The Wealth oF Being Alive Today

I’m reading more and more on the topic of equality.  What it means and how to measure it.

But I have to maintain that we are the richest humans who have ever lived.  Today, in the USA have life better than the richest capitalists, pontiffs or kings who lived just in the last 100 years.

I recently discovered Spotify whereby I can listen to virtually any song I can think of.  That is, I have access to digital stereo playlists of every single Mozart piece he wrote.  Ever.  For free.  On demand.

Next up?  Haviah Nagilah by Neil Diamond.  After that?  The Lucky One by Alison Krause And Union Station.

We are wealthy beyond measure.

 

8 responses to “The Wealth oF Being Alive Today

  1. I make those same points when I teach the unit on the developing world — almost all in the industrialized West are in the top 3% or so in terms of wealth on the planet — and in fact, compared to any time in history. Equality, of course, is a relative term. I may have a neighbor who has a color TV, eats well, has good clothes, furniture and a decent house, but only earns $20,000 a year. Globally he’s doing superb. Compared to many others around him, he’s struggling. And who is he going to compare himself to? The people he can see, those in his own country. Politics is relative, not absolute.

    Some of us can take overseas vacations, others have no paid vacation. Some send their kids to private schools, others can’t afford college. Some have excellent health insurance plans, some don’t go see a doctor for fear of having collection agencies breathing down their throats.

    Still, we can’t lose sight of the fact that even our poor are about 90% of the time (we do have third world like poverty amongst the poorest of our poor) better off than most of the rest of the world in material terms (and most people in history).

    • Still, we can’t lose sight of the fact that even our poor are about 90% of the time (we do have third world like poverty amongst the poorest of our poor) better off than most of the rest of the world in material terms (and most people in history).

      If you make ~$36,000 you are the top 1% in the world.

  2. Just out of curiousity, is Mozart the only classical composer you dig?

    • Just out of curiousity, is Mozart the only classical composer you dig?

      I admit to liking the big ones; I’m more of a jazz guy when it comes to things refined. I like Mozart because he’s a Free Mason.

  3. Spotify is incredible and has made my work day significantly more bearable. I was worried it would lead to me to just keep listening to music I already know and like, but my experience has been close to the exact opposite.

    • I was worried it would lead to me to just keep listening to music I already know and like

      Though, that is a pretty good worst case scenario.

      my experience has been close to the exact opposite.

      I’m hoping it’s mine as well.

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