Thank you, Handyman. You nailed the problem.

Before we can find the solution I guess we need to uncover and understand WHY so many seemingly intelligent people underwrite your scenario.

Wanna hear my theory?

Thought you would.

I think they’re SCARED and BORED simultaneously. The “average” Joe & Jane are, I think, aware that what society has become is toxic to the human spirit and not sustainable as a lifestyle. There is no time/space in this forum to explore and explain even the important variables that play into this situation - it would take half a book to outline them.

But at the top of my list are my convictions that

(a) the human physiology and psychology is not built to withstand the distress caused by living cheek-to-jowl, like crazed rats, in groups of millions. This directly and negatively impacts many of our systems and is the direct cause of chronic disease, and

(b) what is called our “built environment” no longer presents the stimulation and life challenges we REQUIRE to remain mentally and physically healthy.

“Going to the gym for a workout” is NOT a sustainable substitute, for example, for putting in the effort required to grow a garden of vegetables and fruits sufficient to feed your family for the year.

“Watching a Laker’s Game (or any other “game”) is NOT a sustainable substitute for actually PLAYING one.

“Joining the morning & evening commute” is NOT the equivalent of hunting and gathering/growing which is what I think our bodies and minds are built to do.

And so on…

I firmly believe that most inhabitants of our sick cities are SCARED out of their wits that the life they have built (following the instructions laid out by home, school and church) is actually a DECK OF CARDS giving the ILLUSION of security and safety when it’s actually the exact opposite.

I firmly believe that most caught up in our urban concrete/asphalt/quicksand are BORED OUT OF THEIR MINDS with the artificial substitutes society offers in place of the incredible array of discoveries that await in the “real world” (almost everything outside the city limits).

Why else would so many readily admit they’re working their asses off in a stinking city to get enough money so they can RETIRE TO THE COUNTRY? They know INTUITIVELY that’s where health can be found. I only hope they live long enough to figure a way to get there.

We have very little money - but we finally moved far from the mainstream onto a 150-year old farm with the well and septic tank, leaky roof, racoons that raid the birdfeeder, mosquitos and black flies hungry enough to devour a small child in one bite. We hear the coyotes at night, that is, when those darn “frog singing contests” die down enough to hear anything. The stars are almost bright enough to read by. The garden is in and growing well (what the slugs don’t eat - we oversewed so they’d have a bit).

All the trees and flowers and other living things are a complete TONIC to our SOULS. We’re well on our way to RECOVERY from city life.

All those who are jumping up to declare… “ya, well… not everyone is cut out or wants to live like that” I say, maybe so. Please… STAY in your high rise, ticky-tacky, noisy boxes… ENJOY “life” as you like it. The fewer of “you” where we are, the better for “us.”

I like the Lakers. I watched every game of the playoff series. As a former sports official I loved getting a chance to sit in the best seat in the house and to get paid for it. But it also bothers me that someone can get paid millions of dollars a year for playing a game and that the public is willing to spend big bucks to make these players and their owners filthy rich when their children go without the best teachers education can buy. Everyone who reads this can do so because dedicated people took the time to teach them to read, write, and at one time, how to think. And yet we begrudge them whatever money they make as if being literate was of no great value. People will tax themselves to build expensive sports arenas with special areas for the filthy rich to watch the commoners and yet they will not vote for a bond issue to build more schools, pay teachers better, or enable enrichment programs like arts, music, dance, etc.

My town has 2 high schools and one football stadium which they share. While they are laying off teachers and cutting programs the school district is trying to raise 2 million dollars to build a new football stadium for the other high school. And who are these people that do these stupid, self destroying things? The same people who will drive to LA to watch a parade of basketball players, pay $75 for a Lakers jersey, or pay $500 for parking, tickets, and hotdogs to see some spoiled too rich players play childrens games, that’s who. No wonder we never went any where other than the moon. That may just wind up to be humanity’s apex before we crashed and burned in our own spoiled nest!

Kudos RAE

Who could possibly care?

On the list of things that need our full attention in this world a parade for a sports team just has to be AT THE BOTTOM.

Oh ya… to answer my own question… all those hangers-on and participants who make big money from one of the most worthless professions on the planet, care.

Barf.

People taxes should not pay for private business interests but yet it does far more often than we realise.
It shows how the powers think that we should be grateful for what they (don’t) do for us.

Los Angeles won’t pay? Isn’t Los Angeles bankrupt? Isn’t California bankrupt? Golly, I’m wondering why that might be.