I really do think that a lot of the current moment is owed to the fact that Americans don't know how rich they actually are or how bad things can be in relative terms.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
I think that has varying degrees of accuracy depending, but in many ways I agree. Writ large, the problem is that Americans have no sense of history and simultaneously have little connection with each other, so they *literally* don't know what goes into making their lives as comfortable as they are.
I was making a general statement but, yes, I agree with you.
I guess my concern is that maybe being insulated and ignorant are inherent to the condition of being comfortable for a certain portion of the population. It's not a comforting thought.
It's not a matter of too little, too much, or entitlement. The system is fundamentally broken. The market has failed to identify which needs are most important, instead expecting people to be happy with endless frivolities.
So let's say, as a thought experiment, that we built a socialist society where everyone who can works 40 hours and is reasonably materially comfortable. What do? Well, for one thing we can work to produce an economy where we all work 32 hours, giving us one more day to pursue love and contentment.
We can work with the surplus of labor we have to find ways to expand that so that we can independently direct our labor to things we love, which create that contentment. We can also communally direct it to things that benefit everyone.
Ok, that's where I thought you were going. That's far deeper discussion than I'm into this evening.
But, in general, I'm here for it. I just don't see any clear way to achieve that or understand how it will happen insofar as the biggest problem with any system is people being people.
Comments
I guess my concern is that maybe being insulated and ignorant are inherent to the condition of being comfortable for a certain portion of the population. It's not a comforting thought.
The goal of the economy of to fulfill human desires. If we have infinite wealth, but no one's content, we've squandered it all.
What type economy would fulfill human desires?
Money can't buy personal contentment, love, etc, etc, but all things considered, I'd rather be fat and unhappy than starving and unhappy.
But, in general, I'm here for it. I just don't see any clear way to achieve that or understand how it will happen insofar as the biggest problem with any system is people being people.