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> But they never seem to notice that we have been living in an age of untold abundance for quite a while.

That's probably because they're too busy trying to find a job, pay off their debts, find health care, or all the other things needed to live.

_Some_ people have been living in abundance, not most.



While they have running water, electricity, lights, internet, all kinds of fresh food on demand, Health Care that actually works, all kinds of abundance like that.

Assuming we are talking about people living in a Developed nation.


> health care that actually works

lol (sorry, I live in the US. This idea is laughable.)

> internet, all kinds of fresh food on demand

These are luxuries that many can't afford.


GP probably meant effective medicine, not a 'health care system that is shiny and fair'.

If you measure historically, being able to buy a bottle of aspirin is some sort of miracle. Never mind vaccines, treatments for disease or antibiotics (many vaccines and antibiotics are more or less free).


The problem is that "shiny and fair" is linked to the "miracles". Vaccines mostly work to eliminate disease by means of herd immunity. If vaccines because an individualistic economic luxury-good, they will stop working and we will return to the dark days of mass plagues.


Meanwhile one of the wealthiest men ever to live is (one of the many people working towards) making sure that polio vaccines will not be necessary in the future. How bleak.


If you measure historically, access to fire is a miracle.

That's not really relevant, though.


You replied sarcastically to someone that labeled access to effective medicine a problem of abundance. The fact that it is true seems a little relevant.


Compared to a subsistence agriculture economy? You must be kidding me. Good luck finding somebody tilling a few acres of land in sub-Saharan Africa who wouldn't instantly trade places with pretty much anybody in America.

Yes, people in the first world end up dissatisfied with what they've got. But that's my point. Desires are numberless.




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