[Leanan]

Last week, the LA Times had a column by Andrew Yarrow called Utopia lost. In it, he bemoaned America's loss of optimism:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')MERICA HAS never been richer, but it once was much more optimistic — even utopian — about its future.

In 1956, Fortune magazine published "The Fabulous Future," a book of essays by luminaries forecasting a nation of technological and economic wonders by 1980. Adlai Stevenson spoke of "the most extraordinary growth any nation or civilization has ever experienced." George Meany predicted "ever-rising" living standards. And David Sarnoff gushed, "There is no element of material progress we know today that will not seem from the vantage point of 1980 a fumbling prelude."

That same year, that wild utopian, Richard Nixon, then vice president in the Eisenhower administration, heralded a 30-hour, four-day workweek "in the not too distant future." Gallup polls found that only 3% of the population questioned whether the nation was enjoying "good times," and just 8% doubted that the good times would keep getting better indefinitely.

From the end of the Korean War to the peak of the Vietnam War, American media trumpeted a utopian future. A 1953 issue of Time predicted that a newborn would be twice as wealthy by her high school graduation and that a worker 100 years in the future would produce in seven hours what he now produced in 40. In 1954, Life magazine predicted a technotopia of jets, computers, color TVs, superhighways and doubled living standards by 1976. In 1959, Newsweek predicted that the 1960s would bring short workweeks, automatic highways and self-operating lawnmowers.

[FoxV]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')MERICA HAS never been richer, but it once was much more optimistic — even utopian — about its future.

[seahorse2]

I live in an area which has undergone a serious building boom and all the euphoria that goes with it. However, over the last year, that boom has gone from a boil to something less, and people are just now starting to realize it. As a lawyer, I represent different contractors and subcontractors. Here's an example of what I'm seeing with the "boots on the ground" in the building boom. A guy calls me today. He makes marble for all the big houses going up. Over the last several years, he had all the toys, living that American dream, bought on credit (not paid for mind you) with revenues from the building boom. He and his kids all had ATVs, cars (multiple), designer clothes, all the toys. Fast forward to this morning. He called me today asking about bankruptcy. His monthly revenues (gross) have gone from $80K a month to $40k a month. He's laying off employees, and doesn't know how to keep the banks at bay. He recently was talking to one of his customers, a builder, who was drunk bc he had no options either. His houses aren't selling. The bank is taking it all back or threatening to (but what will they do with it?) At any rate, some people on the cutting edge of this American dream are starting to wake up to a cold reality - and cry. None of us, though, will be immune.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse2', 'T')he bank is taking it all back or threatening to (but what will they do with it?) At any rate, some people on the cutting edge of this American dream are starting to wake up to a cold reality - and cry.

[strider3700]

So maybe a real estate fire sale is coming up. Too bad most of what will be available will be 3000+ sqft granite counter top jacuzzi tub crap. With any luck the land developers will eat it also and some acerages will come on the market that haven't been sliced into 6000 sqft lots or bulldozed flat yet

[MyOtherID]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse2', 'A')t any rate, some people on the cutting edge of this American dream are starting to wake up to a cold reality - and cry. None of us, though, will be immune.

[LadyRuby]

Yes, America used to be more optimistic. But not so easy when you see your country heading down so many destructive paths.

But I really think there's a movement underway, it may be a small one but it's there and growing. It's the anti-consumerist, simple living model. A segment of the population sees how wastefully we are living, and is making changes. I think it's a good start.

[Ibon]

Those pioneers that voluntarily start this movement from their idealogical understanding and prudent forsight will be followed by a massive quantity of people who will be driven to the same point by reality. There is alot more personal freedom when you do this by choice rather than it being imposed against your will. All the youngsters out there will adapt and be fine, weaning the older ones who have felt self entitled to consumerism will be a bigger challenge.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ibon', 'T')here is alot more personal freedom when you do this by choice rather than it being imposed against your will.

[o2ny]

Interesting- I just this minute finished reading an article on this very subject:
I Will Simply Survive - While the wealthy may strive for "simple living," the poor try simply surviving

It is a good sign that rich people are waking up to consumerist excess, no doubt. However, the article correctly points out that the wealthy need to realize the fact that they have the choice at all to 'live simply' should be humbling. A lot of the simple living movement is just glossy magazines and shiny new 'simple' new-agey mail order crap to replace the old tacky Walmat stuff anyway. The movement has got a ways to go before it can be considered a shift in consciousness.