If I inherited $1B tomorrow, I would not change my behavior. I would move out of my apartment into an owned hosue. But I might not tell anyone. I would not dress differently, nor behave differently. I might acquire a cook so I have more time for corresponding, or not - I might feel guilty.
also JD since you mentioned theory of the leisure class, you probably know veblen's even more prescient theory of business enterprise, which predicted the advent of junk bonds and hedge funds back in 1904
You're making me want to add Veblen's work to my long list of books. My mother was quite an admirer of his. I've got Mills's The Power Elite (portable) and Lundberg's The Rich and the Super-Rich (not portable) right now. Lundberg is fun because his writing is sarcastic and colorful.
I have to say that The Rich and Super-Rich is a pretty easy read, and often quite funny. Just started the chapter on the infiltration of U.S. business by organized crime. Who wrote the book you are reading?
Your "circuitous sentences" reminds me that it seems that many people have problems with sentences with multiple clauses. Which then reminds me of the study done of nuns that took place over decades. Those who wrote essays early in the study used complex sentences; none of them got dementia. Those who got dementia had written their essays with simple sentences. ?????
Have you ever tried to read Das Kapital? It is really a strain. You must be sharp while reading. Veblen is less that way. I think it was a protection mechanism for theoreticians in their day, because powerful capitalists would never persist trying to read them, would never get past the vague and flowery beginnings of chapters and paragraphs to finally get to the cut at the end.
I read Volume I, my partner is on Volume III. Had no trouble reading it, but it is dense. You do know that the entire first volume was put out in pamphlet form for working people. I don't think people in the nineteenth century who were literate -- people had great respect for literacy and education -- were that challenged by dense prose. It is today when reading is more necessary than ever that we have high percentages of illiteracy (which has its own benefits) and barely functional literacy. The majority of college grads never read another book after graduating!
And the capitalists certainly did read Marx because they hated that he exposed their inner machinations!
I got about 1/3 the way into Book 1 of Kapital, though I have read a lot of Marx's essays in an Essential Marx reader. I sure don't idolize him, but he had a certain clarity of view of the industrial capitalism of his time.
Israel used their targeting algorithms from the get go, and rapidly bombed so many apartment buildings, schools and grocery stores that they ran low on targets, but they still kept going...
There are so many things I should read, and should have ready, but it's not like I didn't stay busy...
"Veblen's Theory of Business Enterprise became a critique on the relationship between "business" and industry itself, as far as it dealt with social and technological progress due to the former's reasonable primary motivations revolving around the maximization of profits. According to Veblen, this maximization of profits tended to be executed through the elimination of competition, and competitive behaviors that were outside of the natural market. However, the relationship between “business” and “industry” was uneven as the latter could continue production without the need of the former disrupting the natural flow, in order to maximize profits, leading to a new economic system. However, Veblen himself did at no point openly state support for any one type of economic system such as socialism, though he was in favor of state-owned industry."
And once again, that should never stop someone from pursuing self-education. I believe dementia has many, many causes, but one of them in the society I live in is people's reluctance to stretch their brain muscles! We should constantly challenge ourselves to expand our knowledge and consciousness. Hahahaha!
You've got me thinking about the question, "What is the relationship between wealth and happiness?"
Having invested 1/2 hour of deep thought and having read abstracts of two articles on the subject, I'm now prepared to share my expert opinion: It is not a question amenable to scientific investigation.
Most people want more than they have. But suppose they get more money, and they're happier. Is that because the money made them happier, or was it the process of setting out to achieve a goal and achieving it that made them happy?
We may notice that people who have a lot of money are miserable. Is that because people who are motivated to do what it takes to get rich in our culture are narrow-minded, selfish, and disconnected? Or is it having money that makes them unhappy? Is it the money itself, or is it the isolation that it creates that is responsible for their unhappiness?
I agree with you that people who live simply in egalitarian communities seem to be happier than typical Americans who partake in a culture of self-reliance and live in neighborhoods that have no cohesion or relationship or interdependence.
And yet there is a substantial flow of people from indigenous cultures into America, and there are very few Americans who are giving up their wealth to join an indigenous community in Ghana or Peru.
I'm reminded of an article by Ben Franklin in which he tells the story of native Americans who are integrated into white Philadelphia society, but who return to their tribe when they have the opportunity. But, in the other direction, white men who are captured by Indians in skirmishes grow to appreciate the tribal life, so that when their compatriots come to "rescue" them, they don't want to return to "civilization". https://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/212/franklin/Savages2.htm
And the "substantial flow" of people from indigenous cultures may have just a bit to do with continuous, uninterrupted persecution by Europeans (this includes white Americans) for the past 500+ years.
