There is one word that you employed here that makes this discussion completely impossible to develop on any sensible level, David G.

>>...the current economic system which unfairly advantages the greedy and eschews equality<<

Equality.

Equality of what, pray tell? Once we are agreed on that, we might be able to determine in what manner the system "eschews" it. But until you can explain - even in the vaguest, most general of terms - what you mean by equality in this sentence, it is nothing more than a vapid slogan.

If you believe that our economic system should be designed so that we are all "equal" financially, you might like to consider some of the social ramifications of that policy. Not to mention the political issues - such an environment could only be created through a command-and-control system, which would by definition create an "us-and-them" difference between the rulers and the ruled. You are unlikely to find a population anywhere in the world that would voluntarily give up their right to self-improvement.

If you do have something to offer that goes beyond the protest-placard level, I for one would be interested to hear it.

>>When a book of ideas comes along you compulsively ridicule it, trash it because it challenges your stereotypical mindset, your many narrow preconceptions<<

It is not my "stereotypical mindset" that is challenged here. But I do feel that my intelligence is being insulted by such a farrago of new-earthian twaddle. Maybe you find such prelapsarian longings acceptable. I for one find them socially corrosive.

Here's a suggestion which might help, David G...

Since your comment that

"And if honesty, compassion and generosity again became values that people embraced,..."

implies - by saying *again* - you know something about human history which isn't apparent to the rest of us, perhaps you could tell us where and when this nirvana existed - and maybe what happened to the people concerned?

Couldn't hurt the discussion.

Pericles,

On the subject of 'us' and 'them':

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/01/rightwing-insurrection-usurps-democracy

Is it any wonder that the world is a chaotic mess. It is peopled in the main by troglodytes, non-thinking individuals who, like sheep, fall for the flood of propaganda espoused by Governments, Corporations, the Media and Oligarchs.

How dare someone come along and question the status quo! How dare someone suggest that the current system is deeply flawed, that it leaves many humans frustrated and empty, that materialism is for zombies, that people should question the way they live their lives and not follow the script set out for them from birth by those who become rich by exploiting and manipulating the poor and the gullible.

Such people want to burn Eisenstein at the stake for daring to put questions into their minds, questions about whether greed is a worthwhile goal, whether humans would be happier living in small communities, whether our lives should spent pursuing artistic pursuits and seeking more creative activities than putting on suits and, for five days a week, living in small cubicles wielding ballpoint pens or tapping on keyboards.

Real thinkers should welcome Eisenstein's book, be excited about the chance to discuss alternative lifestyles.

The zombies will join together to attack it fearing their shares might go down in value or their lives might be shown to be a terrible waste!

David G,
imo the philistinism in this thread is born a) of blanket ignorance of the kind of philosophy you allude to, and b) of incomprehension that any other way of life could be viable, let alone superior. Now does it bother the philistines that the current economic system is patently unsustainable. The poverty is not on the side of offering alternatives, but of defending the current system.

Unfortunately I'll have to stay on the sidelines. But here's a link to an article that might be of interest:
http://newleftreview.org/II/76/wolfgang-streeck-citizens-as-customers

I should add that it's a longish article and the philistines, used to digesting mostly vacuous snippets here, are likely to find both the length and the content challenging. Even should they clear those hurdles, the insurmountable barrier presented by their closed minds remains.
Have a nice day.