General Discussion

Cosmocat

(15,453 posts)

106. We BY FAR live lives more full of material goods and constant entertainment.

Fri Aug 24, 2012, 03:12 PM

Aug 2012

live lives full of material goods and constant entertainment.

It just is a different culture - they live a more relaxed life and are happy with a lot less.

We are lower middle class income, but still have a nice, newer 1,900 square foot house, two newer model cars, two children, pets, 4 TVs, eat out regularly, just got back from a short vacation and are leaving for the beach in a few days ... We aren't putting much away toward retirement right now, but outside of a mortgage, car payment and general bills don't have high debt.

This would make us near royalty in many countries, and upper crust is most.

Sorry, our standard of living is pretty fricken high here.

Not many other countries have people fully invested in nonsense like Jersey Shore ...

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So, I'm in Yosemite this week, talking to a Dutch Woman there with her family [View all] Burma Jones Aug 2012 OP

She nailed it. no_hypocrisy Aug 2012 #1

It's been speculated that the use of lead pipes in ancient Roman plumbing was one of TheDebbieDee Aug 2012 #150

You are forgetting the 60-plus years of the use of leaded gasoline. AdHocSolver Aug 2012 #152

Side question a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #2

Still there and thriving (sadly enough) nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #3

...sigh... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #5

I read that as "grab a club and learn some science" the first time entanglement Aug 2012 #121

both versions work well a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #135

It might almost be worth postulating that science IS a religion. sibelian Aug 2012 #207

Hey... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #215

Not necessarily; A HERETIC I AM Aug 2012 #10

That's good to know. I got the information from a quick google search riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #27

I'm embarassed to admit reflection Aug 2012 #28

"Do it for your children, if not for yourself," AlbertCat Aug 2012 #70

No reflection Aug 2012 #85

Don't feel guilty! AlbertCat Aug 2012 #90

Thanks. reflection Aug 2012 #92

You sound like Iwillnevergiveup Aug 2012 #107

Make sure before your children are old enough to decide that they have at least coalition_unwilling Aug 2012 #109

Agree wholeheartedly. reflection Aug 2012 #184

You feel guilty? Over what!? Wednesdays Aug 2012 #144

I know. reflection Aug 2012 #186

DO IT FOR YOUR CHILDREN????? REALLY???? ladym55 Aug 2012 #141

This is why churches are tax exempt AlbertCat Aug 2012 #69

Most of my heroes are heretics! I really enjoyed the last couple of lines from that blog article: jamesatemple Aug 2012 #119

"Natural Selection is not Evolution" Blecht Aug 2012 #4

I can't see references to BJU without snickering. JBoy Aug 2012 #6

Holy Shit mikeysnot Aug 2012 #11

I remember reading somewhere that a lotta fed grants paid for that museum. (Yes we built that too) DippyDem Aug 2012 #26

I noticed that, too Blecht Aug 2012 #45

Hey, ignorance is always expensive, both short- and long-term. n/t PavePusher Aug 2012 #111

The creation museum, where truth goes to die. alfredo Aug 2012 #49

LOL! Good one! smirkymonkey Aug 2012 #200

GRIN alfredo Aug 2012 #201

it's in my backyard..... kywildcat Aug 2012 #23

There is a billboard in Oklahoma City yesphan Aug 2012 #30

I bet most of the visitors to that museum go there for a laugh. xtraxritical Aug 2012 #29

Sounds like a good place to drop acid. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2012 #62

I suppose in a Hunter S. "Fear and loathing" kind of way Douglas Carpenter Aug 2012 #67

It's the only way. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2012 #114

no, no more than most go to fundamentalist mega churches just for laughs Douglas Carpenter Aug 2012 #71

No-it's deadly serious to them kywildcat Aug 2012 #77

Expensive laugh! liam_laddie Aug 2012 #168

"Welcome and prepare to believe" Douglas Carpenter Aug 2012 #65

Wow a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #68

placing them in familiar settings. AlbertCat Aug 2012 #72

That's the kind of place you walk around with a one-hitter and laugh your ass off snooper2 Aug 2012 #96

I don't even like smoking pot Aerows Aug 2012 #174

Just laugh very quietly. Mariana Aug 2012 #180

My response would have been American ignorance rivals racial superiority ideas of Europe. gordianot Aug 2012 #7

