First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting and helpful comments. Some additional thoughts / questions : - I think that the economic boom is not only based on successful exports, but must have its most important source in the local (=North American) very high level of consumption. - Nan Hildreth from the positive-futures list told me about a survey by Paul Ray, who found that about 25% of the population are "Cultural Creatives" who want to transform the society in the direction of more sustainibility, simple living and democracy. http://www.coopamerica.org/Business/B44million.htm and http://www.ligthparty.com/Spirituality/Culture.html ). Are there other studies and is there some clear practical evidence, that the number of the "Cultural Creatives" is really as high as 25% and that their number is rising? We can see some "no-future"- and "we want everything and that immediatly"-concept that seems to be very popular for the young generation. - Could it be, that "voluntary simplicity" is not really voluntary for most of the simple living people? Simple living could be a reaction to the limits and problems of the traditional way of working and careers. Personal limits (stress, health problems), restructuring of companies (devaluation of human work, unemployment, interruption of careers), automation and globalization could be some reasons. - On the other hand: Who is voluntarily living in the complex ( or complicated) way of "work and spend"? Aren't there billions of $$ being invested in marketing activities? Once more, thanks and best wishes, Robert Neunteufel e-mail: - private: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - office: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
