy and oppressed' are effectively saying they would have choosen to be a high up member of the party in the days of the USSR.

 

[Oruc]

easy question wealthy and oppressed, why do I need freedom of speech or be able to elect the leader of the country when I want for nothing.

 

[Souron]

What use is money when I would be jailed just for muttering words against the government?

All those saying 'wealthy and oppressed' are effectively saying they would have choosen to be a high up member of the party in the days of the USSR.

Don't speak out against the government then.

It's a simple arrangement: Food for obedience. You worship the state, you get payed. You don't you go to Siberia.

Though I would hardly call the USSR a wealthy nation back then.

 

[Tycoon101]

Poor and Free. That way I have the chance to get a job and rise through the ranks. Or if I became oppressed I would have the power to fight back. I don't value my wealth as much as I do freedom.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

What use is money when I would be jailed just for muttering words against the government?

If youre a young single guy with no mouths other than youre own to feed, then sure, why not. But picture yourself with a wife and little Comrades to feed. Chances are you wouldnt be able to look them in the face and tell them, "Im going away for a few years, and you guys and mom are going to have to hang tough, because I think its more important that I go to jail for speaking against the government, than staying here with you and providing for you"

All those saying 'wealthy and oppressed' are effectively saying they would have choosen to be a high up member of the party in the days of the USSR.

Well think about it, that wasnt such a bad gig. Cool uniforms, plenty of trips to the decadent West, a nice dacha out in the country with a resident mistress, being driven around Moscow in a big lumbering black limo festooned with flags..you could do alot worse Comrade

 

[Shylock]

The opression is that you have no freedom of speech, you cannot elect your leaders, your communications are bugged (telephone, internet, etc), people can be locked up at the whim of the government without trial or only a show trial but only if you speak out or complain, torture is allowed, and government officials are corrupt.

I missed the part where this stopped being hypothetical.

 

[Kozmos]

with a wife and little Comrades to feed.

For some odd reason I find this really funny.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I assume that by opressed, you mean events similar to Krystallnacht, and thus I am obliged to choose poor and free. Much like the first generation immigrants to the US, I could rest assured that I had done my predecessors good by providing them with a foodhold in which they can grow and move up in the world. That, and I'm not one who feeds on being hated. However, if by opressed you mean Soviet style ( other than the Purge), then I could go for that. It means you probably have some degree of influence in the government, or at least in your district. I mean, who cares if you can't elect you leaders, that's what insurrection is for! That, and also what Bozo had to say about this

Well think about it, that wasnt such a bad gig. Cool uniforms, plenty of trips to the decadent West, a nice dacha out in the country with a resident mistress, being driven around Moscow in a big lumbering black limo festooned with flags..you could do alot worse Comrade