We Don’t Know How Good We Have It

by Brandon Kumm, Oct 1, 2007

Sometimes we need to stop and think about about how good we have it. We tend to complain about this thing and that thing, but we don't think about the luxuries we have.

I got to thinking the other day about living somewhere other than here in the United States. After thinking about it for awhile I decided that most of us don't know how good we have it.

What We Have

For the vast majority of Americans, we don't have any idea how good we have it. I was watching a television show about people living in Afghanistan and it got me to thinking. When I'm hungry, I don't have to kill my food or harvest anything unless I want to. I go to the store or a restaurant and get something to eat. Or I just open up my refrigerator and pull out some food and heat it up in the microwave. When it's dark, I turn on the lights. When I'm thirsty I get a glass of fresh, clean water out of the tap. If the water isn't cold enough I get an ice cube. When I'm tired, I lay down on my clean, soft bed and go to sleep. If I'm cold, I turn on the furnace. If I'm hot, I turn on the air conditioner. If I have to go to the bathroom, I go into a room dedicated to that purpose. If I'm dirty, I take a shower using clean, hot water. If I'm sick I go to the doctor. If I need to travel, I drive my car. If my clothes are dirty, I don't have to go down to the river, I wash them in my washing machine. I consider it a pleasure to hang clothes on the line, but when it's too cold or too wet to dry them outside, I use my dryer. If I want music, I turn on my radio. If I need information, I go to the Internet. If I need money, I get a job.

In many places on Earth, these things aren't the birthright of every person, they are unimaginable luxuries. So, the next time you start complaining because your TV isn't big enough or you have to do laundry or you need to make supper or you have to go to the doctor, just think about the fact that all of those things are there for you to complain about.

We don't know how good we have it.

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Comments (37)

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#1 by Reader, Oct 1, 2007

You said it: "these things aren't the birthright of every person" here or there. There are hundreds of thousands of homeless citizens in the US, who sleep outside, forage for food from dumpsters or soup kitchens, have no health insurance, haven't slept in a bed in years. How do I know? I was one of them.

#2 by Brandon, Oct 1, 2007

Reader, you're exactly right. I've been close to that point myself. Yet, even the homeless, who live on the fringes of this immensely wealthy society have a chance. It can be done, as you show. I'm not talking the 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' kind of thing here, I'm saying that even the homeless have a chance to escape the poverty. In Afghanistan and so many other places on Earth, there is no escape. No hope for escape and little hope for improvement without a significant shift in the way their countries are run.

I'm just saying that, in general, we're pretty damn lucky to live where we do.

#3 by Dani, Oct 3, 2007

I feel i'm supporting this article with that fact that my tv is a piece of crap.

#4 by Dani, Oct 3, 2007

...I'm serious, don't look at me like that...

#5 by Onflame, Oct 4, 2007

Excellent article. I've never really seen anything like it before. People need to realise and understand what's going on around them.

Fantastic job and the most awesome article I've read till now,
Onflame

#6 by evablue, Oct 14, 2007

This is BS. Maybe afghanistan isn't the greatest place on earth, maybe even worse than the US, but the people there dont have to work 10 hour days. They have FAMILY, that spends time with their children. Something people dont have in the US a lot of the time. They dont have alcoholic fathers and mothers. Besides you are comparing a first world country to a third world country. Compare your life to a swedish life, or an italian life. You may not find yourself so "grateful". Thats why america is a horrible country, we think that america is as good as it gets, and we are so lucky that our country is so great. look around you. Most countries in the world are improving. is the US improving? Ask yourself that before you act so proud.

#7 by kydblue, Oct 14, 2007

haha, evablue, you probably wont read this but, that comment was awesome - but - excuse the Americans for trying to find contentment, they are very hard working people and they think they need something more at the end of the day for that. They work the smartest and they according to the numbers produce more value per employee more than anyone else in the world.

I think your comment was BS, the Brandon Kumm dude is trying to spread contentment in a society that thrives on possessions, (something the world needs America to do and we are doing that!, yes WE!)

If we are content with what we have, the world will have a chance to distribute the wealth more accordingly. If we continue to consume then we are doomed.

