Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Belongings vs. Belonging

Jeremy Rifkin wrote a fascinating column in the Sunday Outlook section of the Washington Post (Click). It talked about the differences between the rugged, materialistic individualism of the American Dream (where wealth = abundant belongings) and the transnational, socialistic interconnectedness of the European Dream (where wealth = abundant belonging). It also talked about which dream seems more suited to the march of modernity. This was a fascinating backdrop against which to view today's election. Time will tell as to how this plays in the USA.