I find that more and more these days, people who don't have, like to blame people who do have, for their shortcomings.
It's the easy answer to a lot of things...blame someone else, or try to take it from those that have it rather than earning it on your own.
While there's some truth in that, I don't think that's what Dave was getting at. While I think that some of the climate narrative lacks nuance, for at least 5 decades now, it has been pointed out how the west uses up roughly 80% of the world's resources and energy to the benefit of roughly 20% of the world's population and most of this is not because of need but to service desire, while many of the poorer nations are left scrambling for the remaining 20%. The point being that when oldmattb talks about how good life is now, that's a specifically western viewpoint or view of those that aren't struggling and pointing out one's struggles and highlighting reasons {and yes, sometimes laying them at the door of one that may be viewed as a legit culprit} isn't necessarily playing the blame game {although it might be in some instances}. It's a bit like how when people talk about the revolutionary 60s, their frame of reference is really quite narrow. Most of that change did not apply to the majority of the world's population so when we hear things like "the Beatles changed the world," or similar statements in relation to things that happened in America, it's important to note that there's a whole other world out there and things that happen everywhere are hugely significant for those people to whom they happen. And it's inescapable that some nations screw up others through a variety of ways and this impacts those populations.
When you consider a country like China...they are going through their form of "industrial revolution"...and just like the USA and GB and other more modern countries had a darker industrial past where people worked hard for low wages....they too will eventually raise their standard of living.
With the size of and educational freedom of their population and the inherent control mechanisms that are part and parcel of communism, I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
Yet, paradoxically, it does seem like sometimes, the superpowers that have been through their own industrial revolutions and benefitted greatly from them seem to find any number of reasons to get in the way of competitors having their own.....
If their own government chooses to suppress that, and keep them at "sweat shop" earning levels, you're not going to change it by simply avoiding the products they export...if anything, it will make their lives worse if they can't earn even those low wages.
That's partly true. But the other side of the argument is equally valid. One might just not,
within their own conscience, feel comfortable buying something that was made by, I don't know, slaves that are so plentiful that it doesn't matter if some get ill and die. The sticking point comes where one is attempting to control another's actions into lining up with their own.
Derek taylor once made a fascinating statement about John Lennon in regards to Yoko Ono; "Sure, I know John thinks we hate her....that's a very strong accusation and an extreme assumption. I can't say I blame him for thinking that sometimes but the reason he feels that way is because we don't
love her." Taylor was being pretty insightful into the human condition there. He was observing that Lennon simply could not accept that others had the freedom to feel differently over something {someone} that he was passionate about. That's trying to control others into lining up with what one feels.
Anyway...let's not get into some political thing here
I think it's about time all of us matured to the level where we can state what we politically/musically/spiritually/socially/sexually/educationally/religiously etc think without the conversation becoming toxic and nasty. There's nothing wrong with passion unless it becomes misplaced or masquerades as a stick with which to beat people with. The problem isn't the subject of politics, it's the unwillingness to hear with both ears what someone with whom we don't agree is saying. I can think that what X might be saying is wrong or not agree with it....and still go out and play pool or have a meal with X and laugh about something else.
That said, Lazer probably should have put this in Primetime !