The thing that's happened is that the story became so dominant.

We don't even realize it like fish in the water.

This program is made possible by the members and donors to the show to support the work

we do for as little as a buck a month or to sign up as a member and get commercial free

versions of every episode.

Plus members only bonus content find us on Patreon or visit the Contribute tab at bestofaloft.com.

Now welcome to the award-winning Best of the Left podcast with clips today from Upstream,

the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, Jacobin Radio, Jim Heightower, and the Tom Harman program.

Having more higher material standards is really important in poorer countries where people

haven't got basic necessities.

This is Richard Wilkinson, co-author of the spirit level.

But for us in the rich world, having more and more of everything makes less and less

difference.

It's no longer crucial to our well-being to have our higher material standard.

It's not just a matter of taking out the bads.

It's that our material standards are high enough.

And actually the way we should now be improving the real quality of our lives, now that that's

no longer an effective method, is by improving the quality of the social environment.

It's highly sensitive and it's highly personal to even speak in language of have and have

not.

This is Maria Scordialis, co-founder of the Living Holiness Institute and co-initiator

of the Art of Hosting.

...