Here in Britain, black people are disproportionately targeted, arrested and imprisoned for drug offences, while organised and violent crime are granted a massive source of revenue.
A desire for social connection is fundamentally hardwired into our psychology, and so being deprived of it has devastating mental and physical consequences. Yet we live in a society which has become ever more fragmented and atomised.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human beings have an inherent need for social connections, and lacking these can lead to serious consequences for both mental and physical health.
Owen Jones highlights the intrinsic human necessity for social bonds, suggesting that our psychological makeup drives us to seek connections with others. In a modern society that increasingly fractures and isolates individuals, the consequences of social deprivation can be severe, affecting both mental well-being and physical health, thus prompting a reflection on how vital our relationships are for a fulfilling life.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health awareness, one might say, 'As Owen Jones pointed out, our need for social connection is hardwired, and without it, we risk severe consequences.'
More from Owen Jones
All quotes →Neoliberalism has left Britain's boss classes drunk on triumphalism, paying themselves record salaries and bonuses while their workers are imprisoned by poverty and insecurity. It was never going to last.
Socialism is the democratisation of every level of society, or it is nothing. It is based on an understanding that the concentration of wealth and power leaves democracy hollowed out, and that simply trooping to a polling station every few years is an insufficient counterweight to the behemoths of global capital.
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