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Most of us just want to enjoy life. For the vast majority of Americans this does not involve becoming rich, enjoyment comes from family and the time we spend to

Most of us just want to enjoy life. For the vast majority of Americans this does not involve becoming rich, enjoyment comes from family and the time we spend together, it's not about fancy degrees and nice material things. There will always be an ebb and flow of opportunity, sometimes there is enough opportunity that a larger than average number of American families earn large disposable incomes, those are great times. Just remember that we are still very religious and are brought up from a young age to be happy with what you have, not upset about what you don't have.

happytoexplain 7y ago
>we are still very religious and are brought up from a young age to be happy with what you have, not upset about what you don't have In my personal experience, this teaching is just as prominent in non-religious upbringings, perhaps even more so.
- satisfaction 7y ago
  That is great, but don't forget that organized dogmatic religions is where many of those lessons started. I'm happy that some of the core positive tenants of religions (that have historically fueled some of humanities worst atrocities) have migrated to being simply accepted as part of humanity and not always tied back to religion.
jakearmitage 7y ago
Precisely. Everyone here mentions money first. They take the security and happiness of their loved ones for granted.
- c0nducktr 7y ago
  I resent you implying that I take my loved ones for granted. Providing for them is the only reason I'm so concerned about the money I earn.
  - satisfaction 7y ago
    Think they were implying that the security and happiness are not guaranteed by money, sometimes it's the opposite. I don't think you made a charitable interpretation of their statements.
    - c0nducktr 7y ago
      I think it's a stretch to get from what they wrote to what you're suggesting, but maybe I just didn't pick up on the context. There's a continuing destruction of social safety nets in America, and it appears ensuring you have enough money is the only way to even hope to provide your family with security. I'm not upset about the amount of wealth I have. I'm upset with the amount of wealth I need to make sure my parents are taken care of.

happytoexplain 7y ago

>we are still very religious and are brought up from a young age to be happy with what you have, not upset about what you don't have In my personal experience, this teaching is just as prominent in non-religious upbringings, perhaps even more so.

satisfaction 7y ago
That is great, but don't forget that organized dogmatic religions is where many of those lessons started. I'm happy that some of the core positive tenants of religions (that have historically fueled some of humanities worst atrocities) have migrated to being simply accepted as part of humanity and not always tied back to religion.

jakearmitage 7y ago

Precisely. Everyone here mentions money first. They take the security and happiness of their loved ones for granted.

c0nducktr 7y ago
I resent you implying that I take my loved ones for granted. Providing for them is the only reason I'm so concerned about the money I earn.
- satisfaction 7y ago
  Think they were implying that the security and happiness are not guaranteed by money, sometimes it's the opposite. I don't think you made a charitable interpretation of their statements.
  - c0nducktr 7y ago
    I think it's a stretch to get from what they wrote to what you're suggesting, but maybe I just didn't pick up on the context. There's a continuing destruction of social safety nets in America, and it appears ensuring you have enough money is the only way to even hope to provide your family with security. I'm not upset about the amount of wealth I have. I'm upset with the amount of wealth I need to make sure my parents are taken care of.