I once asked people here what their response would be to a situation a relative of mine was in. Here in NZ everyone over the age of 65 is automatically entitled to a pension of about $500/week. It is not means tested. My relative has chosen not to accept the payment as they feel they have enough wealth to support them into old age - I asked Stackers would they do the same or would they take the money regardless of their own wealth.
If my recollection is correct, not a single respondent said they would refuse the pension. I was surprised as I thought 'Libertarian' and self sovereign individuals would not be so keen to take other peoples money- but no- they all said take the money.
So @denlillaapan - look in the mirror - would you take the money or refuse it?
Perhaps the selfishness is an inter-generational thing...a symptom of an entire culture in decline due to an amoral ideology that discards any sense of community and only values the individual and material acquisition?
Perhaps the USA with its decades of extraordinary privilege and wealth has bred a population with an exceptional sense of entitlement and selfishness that does not want to sacrifice anything much for the common good but rather takes and takes from the collective wealth and depletes the entire nation in the process.
This is perhaps the decline of western civilisation- due to exceptional an exceptional sense of entitlement, selfishness and greed across the generations.
I once asked people here what their response would be to a situation a relative of mine was in.
Here in NZ everyone over the age of 65 is automatically entitled to a pension of about $500/week. It is not means tested.
My relative has chosen not to accept the payment as they feel they have enough wealth to support them into old age - I asked Stackers would they do the same or would they take the money regardless of their own wealth.
If my recollection is correct, not a single respondent said they would refuse the pension.
I was surprised as I thought 'Libertarian' and self sovereign individuals would not be so keen to take other peoples money- but no- they all said take the money.
So @denlillaapan - look in the mirror - would you take the money or refuse it?
Perhaps the selfishness is an inter-generational thing...a symptom of an entire culture in decline due to an amoral ideology that discards any sense of community and only values the individual and material acquisition?
Perhaps the USA with its decades of extraordinary privilege and wealth has bred a population with an exceptional sense of entitlement and selfishness that does not want to sacrifice anything much for the common good but rather takes and takes from the collective wealth and depletes the entire nation in the process.
This is perhaps the decline of western civilisation- due to exceptional an exceptional sense of entitlement, selfishness and greed across the generations.