tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343122535318547716.post7180536512578509273..comments2024-02-25T13:25:26.434-08:00Comments on Owl's Farm: How Rich People Can Save the WorldOwlfarmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373358232893937182noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343122535318547716.post-89130573480755380202008-05-16T07:53:00.000-07:002008-05-16T07:53:00.000-07:00Your comment brings to mind a question that occurr...Your comment brings to mind a question that occurred to me yesterday: When someone is said to "earn" a million dollars (or any other absurdly high amount of money)<I>earn</I> this money? The argument against what some folk like to call the "death tax" (because it sounds more evil than "inheritance tax") unfair because it taxes money that's already been "earned" and taxed. And the people who complain the most are usually those with the most money--who could easily pay the tax on what someone other than they "earned" (if it truly can be called "earning"). What I make is most certainly earned (and as most teachers do, I think I'm way undercompensated for the amount of time and energy I spend on my job), and I could be accused of not appreciating how hard it is to run a corporation. So my attitude, although shared by many, is probably seen by folks who make much more money as envy or lack of appreciation for their valuable contributions to our national wellbeing. Right. <BR/><BR/>I think you're quite correct in suggesting that those on the low end of the economic continuum may be driven to violence by the seemingly unbridgeable abyss between have and have not. Frustration, despair, envy, and a culture that admires and rewards greed can't possibly inspire one to better oneself. For the life of me I can't see why folks who reap the benefits of this country's opportunities can't find ways to better the lot of those whose lives are negatively influenced by our way of life. Buying rain forest would help, and produce concrete results. But so would providing health care to everyone who needs it in this country, or funding community gardens so people can help feed themselves. I know that the problems are very complex, but inertia isn't a solution. <BR/><BR/>Thanks again for your input. I'll have to check on the Ericson building.Owlfarmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15373358232893937182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343122535318547716.post-91546412853619480772008-05-15T14:00:00.000-07:002008-05-15T14:00:00.000-07:00It was useful for me to peruse santiago calatrava'...It was useful for me to peruse santiago calatrava' spiral buildings. What a palatial project! Ego inservice of other massive egos.<BR/>Closer to home, yesterday in our local newspaper was an advertisement for a similar project, though on a lesser scale, designed by one of our own architect darlings, Arthur Ericson, for well-heeled Vancouver purchasers. it seems the desire to set oneself apart as being special, a cognoscenti, is universal and results in the proliferation of such proud projects everywhere.<BR/>Your blog asks the right question - "Isn't it time for people who can actually afford these things to start asking themselves if there isn't a better way to spen their money?" The answer to it may result in less criminal violence meted out by frustrated polpulations. G and GEMGEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525848943689396086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343122535318547716.post-67374161268822013232008-05-13T07:13:00.000-07:002008-05-13T07:13:00.000-07:00The monk impulse is a natural one for thoughtful p...The monk impulse is a natural one for thoughtful people, I think. Many's the time I've thought of looking for something like an abbey or a <I>beginage</I> myself(except for two things: I'm not very religious, and I'm pretty sure my husband would be unhappy about such a move). At my age and level of infirmity, activism is pretty much out of the question (hence the blog and the book). But at 26, and with the skills you're developing, you'll have something of value to offer a group (like the one you mentioned) that could use employees or volunteers with sympathetic hearts and minds. Of course, you'd have to give up the big bucks some are looking for in the design field, but there's serious potential for impact. Don't get discouraged; the world <I>needs</I> young people with vision and conscience and sense.Owlfarmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15373358232893937182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343122535318547716.post-80606323196985244812008-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:002008-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:00I tend to agree with you about you opinion of Dall...I tend to agree with you about you opinion of Dallas. While it is where I grew up, nothing of real value occurs here...it's almost like fake entertainment. Not to mention the the razing of our own local land to chase the ever fleeting dream of the Cleavers. Good idea as far as the rain forests go, and also something I had thought of doing in the event that I become obscenely rich. This article also recalls a segment I saw on television not too long ago, <A HREF="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx" REL="nofollow">regarding Harrison Ford and Conservation International</A>. Screw an island in Dubai, or a $40 million penthouse. It seems, when the land is all gone, we're going to <A HREF="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/0504/Default.aspx" REL="nofollow">build in the ocean anyway</A>.<BR/>Recently, I had the idea that, due to my growing frustration with the culture I live in, I should just become a monk, and live in a temple in backwoods Asia somewhere. I know running away from the problem won't help it any, but until Americans learn to pull their heads out of their asses, actually learn from history, realize that we can all work together to restructure our government, and overall way of life, all of this is going to continue.<BR/>All of this is coming from a 26 -year-old. Dear God, where are we heading?krimzon11https://www.blogger.com/profile/15860965461621796040noreply@blogger.com