The problem with your comparison is that the things you want to tar Europe with kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #14

Europe has a real problem with anti-semitism, anti-immigrant and just outright racism today. 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #53

Mainly in the past, perhaps, but not completely. Google "Right Wing Europe" sometime. n/t whathehell Aug 2012 #54

No not really lunasun Aug 2012 #139

Go back far enough in history and everyone has something truly despicable to account for.. Fumesucker Aug 2012 #15

Oh. My. God. Words fail me. classof56 Aug 2012 #32

I have seen it before... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #40

The movie Borat showed us the pro slavery crowd is still alive. alfredo Aug 2012 #50

Yes but the problem with what you are saying is avebury Aug 2012 #24

I am not sure doomed to repeat history as much as it is in our DNA. gordianot Aug 2012 #63

I would agree with that. avebury Aug 2012 #76

As a fan of SciFi we are probably Mottee from the "Mote in God's Eye". gordianot Aug 2012 #91

The willful ignorance in this country has become a quality too many like to brag about! snappyturtle Aug 2012 #8

On balance, our standard of living is so high Cosmocat Aug 2012 #17

I hope that was sarcasm Progressive dog Aug 2012 #31

They do, and I'm happy for them and wish we had it, but whathehell Aug 2012 #64

We BY FAR live lives more full of material goods and constant entertainment. Cosmocat Aug 2012 #106

I think there's more home ownership here, as well, at LEAST until the most recent foreclosure crisis whathehell Aug 2012 #191

Ah ... the "middle" Cosmocat Aug 2012 #199

I agreee...Thanks for your input. n/t whathehell Aug 2012 #202

My son lives in UK riverbendviewgal Aug 2012 #128

I have a suggestion for your son whathehell Aug 2012 #173

It is coming - just like in about 30 years or less whites in America will be in the minority riverbendviewgal Aug 2012 #192

Yes, I hope so. whathehell Aug 2012 #198

How Many American Families Can Afford A Vacation to Holland? Yavin4 Aug 2012 #39

Not mine... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #41

Not sure what the point there is ... Cosmocat Aug 2012 #108

I Live in NYC Yavin4 Aug 2012 #117

Which contributes to Americans' ignorance Wednesdays Aug 2012 #145

Hogsnot Cosmocat Aug 2012 #167

The Issue is Beyond Simple Affluence Yavin4 Aug 2012 #187

Vering off course a bit Cosmocat Aug 2012 #189

Thank you...Everyone but one in my immediate family has been to Europe at least once. whathehell Aug 2012 #195

Our "standard of living" is high, your are right if you mean for the 1%. Quite a lot of people nanabugg Aug 2012 #44

Come on Cosmocat Aug 2012 #102

A lot is the emphasis put on "faith" -- like faith is a good thing. Arugula Latte Aug 2012 #181

A lot of people have "faith" in things other than religion. whathehell Aug 2012 #203

My comment was relevant to this thread. Arugula Latte Aug 2012 #204

Absolutely. sinkingfeeling Aug 2012 #9

I had a similar experience flying, while seated next to a Dutch male siligut Aug 2012 #12

The Netherlands is a small country ladym55 Aug 2012 #143

"That ignorance is a real sign of decadence" . . yeppers. . .n/t annabanana Aug 2012 #13

Yes, it is decadence. NYC_SKP Aug 2012 #16

Our luxury is going to cost us a lot. undeterred Aug 2012 #18

The US has a tiny minority who believe man rode dinosaurs, and refute evolution. Swamp Lover Aug 2012 #19

that depends... Hoosier Aug 2012 #22

Close enough genxlib Aug 2012 #25

"The rest simply ignore the science or find some other silly way to avoid the facts". whathehell Aug 2012 #83

If you consider 40% to be small Progressive dog Aug 2012 #33

A significant chunk, almost half, of Americans "don't believe" in evolution. Arugula Latte Aug 2012 #34

Close to half is not a small number. nadinbrzezinski Aug 2012 #38

Not small, but still a minority. whathehell Aug 2012 #61

And growing nadinbrzezinski Aug 2012 #66

Possibly, but whathehell Aug 2012 #78

No, you are quite wrong, do you live in a swamp? Burma Jones Aug 2012 #75

"America is the only country to leap from barbarism straight over civilization to decadence" TexasProgresive Aug 2012 #20

