I've been of the opinion that that kind of "freedom" is a sad illusion at best, and a crippling sense of entitlement at worst. Consider your first question: >D

I've been of the opinion that that kind of "freedom" is a sad illusion at best, and a crippling sense of entitlement at worst. Consider your first question: >Does having a mincome stop you from stressing over the guy across the street who has a bigger [house] and a better looking wife? Well, no, however neither does almost anything else. It seems cultural, and is almost certainly psychological. The classic idiom, "the grass is always greener on the other side" illustrates this pretty well. Even with the wealth, whatever form it may take, to get the bigger house, the better looking wife, the whatever problems still arise. The neighbor with the smaller house, with more time for xyz, with a car they don't need to fret over because it cost 1/50 as much as yours. Those aren't notions of freedom, their ideas of competition. Why can't I be /happier/ than the other guy? Freedom comes as much from being able to have a bad day as having a good one.