Basil,
an interesting quotation, was this from an essay or a diary? If it was from the former then one would believe it to be the firm belief of the writer, after considering carefully what to write in his essayIf it was the latter, then it could have been a particularly harsh winter, or just a bad day, and the comment should be taken in context.
It's like a pilot keepinga diary and saying "that's the 100th sector I've flown this month and I'm sick of it, the boss won't let me retire til I'm 65, and I didn't get a payrise - I wan't to give up flying and clean the streets for a living".
On the subject of sweatshops, have you actually visited any towns/cities in asia that are producing your Tommy !!!!flinger boxer shorts for £4.99? I recently did, Hanhgzhou and Shaoxing, these places are terribly polluted from coal burning, the residential buildings are all tightly packed, with no real open spaces, and those that do have open space, it's covered with concrete - this is not exactly quality of life.
And to follow your quotation - some of my relatives live off the land, in beautiful bamboo lined valleys, not 10km from these industrial cesspits. The younger relatives are all moving to the towns and cities, because it seems to be more attractive. To drive cars, own an appartment, earn a wage. Yet, as happened in the UK/Europe at the time of the writing of the farmer, something else happened as a result of the industrial revolution.
With the move of people to the towns and cities for work there was a total loss of community for the country people. Whereas today you can walk into the above mentioned valleys and be weclomed in as a stranger, and everybody in the village is looking out for each other, helping with difficult jobs, a system of community barter still exists etc - they still have a real sense of community spirit and this brings out their humanity on a local scale.
But, the people who have moved to the town have lost their sense of community, as they don't know the background of person who lives down the hallway, they didn't grow up together in the same village as children, there's no sense of connection and they certainly wouldn't give up a day to help them with their work in a factory, as they would have done for their neighbour in the village.
At the time of wiriting more than 50% of the global poulation lives in a city, in another 10 years that will be 60%, this will continue to erode any sense of community that has existed between people. This will also mean that your boxer shorts will be even more cheaper.
We hope you enjoy wearing them!
Regards,
N1 Vibes