4 ms·

Economics is the new god, the god of materialism. At some point in the 20th century we decided that material prosperity is really all you need for a happy and h

Economics is the new god, the god of materialism. At some point in the 20th century we decided that material prosperity is really all you need for a happy and healthy society. Doesn’t seem to be working out so well…

paulryanrogers 5y ago
By what measure? (Not sure I disagree just curious)
- jkhdigital 5y ago
  It's a good and fair question, and of course I'm going to dodge it because I wasn't prepared to defend my statement. Probably should have ended with a rhetorical question instead.
- BLKNSLVR 5y ago
  If I may attempt to answer it: Because it works for politicians, and the line of people behind the politicians with their left hands offering $X and their right hands demanding special treatment worth 100x$X.
  - bosie 5y ago
    whats the measure here?
handmodel 5y ago
I never get what motivates people to blame the system here. If you have 150k in the bank you could go to a remote place in the US, take a lowkey job where you work 25 hours a week, and live perfectly fine. No one is stopping you. The only reason you don't do this is because you like nice things, nice food cooked for you, nice immenities, and want your kids to have material prosperity.
- xnxn 5y ago
  I just cut out avocado toast and now I'm well on my way to 150k!
  - kaybe 5y ago
    How much is an avocado in the US?
    - vorpalhex 5y ago
      About $0.60 for a small one, up to $1.20 for a large one. Parent is referencing this joke: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/avocado-toast https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/avocado-toast
- jlongr 5y ago
  You're making some very large assumptions about the reader's circumstances and motivations: >you have 150k in the bank >no one is stopping you >the only reason you don't... Overall I think your response is not convincing. The problems of materialism are systemic because materialism is baked into the culture and institutions of the US. People are thus motivated to blame the system.
- Sophistifunk 5y ago
  Do you have any idea how few people have $150k in the bank?

paulryanrogers 5y ago

By what measure? (Not sure I disagree just curious)

jkhdigital 5y ago
It's a good and fair question, and of course I'm going to dodge it because I wasn't prepared to defend my statement. Probably should have ended with a rhetorical question instead.
BLKNSLVR 5y ago
If I may attempt to answer it: Because it works for politicians, and the line of people behind the politicians with their left hands offering $X and their right hands demanding special treatment worth 100x$X.
- bosie 5y ago
  whats the measure here?

handmodel 5y ago

I never get what motivates people to blame the system here. If you have 150k in the bank you could go to a remote place in the US, take a lowkey job where you work 25 hours a week, and live perfectly fine. No one is stopping you. The only reason you don't do this is because you like nice things, nice food cooked for you, nice immenities, and want your kids to have material prosperity.

xnxn 5y ago
I just cut out avocado toast and now I'm well on my way to 150k!
- kaybe 5y ago
  How much is an avocado in the US?
  - vorpalhex 5y ago
    About $0.60 for a small one, up to $1.20 for a large one. Parent is referencing this joke: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/avocado-toast https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/avocado-toast
jlongr 5y ago
You're making some very large assumptions about the reader's circumstances and motivations: >you have 150k in the bank >no one is stopping you >the only reason you don't... Overall I think your response is not convincing. The problems of materialism are systemic because materialism is baked into the culture and institutions of the US. People are thus motivated to blame the system.
Sophistifunk 5y ago
Do you have any idea how few people have $150k in the bank?