Comments on: Simple Living in the 21st century: Part 3 – Some Principles and Some Examples http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:04:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jew http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1553 Jew Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:51:21 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1553 Maybe I'm missing something. Is simple living any different than common-sense frugality? If you're poor, does that automatically mean you're living the simple life? Maybe I’m missing something. Is simple living any different than common-sense frugality? If you’re poor, does that automatically mean you’re living the simple life?

]]> By: Jasen Tracy http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1554 Jasen Tracy Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:26:39 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1554 Poorer people might have to new a few of those things more, like focus on use instead of status. But given that Americans as a group have a negative saving rate, it's safe to say not many are living a simple life. At least I assume running up credit card debt is not a sign of living a simple life. Poorer people might have to new a few of those things more, like focus on use instead of status. But given that Americans as a group have a negative saving rate, it’s safe to say not many are living a simple life. At least I assume running up credit card debt is not a sign of living a simple life.

]]> By: Chris Austere http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1555 Chris Austere Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:46:52 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1555 I think Americans need to understand that debt is slavery. A lot of people concerned with status are up to the eyeballs in debt. That's not prosperity; its freaking bondage. I think Americans need to understand that debt is slavery. A lot of people concerned with status are up to the eyeballs in debt. That’s not prosperity; its freaking bondage.

]]> By: thainamu http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1556 thainamu Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:54:07 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/09/simple-living-in-the-21st-century-part-3-%e2%80%93-some-principles-and-some-examples/#comment-1556 Simple living might not look very different from common-sense frugality. Those of us who have grown up that way would likely view it as such and may live that way no matter how much disposable income we have. But like Jasen points out, not everybody has the common sense to stay out of debt, especially credit card debt. Simple living is consciously spending less than you have, so debt is not an issue. As for poor, that's a different question. With apologies to the economists here, "poor" is so often an attitude more than an absolute number, IMHO, and doesn't bear much resemblance to simple living unless you're talking about voluntary poverty. (Though I understand you weren't really talking about the extended meaning of the word 'poor'.) For fun, I'll mention that I just got back from Half Priced Books and bought three wedding-planning books to give to bride, groom, and mother of bride when I visit them in Houston tonight. When I got to the checkout counter I asked for a further discount because the cover was torn, so I got a quarter-priced book. :-) Simple living might not look very different from common-sense frugality. Those of us who have grown up that way would likely view it as such and may live that way no matter how much disposable income we have. But like Jasen points out, not everybody has the common sense to stay out of debt, especially credit card debt. Simple living is consciously spending less than you have, so debt is not an issue.

As for poor, that’s a different question. With apologies to the economists here, “poor” is so often an attitude more than an absolute number, IMHO, and doesn’t bear much resemblance to simple living unless you’re talking about voluntary poverty. (Though I understand you weren’t really talking about the extended meaning of the word ‘poor’.)

For fun, I’ll mention that I just got back from Half Priced Books and bought three wedding-planning books to give to bride, groom, and mother of bride when I visit them in Houston tonight. When I got to the checkout counter I asked for a further discount because the cover was torn, so I got a quarter-priced book. :-)

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