economic squeezes

[Adam Blatner]

Dear All,
     Re economic stresses in our times: I would suggest that there is a state we might 
call "hustling" that operates between prosperity and demoralization. In prosperity, there 
is surplus time/energy to build the society, and the sub-societies. The decline of 
civilizations comes with a general sense of economic and social decay, and I'm beginning 
to think about that.
     There are developed countries, and under-developed countries. I've heard about decay, 
but haven't been faced with it. I heard about the Great Depression of the 1930s, but it 
was over before the morale of the culture could drop.
        Decay may be more gradual, involving a longer period of "squeezing" the middle 
class. I think that's what is going on, more dramatically in Russia, perhaps, but also in 
the USA. People are hustling, busy, feeling stressed, and every encouragement for giving a 
bit---who has anything left over to give?
         Trillions of dollars are being spent on armaments and the support systems, 
salaries, oil, etc. for Iraq. Down the tubes. That money leaves everyone correspondingly 
drained. No money left for this and that.
         At work, equally tight. No money for psychiatric treatment, or at least, it's 
rationed, so the treatment becomes hurried.
      Management competence is measured in terms of how many corners you can cut and still 
fool others and yourself that you haven't cut quality. but of course you have.
     I think this mid-level of decay, hustling, can go on for years. People can still 
think of themselves as reasonably prosperous, and the advertisers and media support this 
image. Yet they aren't, they need to keep busier to keep up.
     I think decay can lead to its own sub-type or component of demoralization, a 
hardening, all rationalized. No time, no time. Those other things, hospitality, 
reciprocity, answering emails... not important.
       If decay continues, it leads to depression, demoralization, helplessness, giving 
up. The boundaries may be fuzzy. Perhaps it leads more to desperateness and the 
rationalization of immorality, crime, fudging the ethics.
    In the hustling stage, there is also increased entitlement. Why can't I get some too? 
If some get if free, why  can't everything be free. It's my right. (what, after all , is a 
"right" but a social agreement?)
            (My son has been surprised at the emails he receives: He's developed programs 
for teaching people how to get the most out of programs---in his field of desktop 
publishing, he's considered a major figure, an expert. But people seem to
resent the not-excessive cost of his instructional programs. Most interesting.)
    Indeed, my son read the above and wrote:   I think you're quite right. There has been 
a radical change in how we function. Most of my colleagues simply expect to work 2 or 3 
people's jobs. Many people I know in management positions are now forced to fly economy 
class at all times, including frequent trips to Asia, Europe, etc., then just sigh and say 
what can be done, as the budgets have been slashed, even in economic boon. Everyone I know 
is exhausted.
     A friend of mine nearing 80 noted one of the most interesting changes over even the 
past 30 or 40 years is that hardly anyone has time to read the newspaper anymore. He said 
that even the most stressed out, overworked person would still have time to read the 
paper. No longer. Too much hustle.
     Hustling at 36,000 feet on my way to a conference in Chicago, David> Blatner
                       What might be your thoughts on this?  -- Warmly, Adam