"Les Cargill" <lcargill@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:482e1a2d$0$12896$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> John Galt 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.
>>> 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 $$$.
>
> This is the standard line about sprawl. There is some truth to that; my
> sister has people on her street she has never seen, in roughly ten
years.
> Dallas suburbs are like that.
Even worse, it's not uncommon to talk to people who live a few miles from
brothers and sisters they only see once or twice a year.
JG
>
>
>> The sociologic study done by Putnam and published in BOWLING ALONE
>> clearly showed that diversity is one of the culpable factors.
>>
>>
>> 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?
>>
>> JG
>>
>
> Air conditioning and television. We actually have a screen ****ch in back
> (in Fla); we use that a lot. I spend a lot of time in the garage with
> the door open.
>
> But any sort of "street culture" has always run contrary to the
> central tendency of Americans to be prigs.
>
> --
> Les Cargill
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