Jeff:
>One view of world problems and solutions is at:
>
> http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/resolve/globalcrisis/part1.html
> http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/resolve/globalcrisis/index.html
>The solution is presented at the end and is called the conserver society.
Here is a quote from "the solution":
"The new economy would have a (relatively small) cash sector and would allow
(carefully regulated) market forces to operate. Many things would be planned.
Possibly the largest sector would be run by cooperatives. One would involve
barter and gifts (i.e., just giving away surpluses) and free goods (e.g.,
from the
roadside fruit and nut trees). The economy would have to be under social
control, not left mostly to free enterprise and market forces."
Sounds like Communism to me. And it is generally agreed that Communism does
not work. Certainly the fattest consumer society on Earth is not interested
in trying it. Right now much of the world wants to emulate our
materialistic consumer society, sees it as the ultimate goal. Do you drive
a car or truck? That is not sustainable for today's population, impossible
for a global population of eleven billion humans, the population projection
of the author.
I agree with most of what the author writes. The book is a nice summation
of what many of us believe is needed to make resources last as long as
possible (I do not believe sustainability is possible without some major
catastrophe such as an--unlikely--asteroid hit that destroys most of our
industrial production as well as much of the population. Otherwise,
consumption patterns will not reverse). What is needed is not going to
happen until the pain level from present practice becomes unbearable. You
can't change people's emotions with logic. Equality laws did not stop
racial bias. Drug laws did not stop drug use. Voluminous studies about
nutrition are readily available yet we are becoming more obese and more
dependent on disease care each year. The kids want more and more "stuff"
and they want it right now. Who is going to stop them? Consumerism is a
runaway cancer with no cure in sight.
Gene GeRue, author,
How To Find Your Ideal Country Home
http://www.ruralize.com
"Find your place on the planet and dig in."
- Gary Snyder, from an essay in Turtle Island
