tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post1024788271408420712..comments2023-10-16T05:58:57.573-07:00Comments on WESTCOAST WALKER: TRYING TO GET THE BALANCE RIGHTWestcoast Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431692491603570310noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-34288207391333921012008-01-24T06:59:00.000-08:002008-01-24T06:59:00.000-08:00I'm with you on this one. I almost fell off of my ...I'm with you on this one. I almost fell off of my chair when I heard W was going to throw tax cuts our way after that ridiculous attempt at "jump starting" the economy a few years ago. Yes, they would be a great help if my mortgage were only a quarter per month and college didn't cost the price of a small island. <BR/>Consumerism consumes, that's what it's designed to do.sermopoeticushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06002692971917854001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-17605196277519817902008-01-23T12:07:00.000-08:002008-01-23T12:07:00.000-08:00I have boycotted WalMart for years for this very s...I have boycotted WalMart for years for this very same reason.<BR/><BR/>As a Quaker, one of our founding principles is that of Simplicity. What it means varies from Friend to Friend, but I interpret it to mean living simply, not beyond ones means, not being ostentatious, and taking into account that material possessions in and of themselves are not the ultimate goal. <BR/><BR/>It will take a massive shift in thinking to change that perception, particularly because it's so intrinsic in Western Society--the idea that somehow possession and gain is equated with social standing.Comrade Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393718048145784837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-4611512440864040822008-01-22T19:18:00.000-08:002008-01-22T19:18:00.000-08:00Thanks all for your comments!Jeremy - yeah, its am...Thanks all for your comments!<BR/><BR/>Jeremy - yeah, its amazing how consumerism is so tied in with our culture of individualism as some sort of inherited right.<BR/><BR/>Lisa - cheers to you as well, a good dark roast in your honor! I look forward to further exchanges.<BR/><BR/>Dean - having kids does make it challenging. You want to teach them to think critically without sucking the joy out of life at the same time. The guitar hero thing sounds fun indeed and playing together is important, and like everything it has its place. The peer issue is big as well, and don't get me started on insipid advertising (that's another posting!)<BR/><BR/>JMGB - thinking is a good place to start and I need to do it more often!Westcoast Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17431692491603570310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-69658017761659860462008-01-22T18:51:00.000-08:002008-01-22T18:51:00.000-08:00i am glad we are all thinking...i am glad we are all thinking...jmgbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921190803931475550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-80491922360185842292008-01-22T14:51:00.000-08:002008-01-22T14:51:00.000-08:00Kids do make it hard. Not only do you have to dea...Kids do make it hard. Not only do you have to deal with your own conflicts with societal expectations but then you have to deal with their own self-image as measured by their peers. We can only hope that we raise them to be self-confident enough to deal with that.<BR/><BR/>OTOH I'm addicted to Guitar Hero III on the Wii so who am I to talk?Dean Wormerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06214049238722718299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-76379364666106673592008-01-22T05:41:00.000-08:002008-01-22T05:41:00.000-08:00Oooo, how very cool to receive your comment, click...Oooo, how very cool to receive your comment, click to your blog, and then see myself mentioned in a post! Wow!<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your thoughtful comments and look forward to walking along with you via our blogs through this crazy journey of life. <BR/><BR/>Here's to a great cup of strong, dark-roast organic fair-trade coffee :-)<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>LisaLisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13142228108347057574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673215879228376458.post-71744473761297857852008-01-21T20:24:00.000-08:002008-01-21T20:24:00.000-08:00But if we don't shop, the terrorists win, right? ;...But if we don't shop, the terrorists win, right? ;)poppedculturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12489589165185325301noreply@blogger.com