5 ms·

Isn't that a good thing?

pbhjpbhj 9y ago
Sounds like overestimating your worth to society; which to me is likely to lead to arrogance and irresponsible financial behaviour, at least.
- dominotw 9y ago
  also could be a sign of drive and passion to make it. I would take that over being defeated and complacent. I lived in soviet block as a kid and everyone had this defeated attitude which is such a contrast to american optimism. Although, things are changing in America now, more and more people feel hopeless and defeated here too.
  - pbhjpbhj 9y ago
    It's not defeatist to be realistic about who you are, to make the most of resources you can afford, we need much more of that if we're not going to implode with pressures from overpopulation. Do you know the tale of the Ant & the Grasshopper? If you 'make it' (produce something that brings great worth to society) first then you're welcome, IMO, to use a little more than your fair share of resources. You don't get to do it the other way around as the majority of Western society appears to be doing (other regions maybe are too, I don't have an informed view on them).
deleted 9y ago
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delecti 9y ago
It would be good if it were true. Obviously it would be great if somehow everyone could live as comfortably as the rich (ignoring that it wouldn't be possible for a variety of reasons). The problem is that it's not true. A majority will never be rich, and a disappointingly high number of people will only ever barely scrape by.
- dominotw 9y ago
  It doens't matter if you become a millionaire or not. Life driven by hope and passion is much more enjoyable than one without one.
  - gech 9y ago
    Ah yes, we should have people lying to themselves.
    - dominotw 9y ago
      > A majority will never be rich Do you really think most people are unaware of this basic fact?
      - ryandrake 9y ago
        It looks like at least 39% are.
    - ImSkeptical 9y ago
      That's a cynical way to put it. A more positive spin on the same idea would be that we encourage ambition and hope for the future. If my child wants to be a billionaire, should I say "Sweetie, you probably won't be a billionaire, so don't get your hopes up." Or should I say "it'll be tough, almost impossible, you'll need to work hard, study hard, be smart, etc."? I know which lesson I'd prefer to give.
      - graedus 9y ago
        So a basic problem arises when this belief causes people to vote against their interests for policies that benefit the actually-rich to their own (incorrectly expecting that they will be rich next year) detriment. Tax cuts for the rich and for corporations, dismantling programs that benefit the poor and middle class, defunding various public institutions, etc. It's fine to strive to achieve as much as possible and earn a bunch of money, but the core of the issue highlighted by that quote about "temporarily embarrassed millionaires" is a sort of class-affinity with the rich that is unwarranted for most people.

Sounds like overestimating your worth to society; which to me is likely to lead to arrogance and irresponsible financial behaviour, at least.

dominotw 9y ago
also could be a sign of drive and passion to make it. I would take that over being defeated and complacent. I lived in soviet block as a kid and everyone had this defeated attitude which is such a contrast to american optimism. Although, things are changing in America now, more and more people feel hopeless and defeated here too.
- pbhjpbhj 9y ago
  It's not defeatist to be realistic about who you are, to make the most of resources you can afford, we need much more of that if we're not going to implode with pressures from overpopulation. Do you know the tale of the Ant & the Grasshopper? If you 'make it' (produce something that brings great worth to society) first then you're welcome, IMO, to use a little more than your fair share of resources. You don't get to do it the other way around as the majority of Western society appears to be doing (other regions maybe are too, I don't have an informed view on them).

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

delecti 9y ago

It would be good if it were true. Obviously it would be great if somehow everyone could live as comfortably as the rich (ignoring that it wouldn't be possible for a variety of reasons). The problem is that it's not true. A majority will never be rich, and a disappointingly high number of people will only ever barely scrape by.

dominotw 9y ago
It doens't matter if you become a millionaire or not. Life driven by hope and passion is much more enjoyable than one without one.
- gech 9y ago
  Ah yes, we should have people lying to themselves.
  - dominotw 9y ago
    > A majority will never be rich Do you really think most people are unaware of this basic fact?
    - ryandrake 9y ago
      It looks like at least 39% are.
  - ImSkeptical 9y ago
    That's a cynical way to put it. A more positive spin on the same idea would be that we encourage ambition and hope for the future. If my child wants to be a billionaire, should I say "Sweetie, you probably won't be a billionaire, so don't get your hopes up." Or should I say "it'll be tough, almost impossible, you'll need to work hard, study hard, be smart, etc."? I know which lesson I'd prefer to give.
    - graedus 9y ago
      So a basic problem arises when this belief causes people to vote against their interests for policies that benefit the actually-rich to their own (incorrectly expecting that they will be rich next year) detriment. Tax cuts for the rich and for corporations, dismantling programs that benefit the poor and middle class, defunding various public institutions, etc. It's fine to strive to achieve as much as possible and earn a bunch of money, but the core of the issue highlighted by that quote about "temporarily embarrassed millionaires" is a sort of class-affinity with the rich that is unwarranted for most people.