Materialism vs. Non-M.

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Been thinking on this. I don't think anyone would necessarily be the trash collector or the crime scene cleaner without compensation of some type. If it isn't money, fine, but if I spent my time cleaning up at the hospital who is gathering or planting my food or making my clothing? There will always be trades of some kind. Is it so wrong that there is a standard unit expendable all over one country?

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Answers

I am not sure that I am understanding what people are calling materialistic. Of course we need money and wages and fair compensation for work done and goods sold. My objections to consumerism is the blatant excesses that I see all over when so much of the rest of the world barely has shelter and food. I think the real question should be what is enough.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2001

That is exactly the point Diane!!!!!! PERFECT. I will go as far as calling mindless consumpion a crime against humanity's future!! I really don't care about who makes the most money, but if your rich, please don't use up all the earth's resources. Just take what you need......Kirk

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2001

Human nature is in itself materialistic. Thats why we treasure things or concepts ,have personal values and prioritize them with material evidence or the lack of it.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

This is one of my pet peeves. We like to say this is a "consumer" society. I think its more apt to call it a consumption society. In a "consumer" society, you'd think efforts would be made to structure the society in a way that would be actually good for the consumer. Unless you equate providing more choices and creating more essentially useless junk with planned obsolescence built in as "good" for the consumer I'd have to say we're failing in that endeavor.

The animal component of our being requires "stuff" to survive. The creative component of our being requires "stuff" to create. I think money is essential as a medium of exchange but the bottom line, IMO, is how much is enough? Ghandi said there's enuf in this world to satisfy every persons need but not enuf to satisy every persons greed. Sounds right to me.

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001


Here's one to burn your butt. A chain of stores here in Canada uses the slogan "Shopping Is Good!" ARGH!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001


Check this one out: http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/

Imagine! The big networks refused to air an ad exhorting us NOT to buy anything! >:-{

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001


Got to Love it Joy. I have been a part of a national day for years and didn't even know it!!! ;>) thanks for the link

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001

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