After dinner

Having finished dinner the conversation settled on the values we attach to the way we live and the suggestion that we place an unnecessary burden on ourselves in the choices we make as to the standard and the social conformity we aspire to.
On the one hand is our slavish concern with work and the benefits we obtain in earning a decent living.
Of having what most people would equate to modern conveniences, of having the spare cash to meet the needs of our family, be it education or a trip to where ever.
The other side of the table, as it were was a stout proclamation of the need to reassemble our perspective on what we should  value and consider that the capitalistic ethos of working hard to be able to consume more and more goodies has made us a slave to consumerism, distorting family life and values and ruining the social fabric so necessary for a balanced life.
Underlying this was an argument that as human beings we have an implicit  right of passage within the economic structure of a country to be able to demand things as 'the norm' within the civilised structure which should filter down from a balanced and successful economy.
The argument that we don't have a balanced and successful economy and therefore must stop believing in the fundamental rights to rather get on our bike (in

NormanTebbits memorable phrase) to look for better prospects (a Dickensian phrase) should lead people to take action and not be caught when inevitable change comes.
The "alternative way of life", is more radical and needs a more radical evaluation of what we call normal standards of living. If we can cut into our concept of what our basic needs are and identify greater cohesion between people because one is not running the rat race, (largely determined by others), one has a greater sense of 'self achievement' in this mode of self determination.
Of course it comes at a cost, not only the lack of amenities but also a measure of alienation with society at large but of course if society at large is seen to be in hock to the crazies then there's no harm done.   The argument became heated, one side was accused of not listening but its often my experience that the accuser,  is often the frustrated one, since they themselves are evoking a theme into which they have invested too much emotional baggage !!       

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