Democratic Goods

The most basic level of equality is time. We all have 24 hours in a day. Up to a point, wealth is the biggest factor in longevity... how many days you get bar accidents and preventable illness. But that 'point' kicks in quite early, and we all get roughly the same time. In the modern world, without the option of the land to live off, basic financial security determines whether that time is yours. You can, and most people do, carry on selling your time beyond basic financial security... but that is a choice.

We all spend (if we are being healthy) about a third of our lives asleep. When you close your eyes for those 8 hours, there is also a cap on how much it matters what you are sleeping on. It really doesn't matter if the house you are in has 1,000 beds. You sleep on one. As long as you are dry, warm, and safe, the world of sleep is completely democratic.

Food and drink become similar. The best food isn't necessarily the most expensive. Normally expensive just means rare. Really good quality food may be plentiful, and cheap to produce. What you then start paying for is exclusivity, not quality. I call these 'Nine Two' goods. Like ordering a taxi at 9pm or 2am on New Year's Eve. You are going to pay for being precious. You don't get a better party.

Then, of course, there is how we spend our time when we aren't working. Democratic Pastimes are cheap but also not necessarily worse. Road-running and Football are Democratic Pastimes. They are a real leveller of privilege. Privilege gives you some help, but mostly it is about love and commitment.

A good rule of thumb for spending well is to only buy 'Democratic Goods'. Try keep the price you are paying for exclusivity at a minimum. That doesn't make you into a shopping chain replica of everyone. There are enough different combinations of Democratic Goods that you can be as unique as you want. All snowflakes are made of the same snow, but they are still unique. It also doesn't mean you are sacrificing quality. 

The world has made indoor plumbing, safe housing, comfortable beds, tasty food, decent clothes and a good life way more affordable. We are increasingly all Cultural Billionaires. Use your time and money wisely.

Democratic Pastimes