Buying stuff. Good or Bad?
23 February 2008
What are we gonna do about the economy? Gosh. I don’t know. When I use the principle of economy with words, it means to be short and sweet. Don’t waste words. If you read my blog, or have ever talked to me… fat chance.
When the government talks economy, it is not talking about reducing waste. Political figures and business analysts are talking about our inability to spend enough. When we’re not buying stuff, certain jobs are in jeopardy. When we’re not buying stuff, people are losing money. When people are losing money, people get scared. When people get scared, the government can more easily pass legislation to keep our phone lines tapped in case of terrorist threats that may compound our fear of not having money.
Right now, government leaders are figuring out how much of a rebate check to give us. Will it be enough to save us from the economic crash we all fear? Will we collectively spend enough to keep the Wall Street names from losing those precious points?
What would happen if we just put the rebate in the bank? What if we just decided we’re sick of spending money? What if people suddenly decided they don’t want to work for “the man” anymore? What if people just stopped?… Stopped to take a few deep breaths to rethink this whole deal?
If we took a break, I know one person who would benefit: it is the person made of trees, dirt, ocean, rivers and sky. This is the person who gives us all the stuff. All of Al Gore’s pie charts and bar graphs were great, but one message that I haven’t heard loud enough is this: When the economy is driving strong, it’s running over the Earth. Our current lack of spending is great for the planet. Economic stagnation means people are trying to make do with what’s already there. They are strengthening their home economy, in the true sense of the word. They’re not on that planet-crushing quest for more.
Sure, I like stuff, too. I just wanted to add some volume to the message that the stuff we use has been determined to come from a finite source. A slow economy should be cause for celebration. We humans are finally heeding the timeless advice that promotes more respectful relationships everywhere: Don’t shit where you eat.
