<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23590" data-quote="Andy Black" data-source="post: 995941"
class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-title">
<a href="/community/goto/post?id=995941"
class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump"
rel="nofollow"
data-xf-click="attribution"
data-content-selector="#post-995941">Andy Black said:</a>
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent ">
Just finished watching that this Sunday evening with our 13 year old.<br />
<br />
It all makes perfect sense.<br />
Rise > top > decline.<br />
It’s the same for countries, companies, and each of us individually.<br />
<br />
On the way up people are hardworking and scrappy.<br />
<br />
At the top decadence and entitlement creep in. Work ethic and productivity decreases - people don’t want to work, they want to live the good life. The wealth gaps increase, as do the hostilities between the haves and “have-nots”. The have-nots know something is wrong but don’t know how to change it. They’re ok if their standard of living keeps increasing, even if it’s not as fast as for others. Shit hits the fan if their lifestyle decreases though.<br />
<br />
My first thought is to wonder how best to equip my sons for the future. And that it’s almost inevitable that there’ll be military conflicts ahead.<br />
<br />
Our 13 year old’s summary was “It’s like that line: Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” I’m proud of him. You’ll go far son.<br />
<br />
Now is not a good time to be a scripted consumer, have poor work ethic, or expect things to stay the same forever.<br />
<br />
Personally, I feel the need to batten down the hatches, kill non-revenue generating business activities (indulgences), and stay nimble.
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote data-attributes="member: 23590" data-quote="Andy Black" data-source="post: 995941"
class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-title">
<a href="/community/goto/post?id=995941"
class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump"
rel="nofollow"
data-xf-click="attribution"
data-content-selector="#post-995941">Andy Black said:</a>
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent ">
Just finished watching that this Sunday evening with our 13 year old.<br />
<br />
It all makes perfect sense.<br />
Rise > top > decline.<br />
It’s the same for countries, companies, and each of us individually.<br />
<br />
On the way up people are hardworking and scrappy.<br />
<br />
At the top decadence and entitlement creep in. Work ethic and productivity decreases - people don’t want to work, they want to live the good life. The wealth gaps increase, as do the hostilities between the haves and “have-nots”. The have-nots know something is wrong but don’t know how to change it. They’re ok if their standard of living keeps increasing, even if it’s not as fast as for others. Shit hits the fan if their lifestyle decreases though.<br />
<br />
My first thought is to wonder how best to equip my sons for the future. And that it’s almost inevitable that there’ll be military conflicts ahead.<br />
<br />
Our 13 year old’s summary was “It’s like that line: Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” I’m proud of him. You’ll go far son.<br />
<br />
Now is not a good time to be a scripted consumer, have poor work ethic, or expect things to stay the same forever.<br />
<br />
Personally, I feel the need to batten down the hatches, kill non-revenue generating business activities (indulgences), and stay nimble.
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div>
</div>
</blockquote>Interesting reading this, Andy. I've felt we've been on the edge of something for the last few years. I'm about the same age as you, I think, and I can't remember the country feeling this divided before. Seemed to start with Brexit and snowball from there. Factor in that, in real terms, the cost of living has escalated while wages haven't increased much in the last 30 years, and it's all a bit 1979 (but without the good music). "Stay nimble" indeed.</div>