Baltimorei

[LDAHL]

Brings up another idea that we touch on often, but (as a society) we tend to ignore. There's an interesting, and I think important, difference between wanting it now and needing it now. If a storm is blowing in you need shelter now. If the tribe is starving you need to hunt or gather now. Pretty basic stuff. Once that kind of need was met there was usually plenty of free time for music, dancing, storytelling, creating art, napping, etc. The good stuff. We all know that, but somehow we've made the two pronged transition from "us" being the tribe to "us" as the individual and blurring the lines between what we really need and what we just want. That's preaching to the choir in here, but regardless of how tired the words can be the whole notion is still close to the root of a lot of evils in my corner of the world.

Couldn't you add an intermediate level between tribe and individual of family? There's been plenty written on the benefits of an intact family for the overall well-being of it's members. I find that "what I really need" greatly expanded when I try to plan for my progeny's education and launch into adult life, as well as hedging against emergencies and family support for life after work (or life after me). I'd be at a much different point on the grasshopper-ant spectrum if it were just me.

[Gregg]

Of course that's a valid point LDAHL. There are lots of intermediate levels between individuals and every living organism on planet Earth. And the "needs" of a society, tribe or even family can coincide with or they can be in direct opposition to the needs of any given individual within it at any given time. Its all pretty dynamic. IRL my ideas of living smaller and simpler have been running into stone walls as of late so I guess some of that frustration comes across here. That, and its been raining every day. Maybe vitamin D is the answer...

[kib]

You really should start new threads about these subjects. You are missing a lot of valuable input by people who haveno interest in Baltimore and politics however may have much to add about theories and subjects like sustainability.

Good point. Just a note, Catherine has started a new thread. I think this one kept on going as long as it did because it feels like maybe there's a connection between a functional society generally speaking and how it manages to maintain order. Probably not enough of a connection to make this thread an appropriate place for a sustainable society discussion, tho.

[ApatheticNoMore]

But ... EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED!!!! Woah man, it's all like connected!! Just kidding

But really I think most anyone who wants to participate pretty much finds the thread. Anyone hoping to find a discussion of Baltimore would be disappointed though. Yea that this society is dysfunctional is pretty much to be found everywhere.

[kib]

You're right. We should probably just have one big thread, really.

[ApatheticNoMore]

We should probably just have one big thread, really.

Exactly

[flowerseverywhere]

Good point. Just a note, Catherine has started a new thread. I think this one kept on going as long as it did because it feels like maybe there's a connection between a functional society generally speaking and how it manages to maintain order. Probably not enough of a connection to make this thread an appropriate place for a sustainable society discussion, tho.

i agree. But there is a serious disconnect between theories and realities. The reality of poor people of color and how they survive is so complicated.

[flowerseverywhere]

But ... EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED!!!! Woah man, it's all like connected!! Just kidding

But really I think most anyone who wants to participate pretty much finds the thread. Anyone hoping to find a discussion of Baltimore would be disappointed though. Yea that this society is dysfunctional is pretty much to be found everywhere.

This society functions for many. Many are thriving. In particular upper middle class to upper class people.

[Gregg]

This society functions for many. Many are thriving. In particular upper middle class to upper class people.

No doubt the solutions are simpler if you have resources at your disposal. Nonetheless, we don't even have a working definition of "thriving". I agree that its desirable, but what is it?

[jp1]

This society functions for many. Many are thriving. In particular upper middle class to upper class people.

And it used to be that the many who were thriving including working class and middle class people. If the current trajectory continues eventually we'll have it whittled down to just upper class people who are thriving. Or maybe it will always be the upper middle class to upper class people, but the number of people who fit into those two groups will have shrunk.