[Grovenet] Are you better off ? ? ? ?

[Steve Jerrett]

Ron said:

> Under it all is education. America today seems to take great pride in
> developing one of the most backward, ignorant, easily led societies on the
> planet


Ron,


I can't disagree with that.

We may be to a point in our society that education would have a minimal 
effect on reversing our condition.  Materialism is so entrenched in our 
culture that I'm afraid it will take a catastrophic crash of our economy. It 
will have to be catastrophic to the degree that government manipulation 
won't avoid it.

I am forever indebted to my College prep/Modern Problems class teacher in 
high school for requiring me to read the book Hidden Persuaders by Vance 
Packard. It was a real eye-opener to the powerful influence that 
corporations have over society via advertising. The sophisticated  methods 
used by advertisers to create a false sense of need and to herd consumers 
toward their products is frightening. And, this was in the 60s. I can only 
imagine how mush more refined the tactics have become over the last five 
decades.

The recent mortgage debacle is another great example of the ignorance you 
refer to. Those who signed contracts with adjustable rates promised to pay 
not only the initial "teaser" rate, but also the future rate after the fixed 
period. Now the government comes along and bails them out. It reminds me of 
parents that protect their children from the consequences of their actions. 
It enables them to continue their destructive behavior. Letting these people 
suffer the consequences of their ignorance is the only type of "cure" which 
will be truly effective.

I have watched as numerous friends and family members have been caught in 
the trap. Some have resorted to bankruptcy only to return to the same 
predicament a few years later. And, in most cases, these are otherwise very 
intelligent people, who I would think should be able to clearly understand 
what they are doing and that the results are completely under their control.

I  believe that materialism and over-consumption is an addiction, purposely 
created and fueled by corporate America. One of the first steps in curing an 
addiction, before the "crash,"   is the realization that the addiction 
exists. Education would need to be very aggressive to reverse the effects of 
this powerful influence. Young children are most influenced by the habits of 
their parents, so they form their habits early.

Whatever the solution, it won't be easy.


Steve


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <ron at cobi.biz>
To: "'Forest Grove local interests list'" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 7:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Are you better off ? ? ? ?


> That's a nice recap of the bandaids invoked half a century ago to avoid a
> huge economic recession after WWII.
>
> But let's be clear. The things you list are not the problem today. The 
> ABUSE
> of those things by an ignorant, short-sighted public is the problem.
>
> Under it all is education. America today seems to take great pride in
> developing one of the most backward, ignorant, easily led societies on the
> planet.
>
> Ron D'Eau Claire
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
> Behalf Of David Morelli
> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:18 AM
> To: Forest Grove local interests list
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Are you better off ? ? ? ?
>
>
>
> On Jan 15, 2008, at 10:55 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>
>> And what's the  answer?
>>
>> Large cuts in interest rates that will  make it easier for
>> consumers to go deeper into debt buying stuff!!
>>
>> When did our formula for economic stability stop being "earn money,
>> pay off debts" and become "borrow money, buy stuff"???
>>
>> Ron D'Eau Claire
>
> It started in the 1950's as the corporate types turned the war
> machine into the consumer products machine and consumer
> dissatisfaction had to be created to ensure sufficient demand.
>
> About that time, we ceased to save so that we could pay cash for
> homes and automobiles.
>
> It continued with the adoption of credit cards, and the federal
> allowance for tax deductions for interest payments.
>
> It expanded when the Federal government ceased to have balanced budgets.
>
> It lost all control when broadcast news agencies became advertiser
> supported and public schools turned to corporate sponsors for core
> education funding.
>
> David
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GroveNet mailing list
> GroveNet at rdrop.com http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GroveNet mailing list
> GroveNet at rdrop.com
> http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet
>