Peak American Dream
“The real hopeless victims of mental illness are to be found among those who appear to be most normal. “Many of them are normal because they are so well adjusted to our mode of existence, because their human voice has been silenced so early in their lives, that they do not even struggle or suffer or develop symptoms as the neurotic does.” They are normal not in what may be called the absolute sense of the word; they are normal only in relation to a profoundly abnormal society. Their perfect adjustment to that abnormal society is a measure of their mental sickness. These millions of abnormally normal people, living without fuss in a society to which, if they were fully human beings, they ought not to be adjusted.”
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited
I’m figuring the US’s 25% is a combo of youthful enthusiasm and the outlook for the government complex connected.
And people say there is no magic left in the world…
I figger 99% of the Clowns of Casa Blanca have Aspergers.
TE cited Twain’s line about stats, guess what? When the previous generation starts out in shacks with a dirt floor, of course the Chinks can only expect to outdo their parents.
My heart is breaking for the poor American kids who can’t envision living a better life than a cheap 4 bedroom basement with a tiny 60″ flat screen and iPhone to help them forget their diminished expectations. Shit, must be tough growing up during the late 80’s and 90’s never knowing what a market crisis looks like, what it’s like to work for food instead of electronic gadgets.
The Japanese are crazy.
I hit 21 in 1959.. Had 3 different jobs between 12 and 19. Did a hitch in the Navy, getting exactly what I wanted to get from it i.e. a short enlistment and lots of education, experience and growing up. And I got to see a whole pile of waterfronts from the Arctic Circle, Indian Ocean, Europe and most of the Caribbean and South America. There were beautiful women everywhere I went too.
I knew without thinking about it much that I would have a better life than my Mom and Dad, although in growing up I never lacked for anything and could only dream of raising a family as well as they did.
My kids, however, are a different story. I raised them right but adulthood threw them some curves that one daughter didn’t handle at all (still doesn’t) and the other daughter, who lost the love of her life at 52, took a good long time of climbing on and falling off the rails until she finally took responsibility, stopped blaming herself and got on with it. I have three grandsons that I know will do well (out of 5 – not too shabby) and, unfortunately, I hold out very little hope for my great grand children (currently 6 and I expect more to come!) because of our ever deepening pit of debt that will be called long before they are in any position to protect themselves from the fall out.
Since life is a journey (we all will reach the destination sooner or later), my goal and the goal of all I could influence was to enjoy everyday to the max. Fall on your ass? Just get up and try again. Fall on your ass twice after trying the same thing, then change your ways and do something different. Enjoy the journey, one day at a time, love greatly and well, judge people by their actions and minds and behavior and never be afraid to give a turkey another chance – you might be surprised because turkeys can change as well.
A “better life” is a subjective evaluation made by each and every one of us as we travel along, falling into pot holes and getting distracted by detours. One thing for sure, you do not need very much to be happy and satisfied and the more “stuff” one accumulates only equals more “stuff” that those who survive you has to get rid of and “stuff” has no connection to being full filled or satisfied with your life.
I’ve lost count (years ago) how many time my wife/lover/friend and I got down to two suitcases each, caught a silver bird and started from scratch in a new country, place or situation. Somehow, the “stuff” that got sold in yard sales and given away or donated never managed to weigh on us a bit and the adventures made the journey a blast!
Day at a time.. But may 2015 be a fun year for all you TBPers..
MA