Hi: I agree that the structure or our capitalistic system is leading to the break up of many families who get so consumed with making money that they don't have time for themselves, their families, and others. Some people try as hard as they can to make the income they need but never make enough. Financial tensions do seem to be the cause of breaks in families a lot of times. We need enough money to have decent lives and people realize they have to do what it takes to get the money to live a decent life. Some persons get the money by legal means by having a good education, making good use of opportunities which come their way, being resourceful, being good at networking and having friends in high places to help, and of course by having a really good work ethic and endurance for work.
I think that some resort to lying, cheating, and stealing, not because they want to or because they are bad people but because they are driven by the need to provide for themselves and family, and either don't know how to make the money they need legally, or are shut out of so many positions because of biases that they see lying, cheating, and stealing as the only way to survive and provide for themselves and families. This is a sad reality, that people in the US, such a wealthy and powerful country with so much cash and control of resources. Each person in America should be sufficiently provided for in good ways. Their are many people here in the US who are good people but suffer from disabilities, judgements, biases, discriminations, exclusions, to such a degree that it is difficult or almost virtually impossible for them to make it well.
People have to combat racism, sexism/genderism, socioeconomic judgements, and so many others that it becomes discouraging and oppressing to so many, both subtlely and overtly, as the case may be.
Some people; some families are good at sticking through all this and succeeding against almost seemingly insurmountable odds and trials. Some people have and adopt the spirit of overcoming of standing up to adversity and discrimination, getting through it, making positive changes to better life, and moving forward in their lives.
This is the attitude, the strength that people and families need to develop in our society, because the system is probably not going to all of a sudden say- You know, the system's so messed up, the system is oppressive and full of inequalities and injustices, the system is going to reverse it's ways today and provide for each American, look out for we the people, and run the system according to humane ways, for the good of all. This just isn't going to happen over night. It happens in small ways everyday by individuals willing to address these issues in reasonable appropriate ways for themselves and their families.
In the mean time, while the system makes baby steps towards positive changes over time, we the people need to do our best to develop strong characters and personalities to endure society's ills. When peoples, families, and communities stick together and support eachother through the hard times as well as the good times than people survive and thrive and make the best of the situation. I've heard of many inner city families, holocaust victims, and victims of other poverties and atrocities who have stuck together, not given up hope, loved eachother, supported eachother, prayed for and with eachother, shared and cared for one another through the tough times, and these people stayed afloat in this world. I think we all need to try to create theses structures of friendships- sharing, caring, barter, trade, volunteering, cooperatives, free events etc. We all need to be able to live, work, learn, grow, teach, survive and thrive in good ways. Thank goodness for the people who have displayed these ways, attitudes, who have set good examples for everyone of ways to be. I think that families need to try to stay together more, and get the help they need, instead of breaking up so quickly, because of differences which can pass and because of greed etc. Often times things get better if you just stick with things and make it through them. People generally change for the better if they stand together and continue to believe and trust and love eachother, no matter what. Look at it this way-if you don't solve the problems in the first marriage your in, then breaking up with your paretner and marrying another won't ensur that you won't have the same or similar problems in your next marriage, people need to resolve their problems, not dissolve their families and marriages. If people had better skills for addressing and resolving problems then they may not be so many breakups.
Definitely some people could get off their greed trains some and stop to smell the roses sometimes, and make new friends based on things other than money sometimes.
But I think that many people are getting educations and pursuing careers which require good college education and specialized skills because they want to succeed in life, to live good lives and have financially stable families. I think that people are realizing that the days are disappearing where you can find a decent paying job in the unskilled labor industries or any other job for that matter.
Today, you have to be motivated, get educated, network, meet people. You almost need to go to college to get good placements in the workplace these days. You need specialized skills and to be skilled well in many areas because a single business will have you doing many different duties today. You can't just choose a job, apprentice there, have the same job for 30 years, have job security, job loyalty, senority etc. You can get canned like that when someone more qualified comes along, or someone who will work for less, or someone with better looks, or someone with a better more kiss ass attitude. So see, I think many people are moving as fast as they can and aquiring as much wealth and schooling as fast as they can because they want to survive in this world well, in our society's workplace.
I don't see everyone just running around hording, being greedy, just chasing the bucks, but people wisely trying to make the best most efficient time of their time, energy, and money. I do think that the pursuance of money can get out of control with some people, who lose perspective of what's important and truly valuable in life like: family, good friends, our natural world etc. Some people suffer from affluenza, big time. So, some people could stand to slow down and get an attitude adjustment. Others though are just doing the best they can, I think, taking classes both which they're interested in, and not, just to get a good education, then get a good job, then be able to live a decent, financially stable life, unfortunately, money is a neccessity in our world. Darn It.
I wish we could all do what we wanted, when we wanted, at our own time and speed- humane, good, decent, safe, and healthy things that is. Good Luck Arne!
Shaunasi