I've read all but a few pages of 'Soul of Capitalism'. As usual, I found many disturbing reminders of my past thoughts and half ideas. Except now they were woven into a tapestry, that almost seemed to offer a path to the future.
I understand the 'rape of resources' you bring to the table for discussion. In the past, I've stated that because of the Net Present Value function and discounting of future cash flows, our culture has a fixed mindset about 'harvesting' all possible resources ASAP. We know this clearly isn't sustainable, and people are waking up and asking questions.
investment in efficient means of productions
doesn't have to mean scraping every living thing out of the ocean in square mile swaths vs 100' swaths. It can mean finding ways to work with nature- to 'Let Nature be your Guide' to meet our needs and desires.
I've discovered a large part of this is personally adjusting how I see the world. Instead of demanding what I want from society or nature, asking what society or nature wants me to have. Pricing, oddly enough, conveys some of this info even in today's distorted world. The price of gasoline rises, so instead of dragging a two ton truck to the grocery store, I ride a bicycle and perhaps lose a bit of weight in addition to enjoying a some sun on a cool fall day.
As people evolve their personal understanding of the world and their individual relationships with nature, things will change. They will still desire steak, but perhaps savor it more in smaller portions knowing the costs which went into creating it. This isn't something that can be forced or coerced externally, it must be embraced individually.
Many of the people on these various threads will tell you they 'live simply', meaning they aren't 'Hungry Ghosts' as Greider shares with us- rather they take what they need and share what they have. There is a whole 'simplification' movement underfoot, and the world is changing, one person at a time.
You and I can make a difference- we can raise free range chickens, rabbits, grow some vegetables and treat nature with respect. For ourselves and our neighbors. Decreasing the power of the existing paradigm. Or we can try to tell stories which will help others understand new points of views.
I offer you a few links to ponder, past posts, a few which may garner a chuckle or two.
Message 19462043
Message 19465120
Message 19458514
Message 19434179
I've slighted you in the past on another thread; for you seemed to be posting the same rhetoric on just about everything I followed. This annoyed me due to the repetition of clicking the next button. I apologize for the slight, and say here publicly that I appreciate your thoughts, especially when you bring new material to the table, as you have done so recently. |