Really?...How about when we were "civilized" enough to help rescue Europe from it's "decadence" whathehell Aug 2012 #57

to help rescue Europe from it's "decadence" AlbertCat Aug 2012 #79

Unless you imagine racial superiority and genocide to symbolize "enlightenment". whathehell Aug 2012 #98

What are you blathering on about? AlbertCat Aug 2012 #156

What am I "blathering" about?...LOL..Good try, pretend not to "understand" whathehell Aug 2012 #163

Thank the republican party for allowing the teavangelicas to take over their party. southernyankeebelle Aug 2012 #21

Dr Frankenstein lost control of his monster too. alfredo Aug 2012 #52

LOL, that's funny southernyankeebelle Aug 2012 #110

I know of absolutely no one that believes "humans rode dinosaurs"... yawnmaster Aug 2012 #35

But 40% of Americans... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #42

Are you sure of that stat?...Seems awfully high. whathehell Aug 2012 #51

Look here, look elsewhere..........Actually, 78% of people believe in some version of a fairy tale.. Burma Jones Aug 2012 #81

"Fairy tale" my ass...The figures indicate that a narrow majority accept evolution, with or without whathehell Aug 2012 #93

May I ask how old you are?... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #97

Sure. whathehell Aug 2012 #100

To be totally honest with you... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #118

Right. whathehell Aug 2012 #123

Yes, she was the last one... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #124

Yes, and that is too bad. whathehell Aug 2012 #127

You know, I just remembered something... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #142

Higher Power = some version of a Fairy Tale Burma Jones Aug 2012 #105

Sez you. whathehell Aug 2012 #125

I'm sorry if I offended you. Burma Jones Aug 2012 #148

Do you realize you're repeating yourself? whathehell Aug 2012 #162

I'm not the one with the angry user name and hidden posts Burma Jones Aug 2012 #178

Nice try, honey, but hidden posts are only accounted for in 90 day increments. whathehell Aug 2012 #182

40% of doctors believe you can pray away disease AlbertCat Aug 2012 #82

40% of doctors in denial of their own medical training, and with far more responsibility than the whathehell Aug 2012 #89

prayer eltrippero Aug 2012 #99

Maybe prayer works for some AlbertCat Aug 2012 #154

FAR more calamitous state of affairs. AlbertCat Aug 2012 #153

This message was self-deleted by its author whathehell Aug 2012 #160

Um, yes. I think so. whathehell Aug 2012 #161

I think they believe in the placebo effect, and the placebo is "whatever works for the patient." MADem Aug 2012 #146

You do realize my example was made up.... right? AlbertCat Aug 2012 #155

No, that wasn't clear to me, and thanks for pointing it out to me. MADem Aug 2012 #176

In your most paranoid fantasy whathehell Aug 2012 #169

You should get out more. <G> Let me introduce you to jtuck004 Aug 2012 #120

I always thought the only way a kid could ride a dinosaur was with a time machine... MADem Aug 2012 #147

How Many American Families Are In Holland on Vacation? Yavin4 Aug 2012 #36

It certainly tells you why so many Americans are so stoopid about "socialized medicine." CTyankee Aug 2012 #46

Bullshit...They're being BRAINWASHED by those with a vested financial interest in private insurance whathehell Aug 2012 #126

well, there are those who don't seem to know that "socialized medicine" is not bad! CTyankee Aug 2012 #133

I didn't deny that, my point goes to whathehell Aug 2012 #164

My American family can afford it...n/t whathehell Aug 2012 #59

Can you go without borrowing money to pay for it? Yavin4 Aug 2012 #94

Yes. whathehell Aug 2012 #104

The Dutch Woman in the OP was with her kids Yavin4 Aug 2012 #116

Whatever. whathehell Aug 2012 #122

I don't know. Do you have some numbers? eom yawnmaster Aug 2012 #95

Nailed it nadinbrzezinski Aug 2012 #37

you have several options. cyclezealot Aug 2012 #43

Oh my, that one is in California. Yikes. nt Live and Learn Aug 2012 #60

It's in "Klantee," which is not characteristic of most of California slackmaster Aug 2012 #101

Corrupt, decadent, empire in decline, yes; obvious since the 1970s at least. nt bemildred Aug 2012 #47

I don't know where you live whathehell Aug 2012 #172

Vietnam. Nixon. Watergate. Disco. Reagan. Lying "News" media. Police riots. bemildred Aug 2012 #175

