Humans - Chapter II

I've noticed in dealing with all kinds of businesses recently, often major companies, that there has been a shift to grift.  Whether it's the cable company, a cell phone company, medical insurers, etc. etc., they all seem to have a scam they are playing on their customers.  As to why, I have my opinions, but to venture into that area that can get pretty political/religious, so I'll keep my fingers off the keyboard.

I don't agree that the it's necessarily the segment of society that lives at home with their parents that is causing the problem, though there are certainly anecdotal examples of uber-selfishness on the part of some in that category.  Most of the vandalism and willful destruction of our parks, private and public lands, and natural resources seems to be related to people who are disassociated with their communities and feel no sense of personal responsibility for their conduct.  This is a phenomena that crosses all age lines.  Undirected anger at some imaginary enemy seems to be a major element.  I have in mind, as an example, an azzhole who drives a diesel pick-up in the area where I live who put a device on it to flood the engine with fuel and belch out horrible black smoke whenever he wants.  What could possibly be the motive for such conduct?  I speculate that this person has serious anger problems and is basically flipping off everyone else in our community.

I have lived, traveled, and worked in Lat. Am. where it is common for extended families to live together spanning 3 or 4 generations.  More often than not, kids don't leave home until marriage, and later mom and dad come to live with them as they get old.  There is a strong sense of family and generational cohesion.  People tend to think of the future in generational terms, not just their own present moment.  They think more in terms of "we" than "I."  Where these strong families exist, we don't see the anger that has become such a strong element in our culture.  Maybe if we learn to think more in terms of "we" and 'us" instead of "I" and "me" we would find a lot less of the wanton destruction of our public treasures.  Again, as I suggested in the other Human's thread, it's a matter of following the "Golden Rule."