DISQUS

Older_Wiser · 10 months ago

Define "minor luxuries"?

Believe me, I'd rather have the major luxuries of fresh air, wholesome food and keeping the earth a safe place than any others. And in concentrating on buying junk disguised as "must haves" which are thrown at you by daily advertising and aggressive marketing, we have lost sight of the real luxury of life, time itself, throwing ourselves into meaningless, plodding "work", neglecting our kids, relatives and friends in favor of earning money we then proceed to throw into "stuff" and letting our lives become an endless cycle of consume, waste, consume, waste, leaving us nothing in our core selves to fall back on (resulting in the mental health crisis in the US); showering our "love" on people to whom we're just another business transaction. Too many people allow themselves to be defined by what they possess, and this attitude has even permeated relationships, with disastrous results. Even our "heroes" today are those who make the most money, including wealthy preachers who teach spend and consume, and "god wants you to be rich" theology.

I prefer the luxury of solid relationships in which time and care are spent, not money. Relationships simply built on money interests are the most fragile of all. Ask anyone who became friends with Bernie Madoff, among others. Greed eventually bites everyone in the ass.

Bush Bites · 10 months ago

Blair really fucked them up, didn't he?

Tried to turn them into America, and now they have American problems.

Bush Bites · 10 months ago

Of course, they do get health care.

And health care costs are one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcies in the US.

So, Brits, don't give that one away in the name of "freedom," or you'll end up with negative income like us..

Indigo · 10 months ago

I care about what happens on an island in the North Atlantic where people have access to expensive medical care because . . . ?

nicho · 10 months ago

Because what's happening there will eventually happen here -- except worse. And, we won't even have access to medical care when the shit hits the fan. Take away Americans' credit cards and you will see 50 percent of the people with no disposable income -- in face, you'll see 25 percent of the people who can't even pay basic expenses.

Older_Wiser · 10 months ago

Are British banks sitting on their bailout money like American banks are doing, and not lending to the public?

frank · 10 months ago

The disposable income that they do have is being spent on a bloody pint Chap