I don't want to see the brain of a "kidney donor." I find transplantation to be grotesque, especially with some of our allies busy selling organs and entire villages in India where the women only have one kidney. Interestingly, when my partner worked at a dialysis clinic, other nurses were not only opposed to transplantation they were opposed to dialysis (I differ regarding the latter because some of these people actually had active lives whereas others had nothing, some of whom decided to just let the kidney disease take over). I'd rather see the brain of a tireless worker for environmental / human rights.
My deceased brother-in-law's brother gave him one of his kidneys, then he never spoke to his own brother again. There's a reason we have two kidneys and it's not to have one cut out! Elderly cats seem to get kidney disease and I've found the best treatment is to let them eat what they want and to stay away from those horrible "veterinary" canned foods. I warned a woman online about the crap vets sell, she bought a case (!), then the cat refused to eat the garbage. Smart cat, not so smart human.
I am sorry about the lack of communication between the brothers, donor and recipient, after the transplant. I worked with a guy who donated a kidney to his twin brother when I was working my way through college. I though better of him for it.
The business that organ "donation" has become is a criminal horror...
If I inherited $1B tomorrow, I would not change my behavior. I would move out of my apartment into an owned hosue. But I might not tell anyone. I would not dress differently, nor behave differently. I might acquire a cook so I have more time for corresponding, or not - I might feel guilty.
I can almost ditto that. But I confess, my wine selections would improve stratospherically.
Better wine ... slippery slope.
:-o
I'd give the money away. What a burden!
bombshell: the IDF is using a computerized precrime program to target palestinians and indiscriminately massacre anyone nearby https://celiafarber.substack.com/p/israeli-journalist-breaks-bombshell
also JD since you mentioned theory of the leisure class, you probably know veblen's even more prescient theory of business enterprise, which predicted the advent of junk bonds and hedge funds back in 1904
You're making me want to add Veblen's work to my long list of books. My mother was quite an admirer of his. I've got Mills's The Power Elite (portable) and Lundberg's The Rich and the Super-Rich (not portable) right now. Lundberg is fun because his writing is sarcastic and colorful.
I have started reading The Theory of Business Enterprise.
It is easier to read than Das Kapital, but not "easy". Long and circuitous sentences.
I have to say that The Rich and Super-Rich is a pretty easy read, and often quite funny. Just started the chapter on the infiltration of U.S. business by organized crime. Who wrote the book you are reading?
Your "circuitous sentences" reminds me that it seems that many people have problems with sentences with multiple clauses. Which then reminds me of the study done of nuns that took place over decades. Those who wrote essays early in the study used complex sentences; none of them got dementia. Those who got dementia had written their essays with simple sentences. ?????
Have you ever tried to read Das Kapital? It is really a strain. You must be sharp while reading. Veblen is less that way. I think it was a protection mechanism for theoreticians in their day, because powerful capitalists would never persist trying to read them, would never get past the vague and flowery beginnings of chapters and paragraphs to finally get to the cut at the end.
I read Volume I, my partner is on Volume III. Had no trouble reading it, but it is dense. You do know that the entire first volume was put out in pamphlet form for working people. I don't think people in the nineteenth century who were literate -- people had great respect for literacy and education -- were that challenged by dense prose. It is today when reading is more necessary than ever that we have high percentages of illiteracy (which has its own benefits) and barely functional literacy. The majority of college grads never read another book after graduating!
And the capitalists certainly did read Marx because they hated that he exposed their inner machinations!
I got about 1/3 the way into Book 1 of Kapital, though I have read a lot of Marx's essays in an Essential Marx reader. I sure don't idolize him, but he had a certain clarity of view of the industrial capitalism of his time.
portable lundberg https://ia903000.us.archive.org/1/items/therichandthesuperrichastudyinthepowerofmoneytoday/The%20rich%20and%20the%20super-rich%3B%20a%20study%20in%20the%20power%20of%20money%20today.pdf
Israel used their targeting algorithms from the get go, and rapidly bombed so many apartment buildings, schools and grocery stores that they ran low on targets, but they still kept going...
There are so many things I should read, and should have ready, but it's not like I didn't stay busy...
No, I did not read that ...
