Introduction to Sociology: The Lorax

Introduction to Sociology: The Lorax

1 & 4

The aspects of capitalism that I personally appreciate are the ideas of a free market and the idea that anybody can bring their goods to the market place. I appreciate the fact that in a capitalistic society, there is the opportunity for people being able to compete in the market with products, letting consumers choose from among the lot that which they think is best for the cost. What I find worrisome is that capitalism can lend itself to unrestrained greed and complete disregard for everything that is external to oneself, as Dr. Seuss shows in The Lorax (jefonty, 2013). The Lorax teaches the zero-sum game paying Once-ler that “unless” the latter “cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” In other words, in order for capitalism to be applied safely in society, individuals and businesses in the marketplace have to show respect for nature, the environment, and each other—otherwise greed and corruption will simply push out whatever good was being accomplished in the first place.

The problem with getting those in power to listen to the message of the Lorax is that the Lorax—the voice of reason (or the voice of concerned citizens)—is very small and those in power are very big, as Domhoff explains (AlternativeViewTV, 2011). In fact, the power structure is organized around a very small, intricately woven group of wealthy elites who would not listen to a Lorax because they are engaged in a zero sum game that will allow them to wield total control and maintain that control so long as they themselves are not harmed. Since the planet is big and wide and resources are abundant (and the ruling class is small in comparison), the members of the power structure assume that they may spread out as they like and continue to operate like the Once-ler without fear of meeting the same fate. They may escape the effects of such a fate as they will be sure not to harm the area in which they live or seek to retire—but others around the world will surely suffer from their exploitative and destructive pursuits of profits before all else. And that is the main danger that Dr. Seuss warns of and that Domhoff outlines in his discussion of the problem of the power structure as it exists today. It exists, Domhoff points out, in order to perpetuate itself.

This is in line with how Schaefer (2009) defines capitalism—as an “economic system in which means of production are held largely in private hands: the main incentive for economic activity is accumulation of profits” (slide 6). Domhoff’s theory of the power structure is that it is centered around a tight-knit ruling class that sits atop a hierarchical system in which the local power structure serves the interests of the national and international power structure. The power structure thinks it is independent of its surroundings, but in reality it is completely dependent upon them but convinces the lower classes that it is they who are actually dependent upon the power structure.

In The Lorax, this theory of power structure can be seen in the way the Lorax attempts to get the Once-ler to listen, but the Lorax is not part of the power structure and thus has no voice. Ironically, the source of the Once-ler’s power is not himself but rather the people and things that the Lorax was attempting to save. This lesson should be impressed upon the current power structure as its power is also dependent upon the people and places that support it. If the people and places stop supporting the power structure and its aims, the structure will crumble, for, as Schaefer (2009) points out, the profits will disappear and there will be no way for the power structure to maintain its influence and system.

References

AlternativeViewTV. (2011). Who Rules United States of America? (1987) Part 1 of 2. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUQaNJILTdg

jefonty. (2013). The Lorax. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V06ZOQuo0k
Schaefer, R. (2009). Sociology, 12th edition. NY: McGraw-Hill.