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This isn't uniquely American, but obsession with wealth accumulation as an individual is. I don't think this applies to all Americans at all, but it is just mir

by bgnn 1y ago

This isn't uniquely American, but obsession with wealth accumulation as an individual is. I don't think this applies to all Americans at all, but it is just mire commonly accepted than other cultures.

ativzzz 1y ago
Wealth is freedom. One of the core tenets of Americanism is "freedom", in quotes because most of us are far from free, just different from "freedom" in monarchical/feudalistic societies. We are bound to the accumulation of wealth. However, some of us are able to break free. Software engineering for instance is a profession that allows this. It doesn't require the full commitment of your life to attain wealth, like finance or law or medicine for someone who has some intelligence and drive.
- yfw 1y ago
  There is no freedom. Everyone lives on earth. Despite all the billionaires building bunkers might think otherwise. Microplastic pollution and global warming will kill everyone.
- bgnn 1y ago
  Wealth providing freedom is not an objective fact. It depends on your philosophical standpoint. I know a lot of people who would rather live cheap and small and be creative (as in arts). What you describe is for them wasting your potential to create. In certain cultures a stable job (like being government employee) is the ultimate freedom because you know how will you live, even in your retirement, no matter what. Some cultures like Japan and Korea extended this to private sector. But at the end, is it really freedom what people seek, or is it stability and safety for future? This is why people gave away their freedom in transition to feudalism in history. At the end if the day, how free are you if you are from one economic downturn or one costly disease away from losing it all?
xrhobo 1y ago
It is very deep in American culture. I think this sums it up when Tocqueville was talking about America not having a true aristocratic class, circa 1830s “In a democracy private citizens see a man of their own rank in life who becomes possessed of riches and power in a few years; this spectacle excites their surprise and envy, and they are led to inquire how the person who was yesterday very equal is today their ruler. ” ― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America In 21st century America, the internet and social media has poured huge amounts of gas on this fire that was already burning quite hot for a long time. Even in my own lifetime, the character Gordon Gekko in the movie Wallstreet has gone from a villain to pretty much the aspiration and hero of most high school seniors. Greed is good, greed make number go up.

by bgnn 1y ago

ativzzz 1y ago

Wealth is freedom. One of the core tenets of Americanism is "freedom", in quotes because most of us are far from free, just different from "freedom" in monarchical/feudalistic societies. We are bound to the accumulation of wealth. However, some of us are able to break free. Software engineering for instance is a profession that allows this. It doesn't require the full commitment of your life to attain wealth, like finance or law or medicine for someone who has some intelligence and drive.

yfw 1y ago
There is no freedom. Everyone lives on earth. Despite all the billionaires building bunkers might think otherwise. Microplastic pollution and global warming will kill everyone.
bgnn 1y ago
Wealth providing freedom is not an objective fact. It depends on your philosophical standpoint. I know a lot of people who would rather live cheap and small and be creative (as in arts). What you describe is for them wasting your potential to create. In certain cultures a stable job (like being government employee) is the ultimate freedom because you know how will you live, even in your retirement, no matter what. Some cultures like Japan and Korea extended this to private sector. But at the end, is it really freedom what people seek, or is it stability and safety for future? This is why people gave away their freedom in transition to feudalism in history. At the end if the day, how free are you if you are from one economic downturn or one costly disease away from losing it all?

xrhobo 1y ago

It is very deep in American culture. I think this sums it up when Tocqueville was talking about America not having a true aristocratic class, circa 1830s “In a democracy private citizens see a man of their own rank in life who becomes possessed of riches and power in a few years; this spectacle excites their surprise and envy, and they are led to inquire how the person who was yesterday very equal is today their ruler. ” ― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America In 21st century America, the internet and social media has poured huge amounts of gas on this fire that was already burning quite hot for a long time. Even in my own lifetime, the character Gordon Gekko in the movie Wallstreet has gone from a villain to pretty much the aspiration and hero of most high school seniors. Greed is good, greed make number go up.