What's Right With America?
I recently read a book called "The Progress Paradox: Why Everything is Getting Better But People Feel Worse" by Gregg Easterbrook
The book sets forth some pretty compelling measurements of "well being" or things that prove our lives are better than our forebears, in pretty much every aspect of life; material wealth, safety, education, healthcare, quality of life for the aged, and so on. And Mr. Easterbrook also poses some probable explanations for why all these things are better than they were, but people still tend to get depressed more often than they used to, or why more people report that they are "not happy" than there used to be.
I enjoyed the book immensely, and had to agree with the author on most counts: most aspects of life really are better than they have ever been in the history of humanity.
However, on one point I do not agree. The author claims that we enjoy more personal freedoms than previous generations have done. I find that exceedingly hard to believe when favorite shooting ranges, swimming holes, camping spots and other recreational relaxation venues are now closed to the public or inaccessible due to expanding population and other controls that prevent the use thereof. I cannot let my children walk 1 mile to the gas station to buy gum or candy, because they are in danger of multitudes of things, dangers that simply did not exist when I was a child their age. I enjoyed the personal freedom of walking, triking, big-wheeling, biking (whatever) a mile down to the local convenience store to buy whatever I could earn enough money to buy. My children will never know that freedom. As a cub scout, and later boy scout, I enjoyed the freedom of riding in the back of a pickup truck while carrying out local in-the neighborhood projects, letting our feet dangle out the back, or standing up behind the cab. Yes those things entail personal risk as well, but I am certain that my children will never experience them. Back when things weren't so crowded, a young boy could find the edge of civilization within a bike ride's distance and was free to discover whatever he could there. In order to live that close to the edge of civilization now, parents must commute an hour or more to work, losing 2 hours every day to mindless prattle from radio DJ's, NPR, or The Glenn Beck Show (a little better than the other two, but still a waste of time).
Speaking of Glenn Beck, he did relate some information the other day to this effect, that things in America are really quite good, and we really don't want any more government institutions mucking it up. Here's the story: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/11825/
The book sets forth some pretty compelling measurements of "well being" or things that prove our lives are better than our forebears, in pretty much every aspect of life; material wealth, safety, education, healthcare, quality of life for the aged, and so on. And Mr. Easterbrook also poses some probable explanations for why all these things are better than they were, but people still tend to get depressed more often than they used to, or why more people report that they are "not happy" than there used to be.
I enjoyed the book immensely, and had to agree with the author on most counts: most aspects of life really are better than they have ever been in the history of humanity.
However, on one point I do not agree. The author claims that we enjoy more personal freedoms than previous generations have done. I find that exceedingly hard to believe when favorite shooting ranges, swimming holes, camping spots and other recreational relaxation venues are now closed to the public or inaccessible due to expanding population and other controls that prevent the use thereof. I cannot let my children walk 1 mile to the gas station to buy gum or candy, because they are in danger of multitudes of things, dangers that simply did not exist when I was a child their age. I enjoyed the personal freedom of walking, triking, big-wheeling, biking (whatever) a mile down to the local convenience store to buy whatever I could earn enough money to buy. My children will never know that freedom. As a cub scout, and later boy scout, I enjoyed the freedom of riding in the back of a pickup truck while carrying out local in-the neighborhood projects, letting our feet dangle out the back, or standing up behind the cab. Yes those things entail personal risk as well, but I am certain that my children will never experience them. Back when things weren't so crowded, a young boy could find the edge of civilization within a bike ride's distance and was free to discover whatever he could there. In order to live that close to the edge of civilization now, parents must commute an hour or more to work, losing 2 hours every day to mindless prattle from radio DJ's, NPR, or The Glenn Beck Show (a little better than the other two, but still a waste of time).
Speaking of Glenn Beck, he did relate some information the other day to this effect, that things in America are really quite good, and we really don't want any more government institutions mucking it up. Here's the story: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/11825/
posted by Anthony Barney @ 6/26/2008 03:57:00 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I, being an opinionated ignoramus, will leave a comment without having read the book.
A happier life, in my opinion, is not the result of ease and security. Humans have a primal need to overcome obstacles, and are hardwired to enjoy doing it. (Or at least males do. Can't/ won't comment on females.)
There is not a more satisfied human anywhere than a baby who is conquering the stairs. There is no greater thrill than being pressed to one's limit, and succeeding. That's what our movies are about. Consider: Star Wars, Indy Jones, Terminator, etc.
I've watched about 2 episodes of 'Friends.' In one episode, a couple of the guys are unsatisfied with life and decide they want to conquer Mount Everest - but conclude they will get the same satisfaction by watching 'Die Hard.'
We're more free than we've ever been - probably meaning that most families have 2 cars, and the ability to take vacation. But is that really freedom? Suppose for a second that someone invents a teleportation device that allows you to travel anywhere in the world instantly. Will people still ride bikes and Harleys? I'm betting so.
The thrill isn't in being at your destination. It's in the anticipation, the planning, the journey, and the arrival.
I rejoice when my car needs fixed. (I rejoice in secret, because my wife hates me being out wrestling with a stubborn engine part, when I could be tidying the house or tending kids.)
We deliberately strip our lives of challenges. Someone else grows our food, someone else makes our clothes, someone else builds our transportation, someone else builds our house, we look for desk jobs where we don't have to get our hands dirty.
Most Americans spend 40 hours a week waiting for five o'clock, and then spend the weekend relaxing.
No wonder we're unsatisfied, have mid-life crises, and feel like we accomplish nothing. We're not challenged, and life is too easy.
I'm not sure I could say it any better, we need challenges, the growth of overcoming them...
Another media reference to back up Jim's comment, the movie "Serenity", one of the finest sci-fi movies ever...a demi-advanced post earth human civilization aiming to pacify the population and make everyone docile, obedient, and therefore...happy, treats the water supply of one colony with a substance that really just removes ambition, makes everyone believe they already have what they want. The result: 90% of the population just sort of stops right where they are, and dies. Content and happy, they felt no further need to struggle onward. No need to go home from work, no need to get out of the vehicle, no need to finish the cornflakes right in front of them, no need to get out of the chair...so there they sat until they died.
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