by 
(Last time we covered Shift #1 From First To Second Tier Values)
Stop and think about our daily life. Our overriding purpose centers on our economic contribution. Am I doing my duty in terms of bringing in money, and then spending that money? Practically everything is monetized. Certainly, access to the essentials of life such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation; but also entertainment, with monthly subscriptions, romantic relationships with dating services, or access to our attention on social media … all monetized.
A fundamental assumption, or some might say justification, for the focus on the economy and economic growth is that providing greater material goods security would make people happy. The data have later shown that this was true up to a point, but unfortunately only to a point of a very minimal level of income. After that, more money does not lead to more happiness. But we keep on and keep on trying and trying anyway.
At some point this economic means to social happiness or wellbeing got confused and the economics became the end rather than the means to an end. We are not using our economy to build a society, but the other way around. Our society is centered around building an economy.
The good news for After Capitalism is that we are seeing more conversations and a few pilots around expanding our notion of success beyond GDP growth to expanded metrics such as Triple Bottom Line, the Genuine Progress Indicator, the Sustainable Development Goals, etc. A common feature is that success measures should be equal parts economic, social, and environmental. These new metrics are not perfect, but they are steps in the right direction to the much needed shift of building an economy that serves our society rather than the other way around. – Andy Hines
“Stop and think about our daily life. Our overriding purpose centers on our economic contribution. Am I doing my duty in terms of bringing in money, and then spending that money?”
that is not, was not, and never will be how i view “daily life”… the fact that “money” is the technology that enables complex, specialization-centric societies (from communism/fascism to republic/democracy) to operate effectively has been politically conflated with political views (oppressed v oppressor).
it does seem to be how a large segment of americans see life. i’m sad for them… i’m sadder that they want to use the power of government to “fix” this mentality.