Comments on: Was 20th Century Prosperity Just a Blip in History?

By: Barbara Frank

Barbara Frank — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:08:06 +0000

Jules, I agree with you. I don’t think a lot of good has come out of the consumerist mentality. Maybe having less stuff will give us more time to spend with people instead of things?

Iva, it’s easy to think that way in a society like ours, isn’t it?

Tori, somehow I think you will have an easier time adapting to “the new economy” than many people! My grandma raised four little ones as a single mom during the 1930s, and she never let a thing go to waste.

Renae, I’m hopin’ and prayin’ right along with you on that one!

By: Renae

Renae — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:46:36 +0000

I think about such things when I read Little House on the Prarie or similar stories. Most of life was about food, getting it and storing it. And most of the individuals in this world live like that still.

It is not easy cutting out things that we consider necessary in our culture, but will we be better for it? Will we help our neighbors again? Will we realize what is truly important? I hope and pray so.

By: Tori

Tori — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:36:08 +0000

Makes sense. And it seems almost likely at this point, doesn’t it? My rental is larger than 800sf, but by most people’s standards it’s far too small for our family of 3 children and 2 parents. As far as I’m concerned, though, it’s just fine for at least 1, possibly 2 more kiddos – ESPECIALLY if those are both girls! And, if it came to it, we’d house kiddos in the garage to sleep – though it gets quite warm in there during the day it’s quite comfy through the night because there’s SOME AC and heat to it.

I guess, as far as I’m concerned, having to live with what I have is something I’m quite okay with. President Gordon B. Hinkley said, “Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” and I try to REALLY make that my lifestyle!

By: Iva @ Horizontal Yo-Yo

Iva @ Horizontal Yo-Yo — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:38:03 +0000

Great question, Barbara! I also wonder if somewhere along the lines, ‘we’ (as a people) didn’t start thinking that right out of the starting gate called Life that we were entitled to the same standard of living that our parents had worked their own lives to achieve…

By: Was 20th Century Prosperity Just a Blip in History? | History degree online

Was 20th Century Prosperity Just a Blip in History? | History degree online — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:08:01 +0000

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By: Jules

Jules — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:58:33 +0000

Very interesting perspective! I think I would tend to agree with you. It seems impossible for our society to keep up the prosperity and growth of the past 30-50 years without coming to a crashing halt at some point.

One thing is for sure – it will be difficult, but good for our society to work itself away from a consumerist, “buy,buy,buy” mentality and move more towards a saving and “living within our means” way of life.

Maybe going back to when things weren’t so easy will be a good thing for all of us.