Materialism and Greed are Killing Us

[Captdon]

If we make more, we can sell more and profit from it as in the industrial revolution. The problem today is that the minority who are wealthy don’t make that money from producing, they make it from speculating and buying what is already available and making a profit from that. I’m not trying to pick on Trump (well, a bit), but Trump never produced anything in his life. He made his money from land purchase and all his other various business ventures went bankrupt. Bernie is another example of someone who last worked I believe around 1980 and became a millionaire from the public purse. Soros made his wealth from speculation, Pelosi’s husband from venture capitalism … None of these people ever produced anything, but are held up as examples of success.

In a post-industrial era the stock market is not an indicator of wealth, it’s a shop of available commodities for speculation and produces nothing. Capitalism relies on consumerism to fuel the engine. When those at the bottom end produce nothing, or haven’t got the capital to buy anymore, it all falls apart.

Trump built.

[Dr. Who]

I could never understand that mindset. I rarely carry credit card balances. If I need a new TV or computer I am looking at the lower cost last year thing, rather than the higher cost new thing. And I keep them until they die regardless of the tech advances in the meantime.

Much like you I keep most things until they expire. Computers might be the exception. I keep them until buying new is cheaper than upgrading. I avoid buying highly trendy items that become obsolete in short order. I choose good quality and classic designs. I have a 40 year old microwave - a Kenmore. It refuses to die.

[Dr. Who]

The constant need to be 'the best' at whatever one applies oneself to... social media has only increased the belief that one must have the newest-latest-greatest to be though 'cool' among strangers on the internet.

No more bended knee to propose to your love, there must be fireworks on the highest peak of a foreign mountain range.

No more beat up jalopy with rust as it's primary color for the first car, it must cost $40,000 and have spinner hub caps.

No more 3/2 1400 square foot house for a family of four, what no master bath 600 square feet of it's own? Stainless steel appliances and top end Wolf range?

I've said it many times. There is a huge difference between need and want, and people no longer know the difference.

We bought our first new vehicle ever in 2016. We've been together since 1975, but buying a house, paying it off and other things were far more important than having a new car, so we owned used but good quality vehicles for 40 odd years, although the first one was a Datsun (remember before it was called Nissan) that cost us $135 and it lasted 4 years. For the first 10 years, most of our furniture was used. We bought the house in '85. We also had the idea that no matter what, only one of us needed to be working in order to pay the mortgage, so we didn't trade up, which would have left no wiggle room if bad things happened. Eventually, something did happen. Hubby developed debilitating back issues and kidney failure - he couldn't work. We still paid off the house and have no debt.

[Peter1469]

Much like you I keep most things until they expire. Computers might be the exception. I keep them until buying new is cheaper than upgrading. I avoid buying highly trendy items that become obsolete in short order. I choose good quality and classic designs. I have a 40 year old microwave - a Kenmore. It refuses to die.

I typically don't upgrade my computers. I did add a hard drive and replace a power source for one computer. I don't do anything that requires the highest quality computer.

[Dr. Who]

I typically don't upgrade my computers. I did add a hard drive and replace a power source for one computer. I don't do anything that requires the highest quality computer.

While I have the capacity to overcome the issues that come with obsolete software and obsolete platforms, I simply don't have the patience for it anymore. I don't buy top of the line computers, but I don't buy bargain basement computers either. Computers have a useful lifespan beyond which you are just chasing issues borne of incompatibility.

[Peter1469]

While I have the capacity to overcome the issues that come with obsolete software and obsolete platforms, I simply don't have the patience for it anymore. I don't buy top of the line computers, but I don't buy bargain basement computers either. Computers have a useful lifespan beyond which you are just chasing issues borne of incompatibility.

I use Microsoft 365 - word and adobe. And web browsers. My last computer that failed in October I bought in 2011. It really wasn't suited for Windows 10 but I didn't really notice it until I had to replace the computer. My new one works great. And it is not top of the line. I got it on Cyber Monday, or whatever it is called and paid about $300 less than list price.

[Dr. Who]

I use Microsoft 365 - word and adobe. And web browsers. My last computer that failed in October I bought in 2011. It really wasn't suited for Windows 10 but I didn't really notice it until I had to replace the computer. My new one works great. And it is not top of the line. I got it on Cyber Monday, or whatever it is called and paid about $300 less than list price.

If you aren't a gamer (and I'm not), the super expensive computers are not necessary. It's like having a Maserati to go grocery shopping. You want a decent CPU and decent storage capacity. Gaming drives the technology, but just as racing drives engine technology in cars, there is no need to buy more tech than you can possibly use, just because it's there. I buy the computer equivalent of an SUV.

[carolina73]

Okay. I am not promising you any noble words here but:

Money is the only true measure of worth. Talk is cheap. Praise is cheap. Payment means they have to put out for it as proof. This is why even the very rich want more.

Need is the mother of invention. The need for more money is the only reason that most things are created. Without it you would still be talking through 2 cans on a string.

This is why Socialism does not work and lowering taxes does work. People want more. So the man on the assembly line is paid to do more and with better quality in a capitalist society and then possibly get promoted. In Socialism you do not get rewarded so you spend your time trying to cheat the system to do less because you cannot get more. For the managers and owners they are trying to earn more by producing more. Their production is profits.

When it is earned then it is worth more. That is why so many lottery winners or people with inheritances end up broke or dead.

Socialists forget what motivates people. If all I can make is $100 a day no matter what I do then I choose golf and skipping work, like the lazy people that want socialism and free stuff today. Just send me the check. Everyone else will do the same and government then has to threaten to starve you, if you do not produce what they require. We call that slavery.

The left's idea of Utopia is actually a nightmare for them and everyone else.

[carolina73]

I typically don't upgrade my computers. I did add a hard drive and replace a power source for one computer. I don't do anything that requires the highest quality computer.

Off topic but it is a waste of money. I put Solid State Drives in computers and put free Linux systems in the older ones. I play with those mostly. If you are into games then you really cannot deal with just an upgrade, but I'm not into online games. I think this computer is a 2013 and my Linux machines go back to the late 90s.

[Retirednsmilin308]

People have been this way since the first caveman wanted a better spear than his neighbor Ugh living down the trail.
Nothing new here, folks.