Is “more” better……

[The Whiskey Priest]

or is it only “more?” Are we justified in dedicating our lives to the endless pursuit of more and more, does acquisition without end define the quality of life? Is the exchange of our time for consumer goods a fair exchange?

In a time when our government is conspiring to economically cripple the working--class, should we not rethink consumerism? Is this not the moment when we say, “enough?”

[Career Prole]

1. Maybe "enough" is the problematic word.

I live in a trailer, drive a 12 year-old car, and have a crappy job.
For me, it's enough to stay dry when it rains and warm when it's cold. My job's crap, but it pays the bills and my car's ugly but it gets me to my job...and that's enough.
Lots of folks have no roof, no job, no wheels.
"More than enough" would be nice but not necessary.
Obscenely more than enough, like Gates and Walton, tends to disgust me more than impress me.

[skids]

2. Have you ever thought to yourself...

"If I had a million dollars, I could be set for life and just work (at my leisure, sure, but work) to help others?"

How many people have a million dollars?

How many people actually do so?

There are some, to be sure.

And, sure there are some businesspeople who continue to earn, rather than philanthropically retire, because they believe their business helps society. And sure, it is possible to do more good if you are "armed" with a thicker wad of cash, though that perspective lends itself to the risk of the ends justifying the means.

But on the whole they are the small minority. This very fact goes to show us just exactly where our "values" as a people are at. This very fact shouts unheard into the ears of everyone who believes in a benign upper class.

You can learn a lot about yourself by seriously contemplating what you personally would do with enough wealth to be "set for life." Would you actually set yourself up for life, or would you squander it and want more? How humble is the minimum standard of living you would require to stop trying to get "more"? Would you give a crap about the people around you if you never ran a risk yourself of falling on hard times?

[The Whiskey Priest]

3. In response…to abjure “more” is not to deny those in want “some.”

Stopping the ceaseless quest for “more and more”…would perhaps make room at the table for those who need “some” for a decent life.

[Igel]

4. More what?

Clean air? Forests? Clean trout streams?

Fat around my middle? Spare sets of guitar strings? Kids? Drosera?

Acquiring more things usually makes me happy. Happiness is transitory.

Learning to make do pretty much with what I have helps to make me content. Contentedness is long-lasting.

People don't want to be content. They want to be happy. They're fools that have forgotten the difference.