The Joneses
Mon, January 13, 2020 Do you remember the old expression, “Keeping up with the Joneses,” where if your neighbor got a new car, then you had to buy a new car? It would seem kind of douchey in current times to admit to this kind of petty jealousy, and yet I believe it is as rampant today as it ever was.
Today there are millions of Joneses and they are all on social media and the Internet, and everyone is trying to keep up and fit in. Anxiety, depression, suicide is on the increase, along with drug and alcohol use.
Looking back at the changes during my lifetime, as I see it, it all changed after WWII. Before then if you were born working class, you stayed working class, you knew your station in life, and you were for the most part content with your lot.
Men returned after the war, with the attitude, “Hey, I laid my life on the line, I want a piece of the pie.” In Britain a socialist government was voted in with a huge majority. This also happened in other European countries. Much of the world went Communist.
Communism would appear to be fair in theory, sharing the wealth amongst everyone, but it eventually failed because without the incentive to “Get Ahead,” no one wants to work. Those ambitious enough to get ahead in the Government, held that position by force and corruption.
America resisted communism to extremes in the 1950s with McCarthyism, when there was never any danger of communism taking over, because they had something unique called “The American Dream.” Someone working class could work hard and become wealthy.
It seems we had two glorious decades through the 1950s and 1960s, then coming out of the drug induced haze through the 1970s and 1980s, to head slowly downhill after that through the 1990s. Accelerating out of control in the last twenty years which coincided with development of the Internet.
Now capitalism has developed into corporate greed, where the working man is paid less and less, and kept even poorer by constantly being encouraged to buy more and more stuff. There is no longer the American Dream there once was, and many young people are losing their desire to work. Which only makes a bad situation worse. Hence, sadness, depression, etc., etc.
Something must change; the current system cannot sustain itself. Capitalism requires a working class to not only produce stuff, but to buy it. In the meantime, I am reminded of this:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.
It is no use waiting for the world to change, it will probably not happen in my lifetime. Learn to adapt, be content with less, live simply, and spend less. Develop a habit of working hard, make yourself irreplaceable and you will always have a job, and you will probably get paid a little more.
Save money, invest wisely.... Oh and screw the Joneses.
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Reader Comments (17)
I am fortunate enough to have had parents that were children of the depression and well educated. They instilled in me the belief that I should not let other people define who I am or if I am happy.
I still desire things that I see, but not because I feel the need to compete with others.
We sometimes forget that we live in a consumption driven society, it is peoples business to get us to buy things.
And our contentment and happiness will never come in things.
Today we see a generation that is swapping experiences for things. They don't want the house and the car but they want to take great trips regularly. They are still missing the point.
Relationships are the most important and are what last.
Good point well-made Dave. I think the glory days of the American Dream are past. You can no longer have it all, unless you sink yourself in debt. Lots of the good-paying blue-collar jobs have moved to the far east and they're probably not coming back despite Trump's best efforts.
Dave, One thing about this country that you and I live in, IS that we all can have our own opinions, I disagree almost 100% with what you have written, that's MY opinion
John Crump,
I believe you came to the US from England in the 1950s, what was that like? I would be interested to hear from your POV. It must have been a good experience or you would not have stayed,
Dave
I never liked those Goddamned Joneses anyway. Old man Jones used to half-wheel his riding partners mercilessly. Can't think of a good thing to say about the whole mess of 'em. Joneses. Christ.
Dave, you stated in reply to a comment not long go that you didn't want to see any politics in your blog, but here you are. I gather you were all for capitalism when you were working, but are now going down the slippery slope to the Left, citing "corporate greed". I fully agree with your "screw the Joneses" statement though. I've never thought that was important either and always bought "second best" stuff. I bought my last new car in 1973, after which inflation began outstripping my income. But politically I've always been on the Right since my native country was occupied by the Soviet Union and we became refugees.
Part one The American Dream. My relatives Three Brothers and two Sisters went from a council row house in Smethwick England, they all left in the late 1800s on cattle boats to the USA, The three brothers, from blue collar jobs at the Birmingham Coach works England, to become printers, in Wallingford Connecticut USA setting up a printing works in 1909 Three Brothers, including my grandfather, who did not like the USA he returned to England. He spent the rest of his life working at the carriage works, living in council housing till he passed away age 91 with no assets. His two brothers that stayed in the USA, lived till their 90s and passed away millionaires. One had a seat on the New York stock exchange, the other a justice of peace in Wallingford, also owned a large ranch in Wyoming, plus half of the City of Wallingford. Both self made millionaires thanks to all the opportunity's given by this great country to those who wish to work for it. (THIS IS A TRUE STORY like many many others)
Part two, The American Dream. I have always been interested in the USA Every year we would receive American Papers and goods from our relatives in America. My Dad and Mom lived in Yardley Birmingham England in a Semi Detached house. Dad was in Real estate and Insurance and we had a phone and a Refrig!! way before anyone else did Dad always drove a Rover Motor Car. Our neighbour's both sides worked at the BSA factory. I was always artsy, loved to draw and paint pictures,at 11 I went to the Moseley School of Art in Birmingham England when I was 15 year old I was offered an apprentice to the Birmingham Sculptor William Bloye, I worked on several coat of arms and statues including the Three Golden Boys, Boulton Murdoch and Watt that are now famous in Birmingham.I also carved the inscription on the Queen Vic statue. I rode and race my bicycle with the Midland C&AC did quite well like Dave.I went in the RAF in 1951 age 18 lost interest in cycling for a while and became a musician, played Alto Tenor sax, formed a band "The Modernaires"and played all over the Birmingham area, Did real well. Spent one summer, on the Isle of Man playing in an orchestra became friends with the drummer Reg Hudman and we thought, this is great, why not go to the USA and play with one on the big bands there. Of course with relatives living there a piece of cake right!
