Dear F,
Thanks for your email.
You ask: "Were there ever any GOOD times. When we sing Happy Days are Here Again ,when were those days?"
The Golden Age has never been -- although life in Western Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Canada is pretty damn good. People are reasonably happy in these places and perhaps most notably they have "settled social contracts" based on The Common Good and The General Welfare whereby these societies agree to take care of one another.
The bitter, hateful, look-out-only-for-#1 rugged individualism that characterizes the secular religion of The United States of Barbaria is as laughable as Donald Trump who epitomizes our morally bankrupt -- indeed, deliberately cruel -- way of "life" which Pope John Paul II characterized as a "Culture of Death." (It is true that JPII spoke generally of "The West" but we now see the precise epicenter of the modern world's Death Culture and Death Cult.)
The bitter, hateful, look-out-only-for-#1 rugged individualism that characterizes the secular religion of The United States of Barbaria is as laughable as Donald Trump who epitomizes our morally bankrupt -- indeed, deliberately cruel -- way of "life" which Pope John Paul II characterized as a "Culture of Death." (It is true that JPII spoke generally of "The West" but we now see the precise epicenter of the modern world's Death Culture and Death Cult.)
Looking back on supposed Golden Ages, we tell ourselves that everything would be perfect if only we returned to "the way it used to be."
George McGovern: "The Case For Liberalism, A Defense Of The Future Against The Past"
Once we establish this image of bygone perfection, we look out on "what is" and immediately start identifying the n'er-do-wells and parasites who do not "measure up" and because they don't measure up, these "goddamned" people ruin it for everyone else.
It is always those at the bottom who pay for the foundational crimes of those at the top.
Humankind's Spiritual Quandary Summarized In 16 Words:
Fr. Thomas Merton Explains -- In 16 Words -- Why "Christian" "Conservatives" Are Always Wrong
If you don't get it, the following meme may help.
Alan: Conservatives would love to be more charitable,
but people don't deserve it.
"The Hard, Central Truth Of Contemporary Conservatism"
but people don't deserve it.
"The Hard, Central Truth Of Contemporary Conservatism"
Bucky Fuller Provides The Framework For Designing An Exit To Our Practical Quandary/Impasse.
Notice That Fuller's Vision Coincides With Merton's Vision that Loving Service To Others Is "The Only Way."
Alan: Thanks to friend Paul Schulte Ph.D. -- CDC and NIOSH epidemiologist -- for turning me on to Bucky Fuller.
Bucky had this to say after attempting suicide as a young man:
Buckminster Fuller
Wikipedia
Alan: Just browse a while in this brief bio and be blown away!
Buckminster Fuller
Wikiquote
Bucky Fuller: "I Seem To Be A Verb"
50 Years Ago, The Great Bucky Fuller Prophesied The Future Of Work
"Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth"
Online PDF
Alan: Profuse thanks to lifelong friend Paul Schulte, NIOSH epidemiologist, for introducing me to Bucky.
"Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth"
Wikipedia
"Love Is A Metaphysical Gravity," Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller
"The merely rich are not rich enough to rule the modern market. The things that change modern history, the big national and international loans, the big educational and philanthropic foundations, the purchase of numberless newspapers, the big prices paid for peerages, the big expenses often incurred in elections - these are getting too big for everybody except the misers; the men with the largest of earthly fortunes and the smallest of earthly aims. There are two other odd and rather important things to be said about them. The first is this: that with this aristocracy we do not have the chance of a lucky variety in types which belongs to larger and looser aristocracies. The moderately rich include all kinds of people even good people. Even priests are sometimes saints; and even soldiers are sometimes heroes. Some doctors have really grown wealthy by curing their patients and not by flattering them; some brewers have been known to sell beer. But among the Very Rich you will never find a really generous man, even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egoistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it."
G. K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton: "The Anarchy of The Rich"
Chesterton: The Rich Are The Real Anarchists And Sully The World With Their Scum
G.K. Chesterton: "The Anarchy of The Rich"
Chesterton: The Rich Are The Real Anarchists And Sully The World With Their Scum
G.K. Chesterton and Warren Buffett's Class War
G.K. Chesterton and Warren Buffett's Class War
Chesterton: Plenty Of Books Denounce Lust But What Of Those That Encourage Greed
http://paxonbothhouses.
http://paxonbothhouses.
Chesterton Considered The Rich "Oppressive" "Scum" And "Failures"
Chesterton: Distributism Posits Need To Distribute Private Property Until Everyone Has Enough
Chesterton: Distributism Posits Need To Distribute Private Property Until Everyone Has Enough
G.K. Chesterton Quotations... And More
G.K. Chesterton Quotations... And More
Pax On Both Houses: Compendium Of G.K. Chesterton Posts
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/10/pax-on-both-houses-gk-chesterton-posts.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/10/pax-on-both-houses-gk-chesterton-posts.html
Chesterton - The Best Single Web Source
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/04/gk-chesterton-best-single-web-source.html
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