4 ms·

Throughout most of North American history post-Columbus, sure. The rest of history was what we developed world moderns would call grinding poverty for most peop

Throughout most of North American history post-Columbus, sure. The rest of history was what we developed world moderns would call grinding poverty for most people at most times. And the only reason peasants had land (when they did actually own land) is because it was their source of sustenance. It wasn’t the place for idleness that land is for most people in the developed world.

harimau777 8y ago
Your average person certainly had less wealth in the past, but it seems to me that they had more independence which is what, at least for me, a home represents. It seems to me that the social contract implicit in the industrial revolution was that average people gave up some independence (e.g. by being managed in factories rather than being artisans or farmers) in exchange for material prosperity. Now that the material prosperity side of that bargain is breaking down, it's understandable that people are upset. I don't think the fact that peasants supported themselves through farming is directly relevant since we are talking about where people live not how they work. That is, the fact that they also used their land for their livelihood does not change the fact that they also lived there.
- toasterlovin 8y ago
  Are you familiar with how feudal economies worked? People were restricted in feudal economies in a way that we would find horrifying. Peasants were legally bound to the land they were born on. As in, they were not allowed to leave unless their the lord they were bound to approved. The industrial revolution was a weird time. Our ability to make stuff vastly outstripped population growth. And there was an entire continent (North America) that excess Europeans and Americans could move to. That process is done. Now we’re back to the perpetual grind.

4 ms·

Throughout most of North American history post-Columbus, sure. The rest of history was what we developed world moderns would call grinding poverty for most peop

by toasterlovin 8y ago

harimau777 8y ago
Your average person certainly had less wealth in the past, but it seems to me that they had more independence which is what, at least for me, a home represents. It seems to me that the social contract implicit in the industrial revolution was that average people gave up some independence (e.g. by being managed in factories rather than being artisans or farmers) in exchange for material prosperity. Now that the material prosperity side of that bargain is breaking down, it's understandable that people are upset. I don't think the fact that peasants supported themselves through farming is directly relevant since we are talking about where people live not how they work. That is, the fact that they also used their land for their livelihood does not change the fact that they also lived there.
- toasterlovin 8y ago
  Are you familiar with how feudal economies worked? People were restricted in feudal economies in a way that we would find horrifying. Peasants were legally bound to the land they were born on. As in, they were not allowed to leave unless their the lord they were bound to approved. The industrial revolution was a weird time. Our ability to make stuff vastly outstripped population growth. And there was an entire continent (North America) that excess Europeans and Americans could move to. That process is done. Now we’re back to the perpetual grind.