As usual, this is so thoughtful and insightful - you would be a wonderful coach for JD Vance, who grew up enduring many of the same circumstances (albeit not the same level of family disruption) and, IMO, would benefit from learning to express the lessons to be learned in this manner - meaning deeply personal but relatable and understandable, especially for those of us who also came from humble backgrounds and now now live among the “elites”.
“Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..’’
Material treasure isn’t dependable. Always passes.
However . . .
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!’’
Envy wants to destroy what others have. Makes the ‘whole body’ (entire life) dark, miserable.
It’s likely true that our talents are inherited, making us less responsible for our success. While redistribution may appear fair, its societal outcomes are disastrous. As Hayek warned, extreme redistribution leads down the “road to serfdom.” The prosperity of the West owes much to those fortunate in the genetic lottery. Stripping assets from those who can most effectively use them and reallocating them to less capable hands is a recipe for economic ruin.
Red Bluff is also my hometown. I was born at St. Elizabeth’s in 1977. I rarely visit now since both my parents have passed away. I have a homeless sister there who struggles with psychiatric issues.
I also have a 16-year-old nephew who is currently in juvenile hall, charged with the murder of another teenager. His hearing is in a few weeks. He was raised by his paternal grandmother because his mother—my other sister—struggled with drug addiction & his father was incarcerated when he was younger.
My other nephew, the accused boy’s cousin, was just in Red Bluff for Thanksgiving. He’s graduating from UCLA with a degree in aerospace engineering and a minor in physics. His mother is my homeless sister, who is well-known in town. He was raised by his paternal grandparents.
True, but then the individual is locked into all the attitudes and realities that go along with having money in abundance in the first place — which can be a burden.
This topic is covered well in the novel "Beggars In Spain".,,, were a genetic adjustment to the fetus results in a menu of super capabilities, the most prominent being the birthed human no longer requiring sleep. The procedures are very expensive and only the wealthy elite have access. The people with these super powers go on to become even more successful... inventing marvelous labor-saving machines that wipe out most employment opportunities for everyone else. The gap between the haves and the have-nots expands... and the have-nots are provided the equivalent of enhanced Universal Basic Income. Many are also provided useless jobs... fake jobs where they don't really have any responsibilities but are given a position as a form of charity.
There is resentment and rebellion forming even though nobody goes hungry and everyone is provided enough cash to live moderately comfortably.
This is why I so oppose UBI, and think that all industrialized countries should have policies that maximize the creation and retention of domestic jobs as a primary public policy.
One last point, although I certainly agree by observation that subjective well being has a stronger connection to local socioeconomic status (why gangs work even though in general a gang-member is a lowly status position within the superset of society... except in rap music culture), globalism combined with technology like social media has somewhat disrupted this... for example, kids viewing Instagram photos of other kids all over the world and note the number of followers and likes will see that as the equivalent of their "local tribe" even though it is potentially millions of people.
Very good article. I particularly appreciate the references to the social/relational elements of quality of life. I relate to and concur with that from the negative side as a combination of circumstances have contributed to my becoming largely isolated for some time now. Not many days pass that I don’t ponder what I could do to change that. As for the notion that financial inequality is the central cause of unhappiness, it has long seemed obvious to me that if somehow all wealth were to be redistributed so everyone had exactly the same amount, the divergence between “haves” and “have-nots” would immediately begin to form again. The differences between individuals are many, but just the difference in ambition would quickly result in growing differences in net worths. There are very many people who proudly embrace the values of “freedom from responsibility”, and their financial trajectory is fairly predictable.
Conflating 'economic redistribution' with 'coercive redistribution' is a very subtle way of rephrasing 'taxation is theft'. Sure, money doesn't solve everyone's problems, but it sure goes a long way to alleviate financial anxiety and allow people to focus on larger life goals.
“The idea that material circumstances are the primary determinant of our subjective emotional states and the organization of our social lives is a weirdo Marxian theory. But it somehow became the conventional wisdom among educated people.”
The US govt could rapidly increase the status of married people with children, by only promoting such people. If hired without being married, one agrees to no further promotions.
Status is zero-sum, any person or group who gets more takes away from all others. Attention (eyeballs for ads!) is also zero-sum.
The govt should be taking positive actions to increase the status married parents. More cash to them, even if they “need it less” would help.
I have lots of money, but don’t do so well with friends. I am friendly and affable, but don’t become particularly close to people. Once I get to know them, I’m usually rather disappointed. We remain friends, but I’m just not close to them. I am basically happy but not overly, I always think I could be happier.
As usual, this is so thoughtful and insightful - you would be a wonderful coach for JD Vance, who grew up enduring many of the same circumstances (albeit not the same level of family disruption) and, IMO, would benefit from learning to express the lessons to be learned in this manner - meaning deeply personal but relatable and understandable, especially for those of us who also came from humble backgrounds and now now live among the “elites”.
Rob
Always enjoy your posts.
