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Chris, we're actually in more agreement here then disagreement. If you've paid off the mortgage on your cabin/farm/what not and covered the basics then you've done a good job. My objection was to the large number of people (again, if the TV show Dooms Day Preppers is to be believed) in the prepper community who feel stockpiling food is what is important and then they fail to do the real basics such as keep their home/farm/cabin out of foreclosure. Sadly, there have been several high profile cases of folks blowing their entire retirement savings buying freeze dried junk, taking out second mortgages to buy more, even though they're no longer working nor do they have any reasonable expectation of repaying the loans. They seem to be in a panic thinking the end of days is here and they've failed to account for what they will do if the world does not in fact end.
Your example, which I actually admire, shows someone who has covered the logical needs (they've paid off their cabin/farm/house, they've prepared for their physical needs, etc...) and has made a reasonable decision as to what to do with his spare money and time. I have no problem with that; it's the folks who aren't do that and who are getting preyed upon by salesmen which I don't like. It could be said it is their own fault, that a fool and his money is soon parted, but still I think some sort of warning should be given to the community (even if it's just a friendly reminder or some sort of social pressure) not to go hog wild and forget about what is most likely to happen (that life goes on and, yeah, they'll foreclose on your house if you don't repay that second mortgage).
Of course you know what they say about folks who like to make assumptions?
What does this have to do with your illogical claim that capitalist organizations are anti-capitalist? Sorry, but there is a logical fallacy in your statement even if you want to ignore it and keep dancing around the issue.
Will you at least admit that corporations are capitalist organizations or is that still too much of a stretch for you? Calling corporations engaged in market based free economics "anti-capitalist" just is an illogical statement.
Will you at least admit that corporations are capitalist organizations or is that still too much of a stretch for you? Calling corporations engaged in market based free economics "anti-capitalist" just is an illogical statement.
It's more illogical to say a fellow who has to drive on a toll road each day to go to his job always supports new toll roads. Living in America only makes one comply with a market based capitalist system. It certainly doesn't make them support it.
No, you claimed Hollywood movie companies were some how anti-capitalist and that is just provably false because they themselves are in business to make money. They are capitalist organizations. They're selling things which the market purchases so, sorry, but you're just wrong. They're making what sells and not engaging in some secret socialist plot even if you don't like their movies.
Heh.
It is not just Hollywood but also the "news" houses like CBS, Fox, CNN etc. They are in the business of producing what sells (movies, news) BUT they also are in the business of shaping what you want to buy. Slowly, methodically.... So, the news from 1950s have nothing to do with what is considered news today. News are not just news, they are carefully steered opinion pieces. Same for movies.
Same for the companies producing "all the stuff that you need". Of course you and I know that you really don't NEED all that stuff but the companies are still in business and they make money off someone. So, they managed to CONVINCE that someone that what the company makes is what the consumer needs. Over time we went from having just a car that runs and takes you from A to B (Ford) to a car that parks itself, has a car phone, GPS, cell phone connection, iPod connection etc. Do you NEED all of the later? Nope. If you showed it to someone from 1930s they would run away. If you took all these NEEDS away from the car from someone in 2012, they would run away....
So, they managed to CONVINCE that someone that what the company makes is what the consumer needs. Over time we went from having just a car that runs and takes you from A to B (Ford) to a car that parks itself, has a car phone, GPS, cell phone connection, iPod connection etc. Do you NEED all of the later? Nope. If you showed it to someone from 1930s they would run away. If you took all these NEEDS away from the car from someone in 2012, they would run away....
OD
It's also interesting to note the social ramifications of not having what most folks have or assume is necessity today. I'm basically looked at as a dinosaur by many, if not most, people who know me or work with me. I may as well be a character on the old show The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams or something (actually, I wish I had the skills of a true mountain man from that era! ).
My car is old (but dependable) and has none of the automatic stuff that new ones have... yeah, imagine that, I still have to roll down the window by hand! I don't have a "smartphone" (the thing that everyone's nose is glued to everywhere these days)--in fact, I barely even have what most folks would call a primitive phone--I could send smoke signals and be considered about the same. With most of daily life, I just generally prefer (or would like to learn) to do things the "old" or traditional way when I have a choice. That kind of philosophy can certainly put you into a sort the "certifiably insane" category these days.
A neighbor saw me cutting/splitting some wood with my big old crosscut saw and a splitting maul a couple of weeks ago. He asked me why I didn't just use a chainsaw. I told him it was all part of my backyard gym... and asked him why folks in the commercial gyms didn't put electric motors on their stationary bikes so they could just stand there and watch them spin. It did get him thinking for a minute or two. But not for long. He just walked away shaking his head.
Actually, I like doing it by hand because it's almost as effective as a chain saw if the saw is sharp and "tuned" properly. Plus I hate the noise and mess of a chain saw. And... yes, I do like the exercise I would not have gotten otherwise. Plus, I don't have to put gas in a crosscut saw... only in me!
Yep, they certainly do. Now if only they will build some without steering wheels that also drive themselves, we can all feel less apocalyptic when we get out on the roads.
Yep, they certainly do. Now if only they will build some without steering wheels that also drive themselves, we can all feel less apocalyptic when we get out on the roads.
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). 
I don't have a "smartphone" (the thing that everyone's nose is glued to everywhere these days)--in fact, I barely even have what most folks would call a primitive phone--I could send smoke signals and be considered about the same. With most of daily life, I just generally prefer (or would like to learn) to do things the "old" or traditional way when I have a choice. That kind of philosophy can certainly put you into a sort the "certifiably insane" category these days. 
It did get him thinking for a minute or two. But not for long. He just walked away shaking his head.
