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Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions?
#79
Hi Jerry

You're misinterpreting what I'm saying, but it's perhaps a fair misinterpretation. I'll try to clarify. Of course I don't in any way suggest anyone's got a right to rip other people off. A lot of local people, however, DO feel that it's their right to rip off rich folks, as they feel rich folks have ripped them off--and while I'm NOT saying that is a good thing, it's an obvious thing, and conspicuous consumption in general isn't in harmony with the local culture. It certainly isn't in harmony with the local environment. At best, it's bound to be perceived as elitist and the effect is disruptive, right or wrong. As such, those who choose to live lifestyles out of touch with local sensitivities will invariably end up pulling far more than their fair share of meager local resources. They have set themselves up as targets and have gone out of their way, as some do see it, to rub peoples faces in what they have that others haven't. Again, I'm not endorsing or excusing any sort of behavior--I'm merely stating that when one looks at how life works in the baboon troupe, it's obvious what the result will be. And once such behavior becomes socialized, it tends to spread from houses with columns to the local skate board shop. And that's unfortunate. But we must expect that demonstrations of "entitlement" with disregard for others is likely to breed "entitlement" with disregard for others.

So I'm against ripping people off. Whether that takes the form of breaking and entering, stealing hubcaps, paying local people with no options starvation wages, encouraging development at private benefit (that no one wants) that forces infrastructure improvements at the public cost, or using wealth and influence in the political process to pad one's pockets at taxpayer expense--I'm against ripping people off. I believe as well that when the average kid looks out there and sees people in positions of wealth, power, and influence, and finds out how rare it is that any of those are clean dealers--well, they don't leave the rest of us with much moral authority to tell that kid that it's in his best interest to behave himself.

Sorry to not be clear.

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Messages In This Thread
Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-04-2009, 08:27 PM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 04:39 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 04:51 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 05:08 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 05:39 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 05:47 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 06:28 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-05-2009, 06:40 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by missydog1 - 06-05-2009, 01:48 PM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by missydog1 - 06-05-2009, 03:44 PM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by Guest - 06-06-2009, 08:03 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by missydog1 - 06-06-2009, 08:49 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by missydog1 - 06-06-2009, 09:43 AM
RE: Is Puna Stuck In a Rut? Positive Solutions? - by JWFITZ - 06-11-2009, 06:45 AM

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