I've got a philosophical discussion for y'all today. I've been reading this book called "the Rational Optimist" by Matt Ridley. It's actually recommended on MMM's reading list. There are a few key concepts in there that, at least from a certain perspective, could be considered at odds with mustachianism. I've really been thinking about it and I thought I'd post to get some discussion going.
The main thing I struggle with is division of labor. You see, I've always been a big believer in markets and I do believe that they have made society better in many ways. But, MMM and ERE and FI and all that really focus on DIYing as much as you can. How do we reconcile these two ideas?
I've been attracted to FIRE mainly because I've always struggled with the idea of specialization for myself. I guess I like it for other people and I agree with the economic benefits but I never wanted to devote my life to "one thing," and then make a ton of money doing that one thing and never learn anything else, and pay people to fix my stuff and clean my house or whatever. I thought that would be a waste of a life and turn us all into robots. But it's pretty hard to disagree with the economic benefits of it. Same with just corporate jobs in general... most people on here hate them and we all decry them as soul-sucking and whatnot, but you can't deny the benefits of it.
The book can be a little bit pro-consumption at times but I think it's good to get this opposite perspective. The author also criticizes those who overromanticize the past, dreaming of "simpler lives" and so on... which I have been guilty of. I've even fantasized about homesteading and growing my own food and living off the grid and all that, and it's pretty obvious that this is kind of stupid if you understand basic economics. Would something like this really make somebody happier or is it just simple "grass is greener" thinking, because I am caught in the system? Probably the latter.
I can get caught up in cynicism... about my job, about the consumer economy, etc... which was getting me down so I am trying to read this book to snap out of that mindset. But how do we reconcile the idea that while we want out of that economy, and out of that job, that things are still "Pretty Fucking Great" as MMM said in his post about this book. It's like, on one hand, mustachianism talks about how great the world is today and all the technological advances and all the opportunities available today... but on the other hand, we all want to stop working in the system that made all that possible, because it's so soul sucking and evil and destroying the environment.
Perhaps MMM and other early retirees use the economy to their advantage, they aren't simply opting out of the economy as a whole... they are just cherry picking the good parts.
Anyone else read this book? I almost want to email MMM and ask him to expand his thoughts on this.