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My very good friend "Robert" Lin has just returned home to Bejing
China (where he was born and raised) for a vacation.

I spoke to him on the phone today (I love direct dial). I am going to
repeat what he told me, "Everyone has become much more Capitalized."

Now he didn't mean in the literal sense that people have somehow
managed to increase their networth. He means that people there, much
more than before, (he was last home about 3 years ago,) are interested
and focused on "making money."

I take that as a good sign. In extropian terms "Robert's" miss-speak
maybe, on some meta level, literally true. Part of Extropianism is a
overall belief in ourselves and in our ability to take care of
ourselves without the need for actual parents to take care of us. Nor
the need for virtual "parents" in the form of a government. Also the
willingness to strive for our well being in a market based system;
rather then use "force" to steal for our needs.

If folks in Bejing China are more interested in earning money,
achiving things for themselves and their families that may have in
some sense increased their own sense of self worth. In this sense they
have in fact increased their own "capitalization" They have increased
that part of themselves that allows them to succeed in a free market
economy.

I think in fact we need a NEW word for the type of MEME or MEME
Complex that allows a person to focus upon and to work towards life in
an increasingly market driven economy. I propose selfcapitalization
should be that word. Any thoughts??? 

RFD -- Follow up to extropians@gnu.ai.mit

/Harry

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