#8 by cixel, Oct 14, 2007

the second you start looking backward is the second you begin falling backward.
focus your energies on moving foward not looking at how great you have it. satisfaction = decay

#9 by Fredrik, Oct 14, 2007

It doesn't matter if there's better places out there, the fact is that there are much worse places and Brandon Kumm highlights that stark contrast very well!

BTW evablue, this article is commenting on the very meager things Americans complain about everyday. If some people don't have time to spend with their family, so be it, but at least they don't have to worry whether they're going to eat the next day or not! Geeeezus

#10 by Jay, Oct 14, 2007

This article shows the same tired stupidity of complaining and whining that there is just too much complaining and whining.

Our ancestors came to America because they wanted challenge and self-sufficiency. We have none of that now. Use your brain for a moment, what if I don't want to live in your brain dead world of microwaves, televisions, celebrities and credit cards? If I try to return to living life as did the Native Americans, I will be violently oppresed the same way they were.

What you miss in your dishonest stupidity is that for the most part I am no longer even allowed to do things such as kill my own food. The government has done all in its power to strip self-sufficiency away from us because it wants us to be good consumers - and then idiots like you have the gall to try and make us feel guilty about it. You are a marxist moron.

The fact that many Americans are whinners comes from the fact that the socialist economic system we now have insulates people from gritty reality. Take responsibility for the weak culture YOU have created. People have become whinners and complainers because they have the very things YOU say they should be thankful for. The bottom line is: If you don't want to hear complaints, work towards a society that is not so fat and weak. As long as you promote weakness it is hypocritical for you to complain that too many others are complaining.

#11 by Guest, Oct 14, 2007

The article is very reflective of the American culture. Some commenters may disagree, but the fact is true to an extent. I'm a damn pessimistic guy, but I don't have nothing against this.

#12 by John, Oct 14, 2007

Jay- You truly are a mental moron!!!
You don't have a clue what your talking about.

#13 by guess, Oct 14, 2007

"If I try to return to living life as did the Native Americans, I will be violently oppresed the same way they were."

Jay,
if you want to live the old native american lifestyle, do this:
1)own land (n.americans did claim the land)
2)live and eat off it.

The reason why you don't own any land is because you're lazy and don't save money.

#14 by Kevin Ferron, Oct 14, 2007

Ew! I can't believe you drink tap water!

#15 by John, Oct 14, 2007

Barksdale- "Americans choose to work for companies who expect 10 hour days because the money is good. Europeans are prohibited by law from making that choice".
That's total b.s.!! Maybe in France they have those laws but the rest of Europe? I don't think so. Do some research before you speak
what you don't know.

#16 by Peter, Oct 14, 2007

George: We'll get a lil place of our own and live off the fat uh the land Lenny.
Lenny: Tell me bout the rabbbbitsss Geooorge

#17 by shaune, Oct 14, 2007

Haha I can't believe this post made the front page of Digg. Did you just realize that America (among a bunch of other countries)have a higher standard of living than many less fortunate countries, including Afganistan?

#18 by Chris, Oct 14, 2007

Ameria is a good country, but it's falling apart at an alarming rate. It used to be the best country, but I doubt it is today, and definitely will not be within a couple generations. Our government (Republicans) are so corupt.

#19 by Jay, Oct 14, 2007

Guess-

How many people really own land in America - Have you failed to notice all the foreclosures out there? You rent land from the bank - you are not allowed to be self-sufficient in America. Even if you owned the land you still have to pay property taxes, which means in your old age you will be evicted unless you are in the top income brackets. Your oversimplification is truly idiotic.

Your response is shallow and thoughtless. Your untrue comments about me made without any personal knowledge make you look like more of a fool. Just like John who can't give any real arguments either.

The point is that the modern business culture creates the whiners - if you want whining to stop, we have to return our society to the kind the allows people to stand or fall on their own. If you don't do that you are responsible for the useless losers who complain about what size their TV is.

#20 by Reggie Klein, Oct 14, 2007

Let's not forget that in large parts of the world, the relative wealth of the people who live there is in large part dependent on our absolute wealth. We do indeed have it good, and the goodness of our life depends in some part on the badness of other people's lives.

