https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI8AMRbqY6w
(I wouldn't be surprised if this has been posted before.)
Heh, funny analogy.
I wonder if those already seeing parts of the world like this (though overly simplified) are more drawn to Mustachianism/ER/'opting out' of the system.
I've actually sort of taken that route.
About ~4-5 years ago I started to become disillusioned and jaded regarding the perceived structure and conformity demanded by life (this was during my later teenage years and I was starting to feel pressured by family/friends to go to uni/get a job/get a license + car and just generally "progress" down the beaten track), which in turn led me to various media that decried the predefined route and resulted in the sort of worldview demonstrated above, although certainly far less dramatic and far more cynical.
Coupled with burgeoning political ideals (libertarian-esque at the time) this led to anti-consumerism and minimalism, along with various similar and related phenomena (self-sufficiency, frugality, dumpster diving, tiny homes, no car ownership, NEETs/freeters, etc.), which collectively manifested itself as a desire to work on and off as a freelancer and live off the land where possible (with all the romantic ideals that go along with the latter).
Regardless of ideals I nonetheless found myself at uni a couple years later, and coupled with a part time job I realized the pressures of keeping up with life (shifting out of town post-earthquake, lengthy trips into town for work/uni, depression and demanding tertiary work) were too much and dropped both job and uni after my first semester.
I spent the second semester cycling, lifting, taking care of the pets (dogs/cats/fish), doing house work, studying Japanese (an old hobby that had been long ignored) and reading whatever interesting long form articles I could find online (mostly reinforcing the aforementioned political and ethical beliefs). I pretty quickly recognized that I was the happiest I had been in a long time and that this is how I would like to live - at my own meandering pace and on my own terms, not running in place on a treadmill of someone else's making. Knew I would need money for the journey so held onto what I had and reduced any expenditures where possible, although it would still be a while until the light bulb flashed on regarding investing - I initially conceived of the possibility of passive income generation via advertising online on personal sites and royalties but didn't make the jump to traditional forms of investing (shit was too complex yo).
Skip forwards a year and a half (along with half a BSc in Compsci in the works) and I stumble upon a mention of MMM in the /r/personalfinance subreddit. Visit the site and realize that a lot of the ideas and ideals that had been floating around in my head over the past few years could work in the real world - if I live like the unmaterialistic hippy (in only some regards ;P ) I've dreamed of being I don't have to work until I'm 65 and that actually achieving that result won't rely on a gamble on some creative work or website I create becoming famous. Add to that that I felt I was being sold my own opinions and beliefs back to me in numerous different articles on MMM/ERE and it felt pretty rad in general. A few months later and here I am - planning to live frugal and invest plenty as soon as possible.
So yeah, apologies for the tangent, but to put it simply I feel that the sort of worldview being suggested did pretty significantly push me towards FIRE.
