I thought I would spew some recents thoughts out to the RHP masses.
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things? I don't understand why this is considered progress to our society?
The dictionary defines progress as:
"advance of human society: the general advance of human society and industry over time toward a state of greater civilization"
What is this "greater civilization" and how does progress contribute to that?
It is all a crock I think! Every country in this world is trying to progress faster than the others and for what? What does the winner get?
Originally posted by Very RustyI see.
MONEY!!!
It is all about the almighty dollar. That is what makes the world go round. The richest country will always have the power over everyone else.
We need to revert to the barter system then and do away with money all together.
Human beings always want more than they have, therefore they are always aspiring to greater things. Until you have more than you can ever need, then the theory is that you will start to aspire to more altruistic things.
I don't believe that is true. All that happens is that the goalposts move. If I say I need a million dollars for reasonable comfort, by the time I have the million I will be saying I need two million dollars for reasonable comfort. This is the way of capitalism, and I'm not being political here, it's just that capitalism recognises the natural human order of things. So it's always going to be that progress is seen as advancing one's own aspirations, until we all have as much as we really need to have, which means never.
What happens with individuals is exactly the same as happens with nations. Look at why Israel needs to take land from the Palestinians. It can't be for any other reason than exerting the power they have. If you're waiting for humanity to develop altruism you'll be waiting forever.
Originally posted by mlpriorI'm afraid that if you don't aspire to such then large sections of the community, inbuilt into certain nations psyche I might add, then consider you 'a loser'...how sad is this but it's all 'designed' from cradle to death to make one conform to such societal 'needs'.. you'll get into massive debt along the way conforming to such 'necessities'.. with all manner of 'tools' set up to trap you into this way of life.. college fees, easy credit to perpetuate the whole process, they'll all hit you hard etc but the whole cycle must be maintained, and the system controls you just enough for folk to have no other option but to, guess what, conform all the more. OF COURSE, I'm an old cynic so what do I know 😛
I thought I would spew some recents thoughts out to the RHP masses.
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things? I don't understand why this is considered progress to our society?
The dictionary defines progress as:
"advance of human soci rld is trying to progress faster than the others and for what? What does the winner get?
- Joined
- 04 Nov 09
- Moves
- 1877
Originally posted by mlpriorI take progress as moving forward,and as we ie the universe seem to be on this road its a given.
I thought I would spew some recents thoughts out to the RHP masses.
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things? I don't understand why this is considered progress to our society?
The dictionary defines progress as:
"advance of human soci ...[text shortened]... rld is trying to progress faster than the others and for what? What does the winner get?
Originally posted by mlpriorI'd like a new Renaissance focused on society (our new small flat world) getting along better and a movement away from the use and collection of oil (a limited resource) that's causing much of the trouble we see today.
I thought I would spew some recents thoughts out to the RHP masses.
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things? I don't understand why this is considered progress to our society?
The dictionary defines progress as:
"advance of human soci ...[text shortened]... rld is trying to progress faster than the others and for what? What does the winner get?
Plus a leveling, the US anyway has become two classes... rich and poor and the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Trickle down isn't working, we should try trickle up. How many houses, cars, vacations, tax breaks do the overwhelmingly rich really need?
There are rich people that donate a lot, but they are few and far between. Too many CEO's of failing companies being bailed out while people can't afford enough milk for their children or sleep on park benches. That's no good.... it screams "Let them eat cake".
P-
Originally posted by mlpriorDon't you want to live forever?
I thought I would spew some recents thoughts out to the RHP masses.
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things? I don't understand why this is considered progress to our society?
The dictionary defines progress as:
"advance of human soci ...[text shortened]... rld is trying to progress faster than the others and for what? What does the winner get?
If you want to live forever you will need a good expensive doctor and expensive drugs.
Also, you might want to have a good quality of living to go with that good health.
You might need to swap those two around and include some loved ones in the equation.
Now, forget the two reasons above and enjoy the greed that quietly grew in your heart.
You might forget the original reasons but the desire to keep acquiring wealth goes on and on, a better standard of living and better health.
Progress is another way of saying, I don't want to die and I will go to any lengths to achieve this.
But guess what?
My apologies for my bleak interpretation of progress, but look around you, where is decency and honour?
Originally posted by mlpriorSome people don't. The ones who don't are the ones who are happy with what they have. The ones who do?..... let them get on with their whining, and failures of self cleanliness. 😉
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things?
Originally posted by mlpriorthat's definitely an american thing. the rest of us are just as dumbfounded by it as you.
I thought I would spew some recents thoughts out to the RHP masses.
Why do people always talk about "progress" in terms of selling more cars, building more houses, obtaining more market share, making and selling more things? I don't understand why this is considered progress to our society?
The dictionary defines progress as:
"advance of human soci ...[text shortened]... rld is trying to progress faster than the others and for what? What does the winner get?
Originally posted by PhlabibitFINALLY!
I'd like a new Renaissance focused on society (our new small flat world) getting along better and a movement away from the use and collection of oil (a limited resource) that's causing much of the trouble we see today.
Plus a leveling, the US anyway has become two classes... rich and poor and the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Trickle down i ...[text shortened]... ren or sleep on park benches. That's no good.... it screams "Let them eat cake".
P-
CONGRATULATIONS!
It took a year, but most likely the smartest thing you have said this year. 😉