trevster2k
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2001
- Messages
- 4,330
There have been some threads which have touched on poverty and fair trade. So this got me to thinking about standards of living and how it has evolved over the past few decades.
What is an acceptable standard of living for people in western society?
1 car vs 2 cars vs no car
1 20' tv vs 1 32' tv vs 2-4 tvs vs 50' plasma in every room
basic stove and fridge vs stainless steel everything in the kitchen
1 computer vs a smart house
1 cup of instant coffee at home vs 3 visits to Starbucks each day
basic 3 bedroom bungalow vs 15000 sq foot mansion
My point is that what do we need to be comfortable in society? I am 37 and find myself remembering the "when I was your age" stories compared to today. It freaks me out. Comfort has gone from the basics to luxuries in my view although some may argue they are necessities. Wealth used to be displayed by having some nice things but now it seems wealth is displayed in an obscene condescending manner. As a kid, a comfort for me was knowing that when I got home, my mom was there. That is a luxury item in today's world, I think some children grow up today spending less time with their parents than other adults. I see commercials every day encouraging me to purchase a $2000 television, WTF? Or when did a 3-$400 product like an IPOD or cell phone start being considered disposable by many? For that matter, how did children start playing with toys valued in the hundreds of dollars?
As parts of the Third World gain ground on industrialized nations, it appears that we continue to strive keep the gap whether intentionally or not. How did we go from a society where one person could comfortably support a family on one salary to one where two working parents can just get by, have no savings for the future and have huge debt. Have our expectations of an acceptable comfort level changed for the better or for the worse? Is this sustainable? What are the possible consequences? Keeping up the with the Joneses is definitely a mantra alive and well in the 21st Century.
Hmmm, moment over.
What is an acceptable standard of living for people in western society?
1 car vs 2 cars vs no car
1 20' tv vs 1 32' tv vs 2-4 tvs vs 50' plasma in every room
basic stove and fridge vs stainless steel everything in the kitchen
1 computer vs a smart house
1 cup of instant coffee at home vs 3 visits to Starbucks each day
basic 3 bedroom bungalow vs 15000 sq foot mansion
My point is that what do we need to be comfortable in society? I am 37 and find myself remembering the "when I was your age" stories compared to today. It freaks me out. Comfort has gone from the basics to luxuries in my view although some may argue they are necessities. Wealth used to be displayed by having some nice things but now it seems wealth is displayed in an obscene condescending manner. As a kid, a comfort for me was knowing that when I got home, my mom was there. That is a luxury item in today's world, I think some children grow up today spending less time with their parents than other adults. I see commercials every day encouraging me to purchase a $2000 television, WTF? Or when did a 3-$400 product like an IPOD or cell phone start being considered disposable by many? For that matter, how did children start playing with toys valued in the hundreds of dollars?
As parts of the Third World gain ground on industrialized nations, it appears that we continue to strive keep the gap whether intentionally or not. How did we go from a society where one person could comfortably support a family on one salary to one where two working parents can just get by, have no savings for the future and have huge debt. Have our expectations of an acceptable comfort level changed for the better or for the worse? Is this sustainable? What are the possible consequences? Keeping up the with the Joneses is definitely a mantra alive and well in the 21st Century.
Hmmm, moment over.
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