Our modern materialist society
I do wonder if “The worst thing the rich ever done to the poor is not to take our houses or to take our money but to make us as selfish as they are.”
OK lets think about this
It is often stated that old fashioned working class communities in the West used to be more socially intertwined and cohesive, the separation and selfishness we often see nowadays describing social breakdown is often attributed to immigration, but immigration has always been a statistic for civilization .. immigration has likely enriched society in many ways as people bring with them knowledge and outside cultural awareness?
Lets not forget immigrants from non Christian countries are often hard working and contribute well, famously serving in our armed forces in times of need to help us such as in WW1 and WW2 (we would likely not have won the war without them and certainly not with outside help – thinking from a UK perspective)
Could it be the problem is not a breakup of social norms created by immigration
Could it be the modern problem of social breakdown is similar to the industrial revolution; in that, families often split themselves up as people move further apart to find work and the desire to become rich actually turns everyone against each other in socially destructive ways ..
and the more selfish a society becomes – the more self destructive it also is.
The Rise of Materialism and the Fragmentation of Community
In today’s fast-paced consumer-driven world, material wealth often dictates societal success. The desire to acquire more — whether through property, financial assets, or status — has subtly reshaped traditional working-class communities, prioritizing individual gain over collective well-being.
Historically, tight-knit neighborhoods in the UK and USA thrived on mutual support (as best as they could with limited economical resources), where solidarity and communal responsibility reinforced social cohesion.
However, as financial ambition takes precedence, the communal spirit dissolves, leaving behind isolation and competition. The transformation isn’t simply about economic disparity but about how the relentless pursuit of wealth has shifted values away from cooperation toward self-interest, inadvertently mirroring the priorities of the elite.
Economic Mobility and the Breakdown of Social Structures
The decline of socially integrated communities isn’t necessarily caused by immigration, as is often argued, but rather by the search for financial security. Migration has historically contributed positively to national development — be it through labor, military service, or cultural enrichment.
The largest disruptor of social unity may lie in the mobility forced by economic necessity, much like the industrial revolution scattered families in pursuit of work. As individuals move away from their hometowns to climb the economic ladder, local bonds weaken, traditional values dissipate, and the once-dependable networks of communal care erode.
This phenomenon fuels loneliness and detachment, creating a society more concerned with personal achievement and survival than the well-being of some idea of a collective.
Wealth Ambition and the Erosion of Social Solidarity
While economic growth is essential, unchecked material aspiration can foster division rather than prosperity for all. When wealth accumulation becomes the primary metric for success, people inadvertently adopt a mindset of self-preservation, viewing their peers as competitors rather than allies.
This transformation is particularly visible in modern urban centers, where individualism eclipses the historical culture of mutual aid once prevalent in working-class communities. The issue isn’t immigration or external influences — it’s the societal shift toward prioritizing capital over connection; our societies would be failing in socially connected ways even without the effects of immigration, although it is true that immigration would add to the effects of this social disruption as they themselves are involved in the same aspirations for self enrichment above any other common good.
it is not necessarily capitalism or socialism that makes a society break down like this, capitalism could well be a very healthy form of existence .. if it was not so greedy .. what really destroys a society is greed;
When financial ambition overrides social responsibility, communities lose their fabric of trust, leaving a population disconnected, self-serving, and, paradoxically, poorer in spirit.