Part Three The American Dream (If anyone is still awake) In 1957 Reg Hudman and I decided to leave for the USA and try our luck?? The USA had quotas then and you had to have a sponsor.who would guarantee you a place to live, food and a job, Of course no problem Uncle Gus would do that and he did. We had to have Doctors release and background checks. passed all and left for the USA March 1957. We arrived at LaGuardia Airport New York on a Constellation prop engine KLM aircraft, took 16 hours, I can still now hear the drum drum of the engines.Got off the plane, bitter cold and damp, Almost got back on the plane. Uncle Gus had given us directions to get to Wallingford Con.Took a bus to Grand Central and then to Wallingford. Even now I cant believe that two young 23-30 yr old Englishmen did this alone, in a new country not knowing a bloody thing about it or its customs, BUT we got there. Another part to follow!!! My impressions of the USA
John B,
I'm sorry you saw this post as "Political," because I was trying to present a neutral view of history as I remember it. I mentioned socialism and communism don't work, and in the end failed on their own, and to balance out the argument I mentioned the other end of the spectrum, "Corporate Greed."
I will agree that it is a slippery slope, one where one can be seen to slide to the Left or Right. However, I did not mention any political party, or name any particular politicians, That in my view is what makes a post or comment "Political"
Dave
Part four The American Dream. My first impressions of the USA a vast country wide roads, big cars and houses. MONEY!! People well dressed very friendly and helpful much more so than England. My Uncle Gus lives well, I could not believe the freezer in the basement full of meats etc never ever saw anything like that in a home. Clean neat tidy places.BUT the weather very cold, then very hot. Got tired off working at the printing company and been the centre of attraction all the time. Went to all the jazz clubs in New York saw everyone I listened to on the records. Funny in New York we were looking for a jazz concert venue and we said to a black chap on the street." How do we get to Carnigie Hall? his answer, (I swear this is true) "Practice man, Practice!!" Well we did just that but never did get there to play, just to listen. Then my first big move "Go west young man" That we did. My uncle knew that we were not happy there and gave me a 1949 Oldsmobile to take anywhere we wanted to go free, So Reg and I left for Santa Monica California with a car and about $500 from working at the printing company, to drive 3k miles across the USA Keeping up with the Jones? My life was about to be, The Jones keeping up with me.
Some very interesting posts by John Crump. Hope to hear about how and when you got back into cycling. Maybe you should start a blog!
Dave, sorry I mischaracterized what you posted as political. You're a straight shooter.
Final part The American Dream.and "keeping up with the Jones" Reg and I spent a few years in California we tried to get into the band business but not been a US Citizen could not join the Unions Reg left for Washington State he is still there 93 years old retired has property there and did very well. I moved to Colorado in 1962 started work at a car dealers as finance manager then got into the private eye biz Married in 1963 two very great kids now 50 and 43 Paul my son is a US navy pilot 30 yrs a Captain O6 in rank about to retire at age 50 Sarah has done well in the finance business 6 grand children from age 10 - to 23 Life is good no debt live in a country club area I drive nice cars Porsche, Volvo, travel all over the world Marcia is a retired Flight Attn so we get passes etc. BUT the whole point to all this is. America is a great country and is the land of opportunity as you can see by THE CRUMP family. Looking back at our roots, so to speak, who would have thought that we could have all ended up as we did. You have to do the best you can competition is fierce and takes hard work and guts. Corporate greed? Yes but they supply the jobs and the goods I do not see right now, young people losing their desire to work etc IT IS UP TO THE PARENTS to give guidance and set examples, that to me is the biggest problem, Socialist country's playing Robin Hood will not work and as that has happened in many, the money runs out and Bankruptcy, Nothing is perfect there is NO EASY WAY I could get into politics but will not as Dave has stated, Right now, I am at a high, in what life I have left LIFE IS GOOD Who cares about the Joneses??
"screws the Joneses"
... is a large part of what is wrong with the US today. You can't get ahead, but at least you can stop anyone else getting ahead.
The world is changing, it's going to keep changing. In many ways it has always changed. What we need to try for is change that we can survive, and ideally change that lets us thrive. But with a short count-down to the likely end of human civilisation through climate catastrophe sitting back and saying "it will probably not happen in my lifetime. Learn to adapt"... that's a recipe for the rest of the world to look more like Australia (or hell, if you prefer that imagery)
Learn to code. I have followed many technical friends of my children who have found the American Dream in programming. You just cannot look at the blue collar side and say the American Dream has left. The internet has provided the American Dream again in my opinion. And hopefully America can in the future find another path to the American Dream when artificial intelligence(AI) takes over. I predict that it will not be the government pushing the 'Green New Deal', but the private sector taking on 'climate change' as it finds and discovers ways for humanity to live on this planet successfully in the future.
Keeping up with the Joneses is an exercise in futility. I know, because I had to deal with my mother's obsession with it while I was growing up. I made a decision in my early teens that I wouldn't play along with this. I have been mostly faithful to this decision over my life and I have been happy.
John B, From Crumpy. Glad you, at least. enjoyed my postings. I got back into cycling in the early 1970s after our son Paul was born, Out of shape and over weight I needed to exercise, we lived as we still do in Colorado. I started riding and even raced a few times, of course the competition was fierce and I could not match that, But I started riding the Mountain passees, my home is at 6500f and have done about 9k miles a year up to the last couple of years,age now 86 is taking it toll, but still did 4500 last year. Good to hear from you John B hope you are still "Just riding the bloody bike" HUH!!!