On Fri, 16 May 2008 21:39:06 +0530, "John Galt"
<whoisjohngalt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
><retrogrouch@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>news:tu8r24d6v6t4nn37h2j3cbk4id752ba65i@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> On Fri, 16 May 2008 13:04:11 +0530, "John Galt"
>> <whoisjohngalt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>
>>>> I"ve been around some of the richest most powerful people in the
>>>> country and I can tell you most certainly that is not true.
>>>
>>>Granted. I completely agree that once the necessities and the little
>>>luxuries, such as those piano lessons, are covered, money doesn't buy
you
>>>squat in the way of emotional happiness.
>>
>>
>> Some of the happiest people I've met were impoverished Costa Ricans.
>> But they had national health care so virtually all had their health.
>> They had universal education so virtually all had basic education.
>> Safety nets removed the most severe want. They found real joy in life
>> and community in ways most Americans would envy.
>
>If you're claiming that national health and education leads to happiness,
>then you're affirming that money at that level leads to happiness. I
agree.
That's your "if". It's just once certain basics are met, additional
money bears very little correlation with contentment or happiness. But
you said that yourself, above.
>> Happiness comes from community. The sad fact of America is money is
>> destroying community. People buy TVs, home theaters, and cacoon
>> themselves away, too many not even knowing their neighbors. And then
>> they watch Oprah, Dr. Phil and get therapy because their lives are
>> "empty" and lack "meaning".
>
>I am unaware of any sociologic studies that show that the "destruction of
>community" in America has to do with $$$.
I wasn't saying money has to do with it.
>The sociologic study done by
>Putnam and published in BOWLING ALONE clearly showed that diversity is
one
>of the culpable factors.
Diversity?? That's a very odd interpretation for me.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/04/the_downside_of_diversity/
But I see it's out there. It looks more like a correlation than a
cause. Interesting though.
>That said, I bemoan the loss of the front-****ch patio style of builidng
>homes. Why don't people (of any income bracket) want those anymore?
Another great book to go with "Bowling Alone" - "The Great Good
Place".
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Good-Place-Bookstores-Community/dp/1569246815/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210963816&sr=8-1
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