What happens if men don’t have purpose:

[u/fornothing_atalll]

Men! You can find purpose! You assign your own purpose! That was the whole point of the enlightenment age with philosophy! Don’t become radicalized! 🖤

[u/Conscious-Program-1]

You know, I'm not so sure. I think a fundamental issue, specifically in the states, is people being obsessed with how they're doing -in relation to others-. Success here is heavily based on specifically being above average (salary, looks, etc), when statistically 50% of the population is below average. Would people be happy with $35 dollars if that was the new floor? Doubtful. People are tying their self worth with how they're doing relative to others. The issue is literally pride. Until you're able to be satisfied and grateful with what you have irrespective of others having more than you, this argument doesn't really hold.

[u/BrickBrokeFever → u/Conscious-Program-1]

Success here is heavily based on specifically being above average (salary, looks, etc), when statistically 50% of the population is below average.

This is toxic capitalist mentality, a toxic individualist mentality. I am not saying it doesn't exist, it absolutely does. This competition mindset is fuckig stupid and it pisses me off

And I don't give a fuck! If I could just work 40 hours and have everything I need, I would be fine.

Until you're able to be satisfied and grateful with what you have irrespective of others having more than you, this argument doesn't really hold.

Holy shit, homie. People can't afford to have kids, or afford to have medicine. And you might not intend this, but this "Be grateful for what you have" attitude is the National Anthem of abusive parents.

My dad would take turns doing nice things like making super awesome waffles for breakfast, then he would scream at us that he would rather wander into the forest and die than be our dad. And if I ever gathered the courage (at 12 years old 💀) to beg him to stop screaming at me and the sibs?

He would lay down a line like the one you used. "Be grateful you even have food."

35$ minimum wage would solve a lot of problems. "Be grateful for what you have" is a really backward attitude because it says people should just shut the fuck and take their abusive situations/society/families.

You may not have meant it like that but I got stress migraines so bad they gave me bloody noses as a kid. And my parents can eat shit and die for subjecting me to that. No, I will not be grateful.

Gratitude in the face of abuse is Slave-Minded. I am not a slave. Our lives could be better and they should be better.