Yes, and of course, other countries never experience similar situations, right? whathehell Aug 2012 #177

Yes, they do, and it is fucking well obvious in their case too. nt bemildred Aug 2012 #183

Really?...Then why not start bashing them? whathehell Aug 2012 #185

I do, all the time. bemildred Aug 2012 #188

On this site? whathehell Aug 2012 #190

Yes, of course they are. sibelian Aug 2012 #208

Sometimes.. whathehell Aug 2012 #209

Right wing Europe is not a serious contender for anything on that continent. sibelian Aug 2012 #210

Yeah, that's what they thought before Hitler and Mussolini too. whathehell Aug 2012 #211

Miss the days when it was the other way round, do you? sibelian Aug 2012 #212

Bwhahahahaha whathehell Aug 2012 #213

Over your head? sibelian Aug 2012 #214

Under it. whathehell Aug 2012 #216

Decadence is our problem. JDPriestly Aug 2012 #48

Are you a Distributist too? eilen Aug 2012 #55

Thanks to the religious right we are in decline! B Calm Aug 2012 #56

Oswald Spengler Wrote of this a Century Ago mckara Aug 2012 #58

Evolution isn't a belief. Alduin Aug 2012 #73

Hence the quote marks around "believing" Burma Jones Aug 2012 #84

I don't believe in gravity! Taverner Aug 2012 #87

More American believe God created humans in their present form than believe God guided evolution Douglas Carpenter Aug 2012 #74

Part of it is the "persecution complex" of Christians... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2012 #80

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." - 2 Timothy 3:12 Douglas Carpenter Aug 2012 #88

The Right knows this and link themselves to the fundies every time they whine about the media... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2012 #112

She's spot on. Taverner Aug 2012 #86

Not only is this a decadent thought process but so is the Ayn Rand philosophy. Arctic Dave Aug 2012 #103

Ironic that Koch Tea Party funders also funded Wash DC REAL dinosaur museum. ErikJ Aug 2012 #113

I thought the same thing recently.. in order to be a glutton, you must close your eyes to the world trailmonkee Aug 2012 #115

My NJ republican bubba brother is very proud to know nothing about the world riverbendviewgal Aug 2012 #130

and i bet you he is a nice guy..... trailmonkee Aug 2012 #132

No he is not a nice guy riverbendviewgal Aug 2012 #136

About 20 years ago I had a conversation with a Dutch man I knew. Quantess Aug 2012 #129

President ROMNEY. Make you sick, break out your wallet, quit talking. developertest01 Aug 2012 #131

We have segments of America that believe science is a liberal conspiracy and view ignorance as bliss ck4829 Aug 2012 #134

The Dutch are generally sane MrScorpio Aug 2012 #137

ignorance and arrogance are signs lunasun Aug 2012 #138

Absolutely & THINK of the systemic consequences of that fact, the CO$T$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ of ignorance!!! patrice Aug 2012 #140

Totally unrelated: Yosemite is awesome Nevernose Aug 2012 #149

11th grade Anthropology class studying evolution of skull ellie_belly Aug 2012 #151

Isn't it kind of rude to go to a foreign country and insult the people there? BlueCheese Aug 2012 #157

It's arrogant and what Americans get called "ugly" for doing it. Raine Aug 2012 #158

That's not particularly what Americans get called ugly for doing in other countries. Hissyspit Aug 2012 #166

If by "that" you mean arrogance, cultural insensitivity, etc., I'd have to disagree with you. whathehell Aug 2012 #171

Well, the OP disagrees with you. Hissyspit Aug 2012 #194

I don't really care. whathehell Aug 2012 #196

Thank you. whathehell Aug 2012 #170

No. Hissyspit Aug 2012 #193

Well, when you tell us what "that" is, whathehell Aug 2012 #197

Yes. whathehell Aug 2012 #217

To be fair, I doubt she would have said it if she knew 7000 people would read it. Prometheus Bound Aug 2012 #159

She was clearly invited into an intellectual discussion and she had one. Hissyspit Aug 2012 #165

She was definitely not rude, nor were her husband and children Burma Jones Aug 2012 #179

It's certainly on parade in this thread XemaSab Aug 2012 #205

This message was self-deleted by its author whathehell Aug 2012 #206