Is happiness treason?
"Is happiness treason?" That's one of the questions posed in the commentary to today's Gaping Void cartoon:
Capitalism would fall flat on its face if we all decided, today, right now, that we're happy with who we are and happy with the way things are. Think about it. You wouldn't need that shiny new tech toy. You wouldn't need that expensive new pair of shoes. You wouldn't need that sleek new car. The luxury vacation to "get away from it all." And you certainly wouldn't need to sit in front of the TV or computer and soak in advertising-laden mental opiates to distract you from your life, nor would you need the politicians screaming for attention on them, trying to convince you that their brand of hate will make the world a better place than that other brand of hate.
If everyone just decided they were happy then commercial enterprise that wasn't oriented toward supplying food, shelter, basic clothing and health care ("bananas, bedrooms, briefs and biopsies") would collapse. And all of "civilization" along with it.
Yup, happiness is treason, all right. So, whatever you do, don't be happy - our country depends on your misery.
3 comments:
Hey, Jim - I'm somewhat hesitant to post because I don't want to be viewed as entering into a debate. I just don't fully agree with the underlying assumptions made in your post.
Disclaimer - your point is correct in that the year-over-year increase in GDP will shrink if people buy what they need and purchase what they want at a minimal rate.
You're also correct in that our society is obsessed with the latest and greatest and disposing of the last-generation with prejudice.
So where do I disagree? PT Barnum - there's a new one born every minute. We don't have to take that as he meant it - a new fool to deceive every minute. Take it as a new person born every minute, who will need/want that new LCD TV. A new person who will need that new car. And then add on the aging of devices and stuff. Clothes wear out. Cell phones break. TVs fry.
So where I land is partway between where we are as a society, and where I see you posting this. Purchase within reason, make those purchases deliberate, take care of them, make them last, and try and fix before buying a new one.
Oh, and all of my post doesn't even address whether having more **** even makes you happy. I'd argue, somewhat as you did, that more stuff makes you busier and owns your life even more. So be careful how much stuff you decide to buy because each addition exponentially adds to your life efforts.
Dear Anon,
While population growth would indeed keep some growth going, it would nowhere near be "enough," esp. given that Wall Street expects every company to grow exponentially forever.
And as for need/want that new LCD TV, that's part of my point. Most people's "wants" are translated into their "NEEDS." I saw it happen to me right after I posted this - "Ooh, the new Kindle Fire is out! Shiny!" :)
Oh, and BTW, I guessing I know who you are, anonymous comment or not. If I am correct, your writing style gives you away. :)
Of course you know who I am - I left anonymous because I was too lazy to go look up my damn gmail account info. Which also gives me away.
Yes, most peoples wants translate to needs. And yes, Wall Street wants companies to grow forever. And you and I know that can't happen.
I'm, without trying to be a querulous pedant, simply saying it's not a black or white issue - black is where Wall Street wants us to be, and I feel what you're proposing is full-on white. Life is lived in the greys, which takes someone who is not a querulous pedant to recognize. I believe you've moved there, and I've moved there, and some of the old desires to be "purist" keep on cropping up.
Jesus didn't live life in the white or black for the vast majority of the time, either. He muddled in the greys, where we all have to live.
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