Louie the basics of life are still there but what about the quality of life.
In 1949 I would be sealing this message up and putting a stamp on it addressed to you in reply to your letter from the postman in yesterday's morning (or was the afternoon) delivery.
The pressure now to be constantly abiding by imposed standards is making life much harder. Once you would cut somebody off your cocktail (or BBQ) party list if they offended you and that was that. Now the whole world gets involved and you could even end up in jail for doing no more than speak your mind.
We have unworthy people claiming, and being given, rewards and equality with those who do the hard yards, we have everybody offended - not only for themselves but for other people FFS. The bottom line in all this is every child wins a prize and everyone is entitled to be picked in the "A" team even if they only play to "D" team standards.
As much as we would like to just do our own thing and ignore all the BS in the world "1984" has been coming true ever since it was written. Thousands of new laws have been written since 1949 and millions of public servants, benefit recipients and "service indusrtry" workers have been added to a diminishing group who actually produce wealth.
We can not escape it.
John Donne's words in 1633'
No Man is an Island'
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
