I agree with you. What we need to do, is get rid of all the -isms, except Capitalism, for the time being. Money is the one thing that almost everyone understands and agrees on. There is nothimg wrong with wanting a better life for yourself and your family. Money is also an inducement and motivational force. You have admitted that you are greedy, however. We all need to know when enough is enough. People with money really need to ask themselves if what they are spending their money on, is necessary and/or damaging the planet. Should we not change our society to a sustainable one, your money will not be worth anything, and everyone's life will be worse, including yours. Once you have enough money, you really need to ask, how can I use the extra money to make the world a better place for all, instead of wasting it on luxury items and lifestyles?
My ideal for a luxury lifestyle would be to have a new Mustang, a nice, non-defective house with space for my children and some gardening, health care, good food, new clothes that fit, financial security and enough spare time to enjoy it all with my husband. Maybe go on vacation once or twice a year, take the kids to see a foreign country, provide them with education and proper care. I don't really see that as a waste of my money. I'm fine with my one bedroom apartment in ghetto-ville and my 17 year old rust bucket, but when I get the money to get that decent house, you bet I'll be getting it. Like I said, I'm greedy.
Let's see. The Mustang, the metals are recyclable so are all right. But how many plastics are used in it's manufacture? How much energy was used to produce it? Where did that energy come from? It runs on petroleum, and most of the petroleum reserves will be used up in only 40 years. What about the road you are going to drive on? More energy to build and maintain. Probably coated in asphault, another petroleum product. Most of our roads need to be re-built every 15 to 40 years. The house, again how many plastics
used in its manufacture? Asphault roof? If it is wood frame, that's all right, unless there's too many people depleting
forest reserves. Heating, air conditioning, electricity, where does all this energy come from? How are you (and your family) going to get to work, school, shopping, doctor, etc.? Walk? Gardening is fine, but many gardeners end up spreading exotic and invasive plant species, simply because they thought they looked pretty and/or are easy to grow. You could put the same time, effort and expense into growing edible foods (fruits, vegetables and herbs) instead, because we do not have any more arable agricultural land left, without destroying the last little bit of more or less intact ecosystems. Plus, modern agriculture is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. New clothes, check the labels to see if they contain plastics (polyester, nylon, rayon, dacron, etc.). I recently read an article that found that every time we do our laundry with these plastic clothes, we release 1900 particles per garment of microplastics into the environment.
Welfare is not the answer. We need to start building sustainable communities now, so that you and your kid can enjoy a good life comparable to the one you envisioned in at least the important aspects of life.
Is it normal to believe capitalism cannot work because of the people?
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I agree with you. What we need to do, is get rid of all the -isms, except Capitalism, for the time being. Money is the one thing that almost everyone understands and agrees on. There is nothimg wrong with wanting a better life for yourself and your family. Money is also an inducement and motivational force. You have admitted that you are greedy, however. We all need to know when enough is enough. People with money really need to ask themselves if what they are spending their money on, is necessary and/or damaging the planet. Should we not change our society to a sustainable one, your money will not be worth anything, and everyone's life will be worse, including yours. Once you have enough money, you really need to ask, how can I use the extra money to make the world a better place for all, instead of wasting it on luxury items and lifestyles?
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NeuroNeptunian
11 years ago
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What do you consider to be a luxury lifestyle?
My ideal for a luxury lifestyle would be to have a new Mustang, a nice, non-defective house with space for my children and some gardening, health care, good food, new clothes that fit, financial security and enough spare time to enjoy it all with my husband. Maybe go on vacation once or twice a year, take the kids to see a foreign country, provide them with education and proper care. I don't really see that as a waste of my money. I'm fine with my one bedroom apartment in ghetto-ville and my 17 year old rust bucket, but when I get the money to get that decent house, you bet I'll be getting it. Like I said, I'm greedy.
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suckonthis9
11 years ago
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Let's see. The Mustang, the metals are recyclable so are all right. But how many plastics are used in it's manufacture? How much energy was used to produce it? Where did that energy come from? It runs on petroleum, and most of the petroleum reserves will be used up in only 40 years. What about the road you are going to drive on? More energy to build and maintain. Probably coated in asphault, another petroleum product. Most of our roads need to be re-built every 15 to 40 years. The house, again how many plastics
used in its manufacture? Asphault roof? If it is wood frame, that's all right, unless there's too many people depleting
forest reserves. Heating, air conditioning, electricity, where does all this energy come from? How are you (and your family) going to get to work, school, shopping, doctor, etc.? Walk? Gardening is fine, but many gardeners end up spreading exotic and invasive plant species, simply because they thought they looked pretty and/or are easy to grow. You could put the same time, effort and expense into growing edible foods (fruits, vegetables and herbs) instead, because we do not have any more arable agricultural land left, without destroying the last little bit of more or less intact ecosystems. Plus, modern agriculture is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. New clothes, check the labels to see if they contain plastics (polyester, nylon, rayon, dacron, etc.). I recently read an article that found that every time we do our laundry with these plastic clothes, we release 1900 particles per garment of microplastics into the environment.
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/science-environment-16709045" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/science-en...</a> >
How are you going to get to the foreign country? Fly? Jet fuel is another petroleum product (kerosene). Remember, only 40 years left.
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NeuroNeptunian
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...Maybe I'll just get on welfare and sit here for a while. My car uses quite a bit of gas too.
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suckonthis9
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Welfare is not the answer. We need to start building sustainable communities now, so that you and your kid can enjoy a good life comparable to the one you envisioned in at least the important aspects of life.