Choice

The great pursuit of egoistic choice is an ideal of the U.S. culture. Few American associate this narcissism with the genocide of native peoples. However, its roots are deeply planted there. Manifest Destiny was a monster of egoistic and ethnocentric choice, promoted and encouraged by the near descendants of the holy Founding Fathers. 

Capitalism thrives upon and exploits this Culture of Me First. It is hard to avoid. Buying the simplest goods for daily life is infected with marketing, geared to appeal to transitory impulse as opposed to practical utility. The numeric progression of iPhone versions, rapidly paced one after another, is a clear example of this capitalist exploitation for massive profits to already wealthy shareholders.

Choosing a simple life with practical sensibility is very unpopular. Choosing sobriety over drunkenness is old hat. Choosing socially valuable work, like teaching in public schools, is seen as a form of admission to intellectual inadequacy. These choices are not valued in a capitalist society, which is driven by greed and monetary social superiority. 

Daily practice is a worthy choice. Responsible living is a worthy choice. Sobriety is a worthy choice. The worth of these choices has nothing to do with the marketplace. These are internal choices which are made for the promotion of one physically and mentally healthy life. Practice for profit is hokum. Gurus and clerics abound. Their impact is neutralized by their eventually obvious hypocrisy. The worthiest choice of a human being is to be a decent, ethical and responsible human being in each life moment. It is also the hardest choice.