(no subject)

[xiphias]

The aphorism "waste not, want not" is a rather destructive concept in America today. Because it implies that poverty is a moral failing. If you're poor, the aphorism says, it's because you're wasteful, and lazy.

Comments

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Possibly because other people were being wasteful? So there ends up not being enough resources to go around.

It's not a great aphorism to apply to individuals, but I think it works really well when applied to cultures.