Here is the Wikipedia, the new Cliff-Notes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Theory_of_Business_Enterprise
I'll read it... Lookin' good
"Veblen's Theory of Business Enterprise became a critique on the relationship between "business" and industry itself, as far as it dealt with social and technological progress due to the former's reasonable primary motivations revolving around the maximization of profits. According to Veblen, this maximization of profits tended to be executed through the elimination of competition, and competitive behaviors that were outside of the natural market. However, the relationship between “business” and “industry” was uneven as the latter could continue production without the need of the former disrupting the natural flow, in order to maximize profits, leading to a new economic system. However, Veblen himself did at no point openly state support for any one type of economic system such as socialism, though he was in favor of state-owned industry."
I cannot even read this. It (Veblen, not Dr. John) obscures what is really happening. We must not be impressed.
Veblen was looking at human trends a long time ago and picked out some fundamental aspects of human motivation, as pertain to political-economics.
I recall reading him, or about him, in my MBA program.
You need to challenge yourself, it's good for your brain.
veblen also predicted tldr ;). he pretty much personified it
I had to look that up: "too long didn't read".
And once again, that should never stop someone from pursuing self-education. I believe dementia has many, many causes, but one of them in the society I live in is people's reluctance to stretch their brain muscles! We should constantly challenge ourselves to expand our knowledge and consciousness. Hahahaha!
You've got me thinking about the question, "What is the relationship between wealth and happiness?"
Having invested 1/2 hour of deep thought and having read abstracts of two articles on the subject, I'm now prepared to share my expert opinion: It is not a question amenable to scientific investigation.
Most people want more than they have. But suppose they get more money, and they're happier. Is that because the money made them happier, or was it the process of setting out to achieve a goal and achieving it that made them happy?
We may notice that people who have a lot of money are miserable. Is that because people who are motivated to do what it takes to get rich in our culture are narrow-minded, selfish, and disconnected? Or is it having money that makes them unhappy? Is it the money itself, or is it the isolation that it creates that is responsible for their unhappiness?
https://sci-hub.st/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11205-019-02186-w
I agree with you that people who live simply in egalitarian communities seem to be happier than typical Americans who partake in a culture of self-reliance and live in neighborhoods that have no cohesion or relationship or interdependence.
And yet there is a substantial flow of people from indigenous cultures into America, and there are very few Americans who are giving up their wealth to join an indigenous community in Ghana or Peru.
I'm reminded of an article by Ben Franklin in which he tells the story of native Americans who are integrated into white Philadelphia society, but who return to their tribe when they have the opportunity. But, in the other direction, white men who are captured by Indians in skirmishes grow to appreciate the tribal life, so that when their compatriots come to "rescue" them, they don't want to return to "civilization". https://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/212/franklin/Savages2.htm
was reminded of this pam popper video from deep in the early first part of the plandemic in 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWiTyaNn5Yo
Loneliness is bad fer yuz...
Keep workin' it, Josh. You're making good progress.
(What is "the way of the Tao", again?)
:-)
Your last paragraph says it all.
And the "substantial flow" of people from indigenous cultures may have just a bit to do with continuous, uninterrupted persecution by Europeans (this includes white Americans) for the past 500+ years.
I don't want to see the brain of a "kidney donor." I find transplantation to be grotesque, especially with some of our allies busy selling organs and entire villages in India where the women only have one kidney. Interestingly, when my partner worked at a dialysis clinic, other nurses were not only opposed to transplantation they were opposed to dialysis (I differ regarding the latter because some of these people actually had active lives whereas others had nothing, some of whom decided to just let the kidney disease take over). I'd rather see the brain of a tireless worker for environmental / human rights.
My deceased brother-in-law's brother gave him one of his kidneys, then he never spoke to his own brother again. There's a reason we have two kidneys and it's not to have one cut out! Elderly cats seem to get kidney disease and I've found the best treatment is to let them eat what they want and to stay away from those horrible "veterinary" canned foods. I warned a woman online about the crap vets sell, she bought a case (!), then the cat refused to eat the garbage. Smart cat, not so smart human.
I am sorry about the lack of communication between the brothers, donor and recipient, after the transplant. I worked with a guy who donated a kidney to his twin brother when I was working my way through college. I though better of him for it.
The business that organ "donation" has become is a criminal horror...
Psychoanalyst Dr Sigmund Freud reportedly once claimed
"Happiness is an American invention."
Freud was a brilliant manipulator of humans and human concepts, but he was an atheistic piece-of-work, too.