Thanks for your comments. (I wish I could still do the interspersing) I've been reflecting on how my outlook has changed over time.
From being an energetic foot soldier in Maharishi's Army confident I could change the world, to having now a much more sober vision of how things really are. And I thank God for that more sober outlook. And although I'm afraid to say that the opposing forces, broadly defined as materialism, are going to prevail, there are still going to be many inroads made by those of a more spiritual bent. ---In [email protected], <noozguru@...> wrote: Remarks below. On 01/08/2014 06:51 PM, steve.sundur@... mailto:steve.sundur@... wrote: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CLDgDxHNu1oC&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1 https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CLDgDxHNu1oC&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1 I listened to several interviews with this guy. Among the things he writes about is that income disparity is pretty much here to stay. But instead of 1% and the rest, it is more likely to be about 15% who have resources, with most everyone else just scraping by. Indeed lots of people I talk to are just scrapping by. A lot of people are too proud to admit it though. You have to pry sometimes to find what their case is. A lot of the unemployed are highly educated and have a lot of experience. People's futures have been stolen and they should not be depressed, they should be downright angry. He also points out, (either correctly or incorrectly) that the catalyst for social upheavals in the past was because people did not have enough to eat, and that is not likely to be the case now. The riots in Spain and Greece are do to people not being able to afford food. Do you do the grocery shopping in the family? Have you notice food prices going up faster than the rate of inflation? Or food packages getting smaller but still the same price? Or the ingredients in something now are cheaper or more fillers than when you bought the product several years ago? Also, technology, being so accessible, is able to provide enough comfort and satisfaction so that people will be okay with a lower standard of living. The last time the US economy was in balance was in the 1970s. After that it started going wacko. Much of the "prosperity" of the country was based on credit and people tricked into buying things they really didn't need. It's like there was a scheme to put everyone in debt. Yes, technology is one thing that has gotten cheaper. But people don't need to be activists 24/7 so some recreation is fine. A lot of folks wanted to downsize too as they got older but it has been difficult to sell their homes and renting something smaller often costs as much as the mortgage they are already paying. It's crazy. Another thing said is that stats will continue to drive most decisions. Just as in sports stats have become dominant in measuring every nuance, this will continue in one's personal life, determining credit worthiness, and into areas not yet so affected in this way. And a lot of stats aren't at all, many stats are propaganda. Be sure to consider the source.
