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- Apr 7, 2013
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I really didn't know where to put this, but I also felt that it could get lost, but I find the question important.
After I spent some time with family (in-laws) I hadn't been around in several years at the beach this weekend it got me thinking. Of course, the discussion landed on politics late at night when everyone was liquored up and emboldened.
I think people have politics and culture completely intertwined to the point we don't know why are as fucked up as were as as a country now.
To me, it isn't who the damn President is. It is that we have lost our way as a society. I know that sounds contrived, but I completely believe it.
I stumbled upon this documentary which is fascinating and speaks a lot to me why "my" generation, one that was hitting the work force in the mid-1980s now have got us to this point. Money and greed has been a huge part of our culture. It doesn't matter from whom, those that have money want to keep it, some that don't have it will do whatever it takes to get it, those that can't afford it will still spend above and beyond their means. But literally and figuratively.
The trailer doesn't do it justice. It makes it seem sort of whiney but when you get into it, there are some important points being made.
A big one is the fact that in 1971, the dollar stopped being backed by gold and we became a consumer-driven society.
And then our culture in the 1980s shifted into this borrow first, people "made money" for themselves and made their children materialistic, perverting the spirit of capitalism as it developed over earlier generations. We became about status. It doesn't matter if you are in debt to your ass, you could still show off money.
One of the Hedge Fund fake money guys nailed it "if you give out money at no cost, to hundreds of millions world-wide, they are going to do stupid things with it".
I am interested to hear some thoughts.
After I spent some time with family (in-laws) I hadn't been around in several years at the beach this weekend it got me thinking. Of course, the discussion landed on politics late at night when everyone was liquored up and emboldened.
I think people have politics and culture completely intertwined to the point we don't know why are as fucked up as were as as a country now.
To me, it isn't who the damn President is. It is that we have lost our way as a society. I know that sounds contrived, but I completely believe it.
I stumbled upon this documentary which is fascinating and speaks a lot to me why "my" generation, one that was hitting the work force in the mid-1980s now have got us to this point. Money and greed has been a huge part of our culture. It doesn't matter from whom, those that have money want to keep it, some that don't have it will do whatever it takes to get it, those that can't afford it will still spend above and beyond their means. But literally and figuratively.
The trailer doesn't do it justice. It makes it seem sort of whiney but when you get into it, there are some important points being made.
A big one is the fact that in 1971, the dollar stopped being backed by gold and we became a consumer-driven society.
And then our culture in the 1980s shifted into this borrow first, people "made money" for themselves and made their children materialistic, perverting the spirit of capitalism as it developed over earlier generations. We became about status. It doesn't matter if you are in debt to your ass, you could still show off money.
One of the Hedge Fund fake money guys nailed it "if you give out money at no cost, to hundreds of millions world-wide, they are going to do stupid things with it".
I am interested to hear some thoughts.