evilgenius wrote:I sometimes wonder if the sowing of doubt on threads like this isn't the result of an entire generation (mine) not being taught how to thrive in the world. Yes, there are predatory lenders. But why are there so many of them? And why is it that the society watches what they do, as in pay day lending, and refuses to regulate the practices? Most things in concrete existence are where they are because of some form of market interaction. Some markets are more complicated than others. The series of them that compose society, where more than money is compared and exchanged, result in the kinds of parents that we have. There isn't a set standard for good parenting, just like there isn't for good managing, though that, at least, does have a school of thought surrounding it. We don't consider it important enough to address our greatest failures. We don't even want to talk about it. We would much rather wallow in our fears. I can understand that.
Sowing doubt? What doubt would that be? Doubt that income inequality has grown at rather absurd rates? Doubt that societies are being saddled with exponentially rising debts while a tiny percentage of the population reaps the benefits? Doubt that we are falling behind on maintaining infrastructure while taxes get cut, especially for the very wealthy who arguably have benefited the most from a legacy of infrastructure investments?
You say "we" a lot, though there is no "we" when it comes to an equitable economic structure. Those who can purchase the loudest megaphones talk about things that will promote more of the same, and those who have the greatest capacity to create change generally like things the way they are.
Q: How would you describe the economy?
A: It is a system that allows a select few to borrow immense fortunes. The rest of us; you, me, everyone else, repay the debts.
Q: That’s it?
A: That’s it.
You say: "I sometimes wonder if the sowing of doubt on threads like this isn't the result of an entire generation (mine) not being taught how to thrive in the world."
There are other ways to thrive if one seeks them out and refuses to drink the coolaid.