Interesting points
however, it is not a result of conditioning that we are thus.

Put 2 very young children together. Toddlers who can barely talk. Give them one toy.

They don't share. One will get possession of the toy, there will then be a fight, or one will give in and cry.

Humans don't share. We're not programmed that way.

Society is as it is, not because this shallow consumerism has been forced on us by aliens, but because that's the way we want it. As I used to say to someone who sold Socialist Worker - if it was popular, it would be on sale in Smiths. No-one forces people to buy the Sun, or God help us, the Mail. These are choices people make. No-one forces people to watch Jeremy Kyle, or buy Heat. Alternatives do exist.

We are a virus. Those corporate entities are us - they are of our own creation. Communism will never work, has never worked, not because it isn't a good idea - it is - but because it is innate in human nature not to be communist.

"These are the days of the open hand
They will not be the last
Look around now
These are the days of the beggars and the choosers

This is the year of the hungry man
Whose place is in the past
Hand in hand with ignorance
And legitimate excuses

The rich declare themselves poor
And most of us are not sure
If we have too much
But we'll take our chances
Because God's stopped keeping score
I guess somewhere along the way
He must have let us all out to play
Turned his back and all God's children
Crept out the back door

And it's hard to love, there's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope
When there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above say it's much too late
Well maybe we should all be praying for time

These are the days of the empty hand
Oh you hold on to what you can
And charity is a coat you wear twice a year

This is the year of the guilty man
Your television takes a stand
And you find that what was over there is over here

So you scream from behind your door
Say "what's mine is mine and not yours"
I may have too much but i'll take my chances
Because God's stopped keeping score
And you cling to the things they sold you
Did you cover your eyes when they told you

That he can't come back
Beacuse he has no children to come back for

It's hard to love there's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope when there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above say it's much too late
So maybe we should all be praying for time
(TheImmortalJenkins, Wed 11 Apr 2012, 5:52, Reply)