ON: C-D Thread, RE Limbaugh: Most of our limitations are self-imposed.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/20...o_your_desires
Human beings "know and care about" others to the extent it serves what the Greek philosophers called "subjectively rational self-interest." (e.g, storeowners used to care about their shoppers, in small towns and etc., in a simpler time): in simpler times it was to the store owner's benefit to cultivate the market. Neighbors, customers and community, to preserve value and capital for his business.
When that becomes inconvenient, humans tend to abandon the concept. In macro terms, look at the rise of the Japanese auto industry as an alternative to American-made vehicles here in the United States. Building what the people think they want, rather than suppressing demand via what I'd call "Non Market Strategies" is a key to economic success. Though does indeed cause significant social churn.
Big box stores are impersonal, yes, but also subjectively the best "value" for customers and community (consumers). The small-store model will not, cannot, scale-up to provide increased profits for the store owners, the subjectively rational desired outcome for that group. The unintended consequences for both consumers and community, of course, are the problem. As-mentioned.
Law schools churn out graduates, meeting demand that does not exist for a variety of reasons, resulting in over-supply. The marketing effort by the schools, in conjunction with easy government money for loans and easier out-sourcing overseas of the scut-work, has decimated a profession and industry here in the U.S. More unintended consequences, indeed.
The above are demonstrably immutable laws of human nature and economics, BTW. Artificial imposition of "price controls," "Socialism", and other systems disruptive to natural market forces are historical failures. To a great extent, we (Capitalists) are along for the ride and must move with the tide of history, not against it.
I left town several times chasing economic opportunity, when young. No regrets, but I had no close family (beyond parents) to leave behind. The experience is hugely more-wrenching for others in large and close families, what we might call the traditional family unit that has persisted since the dawn of humanity.
I may leave town again when old-ish and retired (early, if I'm lucky), to chase another kind of opportunity: better subjective QUALITY of life, in-effect chasing the very value system that I ran away from earlier in life (because it didn't provide economic opportunity).
From my subjectively-rational POV, this particular human certainly does not need "social ties above all". However, economic ties...those of us working for the same uber company or industry... provide entre into certain social circles, which are admittedly brittle. If that is disrupted,, the circle vanishes into the ether disturbingly quickly absent the economic glue. Not being in the club means no longer attending the parties, expensive lunches, socially-bonding long work sessions, etc. That answer is quite different for others, of course, and I do realize it.
I find it increasingly easy, not difficult, to find and maintain upper middle class lifestyle as long as I play by the unwritten economic rules.
Human beings "know and care about" others to the extent it serves what the Greek philosophers called "subjectively rational self-interest." (e.g, storeowners used to care about their shoppers, in small towns and etc., in a simpler time): in simpler times it was to the store owner's benefit to cultivate the market. Neighbors, customers and community, to preserve value and capital for his business.
When that becomes inconvenient, humans tend to abandon the concept. In macro terms, look at the rise of the Japanese auto industry as an alternative to American-made vehicles here in the United States. Building what the people think they want, rather than suppressing demand via what I'd call "Non Market Strategies" is a key to economic success. Though does indeed cause significant social churn.
Big box stores are impersonal, yes, but also subjectively the best "value" for customers and community (consumers). The small-store model will not, cannot, scale-up to provide increased profits for the store owners, the subjectively rational desired outcome for that group. The unintended consequences for both consumers and community, of course, are the problem. As-mentioned.
Law schools churn out graduates, meeting demand that does not exist for a variety of reasons, resulting in over-supply. The marketing effort by the schools, in conjunction with easy government money for loans and easier out-sourcing overseas of the scut-work, has decimated a profession and industry here in the U.S. More unintended consequences, indeed.
The above are demonstrably immutable laws of human nature and economics, BTW. Artificial imposition of "price controls," "Socialism", and other systems disruptive to natural market forces are historical failures. To a great extent, we (Capitalists) are along for the ride and must move with the tide of history, not against it.
I left town several times chasing economic opportunity, when young. No regrets, but I had no close family (beyond parents) to leave behind. The experience is hugely more-wrenching for others in large and close families, what we might call the traditional family unit that has persisted since the dawn of humanity.
I may leave town again when old-ish and retired (early, if I'm lucky), to chase another kind of opportunity: better subjective QUALITY of life, in-effect chasing the very value system that I ran away from earlier in life (because it didn't provide economic opportunity).
From my subjectively-rational POV, this particular human certainly does not need "social ties above all". However, economic ties...those of us working for the same uber company or industry... provide entre into certain social circles, which are admittedly brittle. If that is disrupted,, the circle vanishes into the ether disturbingly quickly absent the economic glue. Not being in the club means no longer attending the parties, expensive lunches, socially-bonding long work sessions, etc. That answer is quite different for others, of course, and I do realize it.
I find it increasingly easy, not difficult, to find and maintain upper middle class lifestyle as long as I play by the unwritten economic rules.
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