Comments on: Douglas Rushkoff and Life, Inc

By: dave

dave — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:48:26 +0000

I know its low odds that DRush comes back to this post, but let’s live like we are in an optimistic world.

Douglas, I went back and listened to that part again to make sure I was hearing what I thought I heard. It sounds like you have a moral objection to wanting to live off the proceeds of one’s wealth and that you think this is an upper echelon, elitist endeavor. From your brief comment here, it sounds like your objection is that it doesn’t scale. I have the same objection to the Tim Ferriss “4 Hour Work Week” shtick, in that somewhere someone has to be doing the work.

Is your objection moral or practical?

By: dave

dave — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:03:47 +0000

For those interested in the actual context, the statement I cite occurs at 7:30 in the Tech Nation interview. Listen to the minute before and after to get a sense of what is being said around there.

By: James Slusher

James Slusher — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:00:37 +0000

I disagree, Rushkoff. I think that there is a majority of people that could obtain this goal. For the sake of argument, let’s pretend that your premise is true and most can’t do it. Is there something in the goal itself that is unworthy of the attempt? Regardless of success or failure, is trying to do it a wrong thing?

By: rushkoff

rushkoff — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:12:33 +0000

Or, they are people who understand this goal is no longer attainable by the vast majority.

By: James Slusher

James Slusher — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:01:47 +0000

Rushkoff lamented that people are trying to earn more money so their money earns more money, and then to retire ever younger.

God forbid the drones ever stop. I know I sure would hate it if I ever stopped shoveling the coal that fired other people’s economic engines.

People that proselytize on such matters always fall into 1 or more of 3 categories: 1)Have plenty of money, 2)Have plenty of time and 3)Like what they do. Which pretty much makes them douchebags for lamenting that others might find themselves in similar situations.