> I get your complaints, but a 9-5 gig (or even an 8-7 one) would be considered a life of leisure and luxury for most of the world for pretty much all of histor

> I get your complaints, but a 9-5 gig (or even an 8-7 one) would be considered a life of leisure and luxury for most of the world for pretty much all of history. In fact, the only time a life you are wishing you had has been common has been in the last 50 years or so in the developed world. I'd say we're pretty damn lucky. I make a comment on the sad state of the system of institutions and expectations that railroads people into a constant cycle of work and debt, and your best response is that "it's better than certain points in history so be thankful"? See, the point isn't that the 'system' we're a part of is unchangeable and eternal (although American politicians may argue otherwise, that it was delivered strait from the heavens along with a KJV Bible and the US Constitution), but that it's something that can be changed, and made better. And that a better pace of life does exist, today, it's real, some people do live it. > That 16+ years of studying your ass off is an investment someone else made in you It's paid forward, but if you pay taxes, raise children, etc..., it's not free; it's not 'given' to you, any more than unemployment benefits are 'given' to someone who pays into the system, or health care is 'given' to someone who pays taxes (or their health care premiums). > If you want to get ahead, instead of thinking you need to out-compete your rivals, I would instead focus on ways to make someone's life significantly better, then figure out how to do it for 10 people, then 1000....see where I'm going with this? You may not see it, but this 'scaling' of your business is an attempt to 'out-compete' your rivals. Anyhow, I'm not complaining about my lot in life, you're right, it's not bad at all (no debt to speak of, good wife, we eat well and have leisure time, school was my choice and I pay for it personally), but merely questioning the direction society is going, and whether or not there's a better alternative. You see, I'm studying economics, and a recurring theme is that consumers make personally rational decisions. In my case, it's a decision to stay here and figure out a way to pay the high cost of living, or figure out a way to pay for a lower cost of living with more leisure time. And along the way, I like to philosophise about the meaning of life, the purpose of economic systems, the financial/banking system, etc...