@Leon Said
Thanks for the links. Yes, the desire to own property has been inherent to American life for as long as the country has been in existence, even addressed in the Declaration of Independence. But I often wonder if this desire is really as inherent as John Locke implied, as we see many countries where this isn't as valued and people are quite content.
I think what young people these days are beginning to see is that we all can own property, but that in order to truly enjoy it we need to keep in in perspective. I notice that a lot of people my age (early thirties) are choosing lower paying jobs that offer more home time with family, or are making choices about where to live or what to drive with "how does that affect my family time" or "how will that affect the environment"
I think it is good to own property, to be responsible for your own patch of earth, but now instead of asking "How much can I get the bank to lend me" People are asking "whats the least amount of money I can spend to get the house/car that I need?"
Same with toys for their kids, vacations, furniture. Just all kinds of financial situations. I know that for me, if I am going to buy, say a piece of furniture, than I am going to look for it in all the resale shops first. That's not because I can't buy new, its because used is more environmentally respectful. Second, most resale shops are funding a positive cause. And third I wont buy on credit unless absolutely necessary.
My kids learn to spend from me, and consequently they are starting to be more excited about what a bargain they can find than about whether something is "in"
@Leon Said The playfulness vs. aggression thing is interesting, and something I do question, as we certainly were more outside-playing as a nation a half a century ago, yet still saw plenty of violence in and abroad.
My ex-husband got all huffy with me one day and said he couldn't stand what a bunch of peacenik hippies I was turning the kids into. I said, "thanks"
We just have to raise one good little peacenik at a time
@Leon Said
I hear you about justice and the love of it, and do agree. Justice certainly has its place. But I wonder how accepting we would be of life not being fair sometimes and willing to forgive if we weren't conditioned to always "tell on the teacher or tell on mommy" on every inconsequential thing.
I hate tattletales
When my kiddos do it it drives me up the wall