354
Do you ever despair at the apparent lack of regard for the "social contract" by so many? (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
190 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

In this case, I'm referring to the notion that we all make minor sacrifices in our daily interactions in service of a "greater good" for everyone.

"Following the rules" would be a simplified version of what I'm talking about, I suppose. But also keeping an awareness/attitude about "How will my choices affect the people around me in this moment? "Common courtesy", "situational awareness", etc...

I don't know that it's a "new" phenomenon by any means, I just seem to have an increasing (subjective) awareness of it's decline of late.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

The US spends money in awful ways. But these people don't mention better ways to spend it. Only that their taxes are too damned high. they have no problem with billionaires paying a far lower percentage than they do...

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    Seeing as how the vast majority of the population is not billionaires, in part you'd think a lot of people would prefer to spend the money on their own basic needs, mortgages, etc.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    I'm not sure what your point is, but to reiterate, mine is that people are selfish and I think that's a bad thing. I can't tell if you think it's a good thing or what.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    Well, if you have a population packed with people (call it 50%, 70%, whatever) who are basically scraping by, it's unreasonable to accuse them of being selfish for wanting to keep their hard-earned money while they're scraping by. Particularly when there's anything money's being spent on by the government which is lower priority than people's basic shelter, food, medicine, etc.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    We should absolutely call them out on being hypocrites. These are people who vote against their own interests and against anyone's interest who isn't a billionaire. They do not care about the waste until it's spent, ironically, helping poor people. But if a Republican wastes trillions on war or even raises their taxes, they're as quiet as a mouse.

    I wish it were as simple as you say. Republicans would never make into office again. But you're entirely wrong about that simplicity

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago* (1 child)

    This is what I'm talking about. We have this slippery equivalence between taxes on billionaires and taxes on everyone else. The vast majority of the population couldn't care less about how billionaires are taxed besides maybe to increase it. Now you're on some thing about how Republicans are hypocritical about spending, which is true, but it's not even what we're talking about. What I'm talking about is that most people don't want their own money going to taxes for any kind of dumb shit (including the military budget) when so many of them are struggling to get by.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    It sounds like you are making excuses for ppl. enjoy that ✌️

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •