The Random, Meaningless Announcements Thread 3!

[sun rise]

I've started to wonder if a society can have great wealth without great poverty?

I don't think so.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I don't think so.

It does really make me wonder, because coming to California I have never seen such wealth (and I've dined in a modern castle), and at the same time I've never seen such poverty. Me thinks a balance is desperately needed, because gated communities of multi-million dollar mansions (I've picked up people at them) where homelessness is rampant says a lot about communal priorities and concerns.
Makes me also wonder what things would look like if people weren't dodging taxes, and all cities decide to rake in the pot tax revenue. (Bakersfield is largely going back to the black market).
Also makes me wonder what it would look like if we approached taxation as the ancient Greeks, where rather than seen as theft it was seen as a contribution to the city that allowed them to prosper. But that doesn't fit in with our delusional view of "I did it all by me and everyone who is a success is self-made." And I also have to wonder if other social animals ever have such nonsense thoughts that their existence and survival is all on them and no one else? It seems to me that elephants, dolphins, and wolves do not. Chimps maybe. Bonobos I have my doubts.

 

[Wu Wei]

You are clearly working on being a saint because if my wife did that kind of thing, I would not be as placid here as you've been. Or maybe you let it out in other ways.

And I didn't even tell you what she said when I had my detached retina and was not allowed to move for a couple weeks

 

[Estro Felino]

It does really make me wonder, because coming to California I have never seen such wealth (and I've dined in a modern castle), and at the same time I've never seen such poverty. Me thinks a balance is desperately needed, because gated communities of multi-million dollar mansions (I've picked up people at them) where homelessness is rampant says a lot about communal priorities and concerns.
Makes me also wonder what things would look like if people weren't dodging taxes, and all cities decide to rake in the pot tax revenue. (Bakersfield is largely going back to the black market).
Also makes me wonder what it would look like if we approached taxation as the ancient Greeks, where rather than seen as theft it was seen as a contribution to the city that allowed them to prosper. But that doesn't fit in with our delusional view of "I did it all by me and everyone who is a success is self-made." And I also have to wonder if other social animals ever have such nonsense thoughts that their existence and survival is all on them and no one else? It seems to me that elephants, dolphins, and wolves do not. Chimps maybe. Bonobos I have my doubts.

For example...Italy in the 90s was a mono-class society...thanks to the socialism of the 80s, the 85% of the Italians could become homeowners by saving money.
Meaning...the 70% of the Italians had a decent job and had money to make children. The rich were very few.
Now the euro-system and its anti-socialist policies is slowly eroding all this.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

For example...Italy in the 90s was a mono-class society...thanks to the socialism of the 80s, the 85% of the Italians could become homeowners by saving money.
Now the euro-system and its anti-socialist policies is slowly eroding all this.

In Indiana, in general, even in the big citites, the just is not nearly as much wealth, wages are much lower, and there isn't nearly as much money to go around. People tend to not have that much money, but you wont fimd dirt roads in the middle of a city, either.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Between the slump in lyft business and the extra gas needed to get back and forth, Im heading out to LA tomorrow for a few days to make money. Gonna suck, but at this point I'm in a bind.

 

[Estro Felino]

In Indiana, in general, even in the big citites, the just is not nearly as much wealth, wages are much lower, and there isn't nearly as much money to go around. People tend to not have that much money, but you wont fimd dirt roads in the middle of a city, either.

I mean..think of the TV Show The Middle...the Heck family is happy with little.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I mean..think of the TV Show The Middle...the Heck family is happy with little.

Reality is when you have little in America your only one financial hardship away from going hungry, if not losing it all. And despite the ACA, were still a country who can't afford to take the day off when we're sick.

 

[sun rise]

Me thinks a balance is desperately needed

I agree. How we get there is a problem.

For example, one of the big reasons for homelessness and people leaving CA are home/apt prices. A home near mine has gone from $245,000 in June, 2012 to $575,000 this month - in other words about double what it used to be. The rental estimate is $2800/month or $33,600 per year or about $16/hour salary just for housing. And this is for a modest tract house in a basically lower middle class neighborhood. And this does not count basic clothing and inexpensive food. Many people don't make the, what, $25-30/hour needed to live cheaply in a tract home in a not special suburb.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I agree. How we get there is a problem.

I think the only real solution is killing the 21st-century god, money, and freeing our lives of the soul-killing junk that clutters them. They arent good measurements or indications of societal contributions anyways, good character, or any meaningful mark of success.

 

[sun rise]

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I feel rather unwell today.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

My depression is really bad today. I want to give up.

 

[sun rise]

My depression is really bad today. I want to give up.

Ugh. I hope things look up for you.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Ugh. I hope things look up for you.

They will. Then back down. Then up, then down. Up and down and up and down and up and down. And Im scared to get treated again, because its never went well for me, and even with a genetic test the ones you're ok to use may still cause side effects. Like causing mood swings and inducing bipolar disorder. Which I'm also scared to even mention to any health care provider because its one of the more serious illnesses that have to looked at first before they can proceed with a medical transition. I need to, but I'm not looking forward to any further delays. But, hopefully, it won't be an issue since I started after I began hormones, and if "conservative" Bakersfield is well readied for gender non-conforming patients hopefully it won't be an issue here.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I agree. How we get there is a problem.

For example, one of the big reasons for homelessness and people leaving CA are home/apt prices. A home near mine has gone from $245,000 in June, 2012 to $575,000 this month - in other words about double what it used to be. The rental estimate is $2800/month or $33,600 per year or about $16/hour salary just for housing. And this is for a modest tract house in a basically lower middle class neighborhood. And this does not count basic clothing and inexpensive food. Many people don't make the, what, $25-30/hour needed to live cheaply in a tract home in a not special suburb.

It also amazes me here how the cost of everything is so greatly varied from place to place here. Ill buy drinks at the gas station here. LA it aint gonna happen.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

It also amazes me here how the cost of everything is so greatly varied from place to place here. Ill buy drinks at the gas station here. LA it aint gonna happen.

I know. Things are expensive in small town Illinois, yet somehow, some way, much much more expensive anywhere else.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I know. Things are expensive in small town Illinois, yet somehow, some way, much much more expensive anywhere else.

What Im going to laugh about forever is here at taco bell a regular taco is way more expensive than it is in Indiana. A beefy frito burrito is a dollar in both states, and in California half the price of a taco.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

What Im going to laugh about forever is here at taco bell a regular taco is way more expensive than it is in Indiana. A beefy frito burrito is a dollar in both states, and in California half the price of a taco.

But I'm sure that I'd find them a waste of both time and money in either state...or any state....

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I've been pondering the subject of morality lately;

I think excellence of character is demonstrated by attempting Critical Thinking and not trying to fight the progress that is our evolution. I find these beliefs often quite compatible with liberalism.

I also think wisdom can be gained by being in touch with one's own faults and inner monster.

Tl;dr - I'm fairy. Have you seen my slippers?