I concluded recently that the lifestyle we are groomed for enslaves us with "good debt" (student, car, house) until we earn our freedom at 60-70. The abuse we suffer at the hands of our employers is very different, way more subtle... but draining your intellect, energy, ambition and will to live so that you can afford life's necessities and a couple of weeks R&R each year is a shitty exchange. The "awakening" for me was the ridiculous, unnecessary, dictatorial return to office mandates that kicked in a couple of years ago. The C suite didn't like us having it too good.
Yep - we voluntarily enter the "arrangement" - putting ourselves in cages from which we cannot escape until we are mostly used up (sure, there are great years after 70, but . . . ) - it's always: "we'll be happy ... then" - at some later time. We can't afford to be happy now.
What a great comparison. The only part I wondered about was "Your country used to be free." That depends on the color of the person you ask. You'd have to go centuries back to find a truly free person of any color but white.
I concluded recently that the lifestyle we are groomed for enslaves us with "good debt" (student, car, house) until we earn our freedom at 60-70. The abuse we suffer at the hands of our employers is very different, way more subtle... but draining your intellect, energy, ambition and will to live so that you can afford life's necessities and a couple of weeks R&R each year is a shitty exchange. The "awakening" for me was the ridiculous, unnecessary, dictatorial return to office mandates that kicked in a couple of years ago. The C suite didn't like us having it too good.
Yep - we voluntarily enter the "arrangement" - putting ourselves in cages from which we cannot escape until we are mostly used up (sure, there are great years after 70, but . . . ) - it's always: "we'll be happy ... then" - at some later time. We can't afford to be happy now.
Americans can check out of Hotel California but it seems they mostly can never leave. I am in Panama right now getting a residential visa.
What a great comparison. The only part I wondered about was "Your country used to be free." That depends on the color of the person you ask. You'd have to go centuries back to find a truly free person of any color but white.
You’re not wrong
I love how you did that! So many of us don’t see the gilded cage. Great metaphor, Michelle!
Rat"s right.