#21 by Bobson, Oct 14, 2007

This is the most ethnocentric and retard thing ever written. You have it better than the war torn country of Afghanistan (which ironically your nation is bombing and causing those infastructure problems), but the rest of the world isn't filled with starving animals who don't have the comforts that you Anglo Americans have.

#22 by Reader777, Oct 14, 2007

We take so much for granted in this country. I've been fortunate to see some of the rest of the world, and most of it is, by our jaded standards, an urban hellhole. Our homes, even the modest ones, are palaces compared to what so many others have. I try very hard to appreciate that which I have, and count my lucky stars that I was born American. Ours is not a perfect nation, not by a long shot (please no flames about GW or Iraq, this is not the point), but our lives as American's surpass so much of the world.

Love your country, but question your government.

#23 by GratefulAlive, Oct 14, 2007

My comment didn't post before...

Most of the things you mentioned are materials. Sure it's nice to have light and clean water, but let's not forget that we should also be grateful for other things such as loved ones and just being alive. It's all part of the whole taking the time to think of all the things one is grateful for, and not just think about materials.

#24 by Adi, Oct 14, 2007

hell, in indonesia i got maids in my home to do the works and i use an iphone too here.

too bad the internet connection of 1.5mbit costs about $60.

#25 by Peter, Oct 14, 2007

Suicide is always an option, man up pussies

#26 by Jonathan, Oct 15, 2007

The most valuable things have no innate monetary cost.

#27 by Triynko, Oct 15, 2007

If people went without simple luxuries for a while (like a roof over their head), they'd realize how hard it is. I'm an American. Try this. Take a tourist trip up to Canada with no money. Surprise, you're not a citizen there, so you can't get a job or open a bank account. Where are you going to live? What are you going to do for food? Throw yourself in that kind of a situation for a week and see how you do. Maybe you'll look at the world differently. It's hard to get a job when you can't take a shower and look presentable. It's easy to end up homeless when you don't have a whole network of people supporting you and guiding your every step.

#28 by paulenberg, Oct 15, 2007

"If I need money, I get a job." Oh really? I've been trying to get a decent job for about ten years, I've done temporary jobs, casual jobs, I've been to university for the past three years. None of these have exactly provided a ton of money. I'm sorry Brandon but I get the impression you're being kind of naive about that. Other than that, a good piece, well put together and interesting food for thought.

#29 by Brandon, Oct 15, 2007

paulenberg--

Well, they may have been crappy jobs, but did you have enough to eat? You obviously have Internet access. Do you have a roof over your head? So, when you needed money, you got a job, no matter how crappy it was.

There are many places on Earth where even getting a crappy job is not an option. Maybe I'm naive, but hell, I'm writing here rather than working a good job to make money, so maybe I'm not quite as naive as you think.

Thank you for your kind words about my essay though, I really do appreciate it and it shows you are a thoughtful person to say good things rather than just hammering away on one thought you didn't agree with. Thanks again.

#30 by Encore, Oct 15, 2007

#31 by GOD DAMN SHIT THE BED, Oct 15, 2007

Maynard

#32 by Brandon, Oct 16, 2007

Onflame--

Thanks a ton for advertising my article. I'm glad you liked it.

#33 by Stone Heart, Oct 16, 2007

Hmnn..

Great article.

#34 by Alexa Gates, Oct 16, 2007

Wow! I guess I never thought about it ;) Well, i personally hate the tv unless something good is on ;) Great article!

#35 by Alexa Gates, Oct 16, 2007

Wow! I guess I never thought about it ;) Well, i personally hate the tv unless something good is on ;) Great article!

#36 by what i got, Oct 20, 2007

I've got a 10m trust fund, no job, a BMW Z4M Roadster, a big home in the Hamptons, a 52in plasma TV(need a 60in), 3 gfs (one cooks, one cleans and the other blows). I regularly jaunt off to Europe, Malaysia etc.. But I feel like I need more. I need to buy more stuff - bigger and better. I have it as good as anyone could want it. But I need more.

#37 by ??????????????????????, Oct 24, 2007

thiss acticle was very touching i was really happy people are trying to make a differance in other peoples lives

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