This one recalls this famous advice . . .
“Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..’’
Material treasure isn’t dependable. Always passes.
However . . .
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!’’
Envy wants to destroy what others have. Makes the ‘whole body’ (entire life) dark, miserable.
How great current ‘darkness’ really is!
Thanks
Clay
It’s likely true that our talents are inherited, making us less responsible for our success. While redistribution may appear fair, its societal outcomes are disastrous. As Hayek warned, extreme redistribution leads down the “road to serfdom.” The prosperity of the West owes much to those fortunate in the genetic lottery. Stripping assets from those who can most effectively use them and reallocating them to less capable hands is a recipe for economic ruin.
Red Bluff is also my hometown. I was born at St. Elizabeth’s in 1977. I rarely visit now since both my parents have passed away. I have a homeless sister there who struggles with psychiatric issues.
I also have a 16-year-old nephew who is currently in juvenile hall, charged with the murder of another teenager. His hearing is in a few weeks. He was raised by his paternal grandmother because his mother—my other sister—struggled with drug addiction & his father was incarcerated when he was younger.
My other nephew, the accused boy’s cousin, was just in Red Bluff for Thanksgiving. He’s graduating from UCLA with a degree in aerospace engineering and a minor in physics. His mother is my homeless sister, who is well-known in town. He was raised by his paternal grandparents.
He wanted more for himself. He’s my hero.
This is Red Bluff.
Oh. So that's why I'm so happy, in spite of no money and a very rocky childhood. Thanks, Rob!
Money buys you freedom. If you have enough money, you never have to work at a job you hate or live in a place you hate.
True, but then the individual is locked into all the attitudes and realities that go along with having money in abundance in the first place — which can be a burden.
There are always trade-offs.
This topic is covered well in the novel "Beggars In Spain".,,, were a genetic adjustment to the fetus results in a menu of super capabilities, the most prominent being the birthed human no longer requiring sleep. The procedures are very expensive and only the wealthy elite have access. The people with these super powers go on to become even more successful... inventing marvelous labor-saving machines that wipe out most employment opportunities for everyone else. The gap between the haves and the have-nots expands... and the have-nots are provided the equivalent of enhanced Universal Basic Income. Many are also provided useless jobs... fake jobs where they don't really have any responsibilities but are given a position as a form of charity.
There is resentment and rebellion forming even though nobody goes hungry and everyone is provided enough cash to live moderately comfortably.
This is why I so oppose UBI, and think that all industrialized countries should have policies that maximize the creation and retention of domestic jobs as a primary public policy.
One last point, although I certainly agree by observation that subjective well being has a stronger connection to local socioeconomic status (why gangs work even though in general a gang-member is a lowly status position within the superset of society... except in rap music culture), globalism combined with technology like social media has somewhat disrupted this... for example, kids viewing Instagram photos of other kids all over the world and note the number of followers and likes will see that as the equivalent of their "local tribe" even though it is potentially millions of people.
Very good article. I particularly appreciate the references to the social/relational elements of quality of life. I relate to and concur with that from the negative side as a combination of circumstances have contributed to my becoming largely isolated for some time now. Not many days pass that I don’t ponder what I could do to change that. As for the notion that financial inequality is the central cause of unhappiness, it has long seemed obvious to me that if somehow all wealth were to be redistributed so everyone had exactly the same amount, the divergence between “haves” and “have-nots” would immediately begin to form again. The differences between individuals are many, but just the difference in ambition would quickly result in growing differences in net worths. There are very many people who proudly embrace the values of “freedom from responsibility”, and their financial trajectory is fairly predictable.
Freedom from responsibility, causes people to lose and losing leads to people becoming losers.
One thing I notice is that some lower class neighborhoods have pride and some don’t. Do you sweep your porch, pick up your trash, wash your car?
Conflating 'economic redistribution' with 'coercive redistribution' is a very subtle way of rephrasing 'taxation is theft'. Sure, money doesn't solve everyone's problems, but it sure goes a long way to alleviate financial anxiety and allow people to focus on larger life goals.
“The idea that material circumstances are the primary determinant of our subjective emotional states and the organization of our social lives is a weirdo Marxian theory. But it somehow became the conventional wisdom among educated people.”
WEIRD
“After my first day at this job, I took a baseball bat and shattered the windshield of a car in a nearby lot.”
Oh, how dumb the things young boys do for a thrill…
The US govt could rapidly increase the status of married people with children, by only promoting such people. If hired without being married, one agrees to no further promotions.
Status is zero-sum, any person or group who gets more takes away from all others. Attention (eyeballs for ads!) is also zero-sum.
The govt should be taking positive actions to increase the status married parents. More cash to them, even if they “need it less” would help.
I have lots of money, but don’t do so well with friends. I am friendly and affable, but don’t become particularly close to people. Once I get to know them, I’m usually rather disappointed. We remain friends, but I’m just not close to them. I am basically happy but not overly, I always think I could be happier.