For several years I was firmly a part of the ever-strapped working class. Then I went to college and became part of the ever-strapped, over-educated working class! At one point I was working three jobs to afford living. I learned to cut expenses where I could - use (free) linux instead of a paid OS, no cable tv, no eating at restaurants, bike instead of drive, and so forth. And I'm not proud of it, but I downloaded pretty much all my music for free using Napster, Kazaa, and the like.

I have since made amends for that and now fully financially support the musicians whose music I enjoy. However I firmly believe that the argument, "If you can't afford it, you don't get to have it," shouldn't apply to certain things. Of course it makes sense that a person shouldn't have a European sportscar if they can't afford it, or they shouldn't have a large house in the suburbs if they can't afford it. But music is a whole other thing. The way Huxley writes about it is beautiful and perfect, and he shows just how important it is to our lives.

Nowadays people have outlets that didn't used to exist for free music or at least the ability to listen - youtube, bandcamp, soundcloud - plus some viable commercial services that are affordable and allow you to tune the flow of music to your own tastes. Being a part of a previous generation that did not have those options, if I'd had to go through my hardscrabble years with no music to listen to except the over-produced, tone deaf commercial shit that's shoved down our throats by pop radio, I'd have thrown myself off a bridge. Music is not simply a product to be consumed. It is integral to life itself.