[Grovenet] Are you better off ? ? ? ?

[Meredith Bliss]

Skeptics might even suggest that that is the main purpose of public education 
these days. And speaking of materialism and the economy, I recall an ad for a 
washing machine overloaded with "features" which were promoted not as 
necessary for the user, but as necessary for the economy. It wasn't satire, 
either (at least not intentionally).

On Wednesday 16 January 2008 09:01, Steve Jerrett wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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-- 
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Just happy to be here, but speaking 
only for myself!
Meredith Bliss --- www.rdrop.com/~mbliss
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