Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Stuff


A few years ago I was taking an economics class and the professor announced that our entire economy would collapse if people just wanted less. It struck me as a little odd that the whole supply and demand model assumes that there are limited resources and unlimited demand. I wondered what would happen if people just simply wanted and needed less. I had a friend send me this link today and it really struck a nerve. It details many of the same concerns that I had with our modern economy. I'm going to do a little bit more research on a few of the fact presented. Some seem a bit too alarmist, but I totally agree with the position.
I realize this will just reinforce the perception that I'm a "treehugger" but so be it. Please go to this site and watch the entire video. I encourage you to take a look at your own consumption and see what you can do to improve.
www.storyofstuff.com

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the link to this information. I'll enjoy seeing any of your follow up posts on the information presented in her video.

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  2. I, too, am interested in your follow up commentary. There are several false premises and loaded words/phrases that make me skeptical of the analysis and conclusions. That said, I have always had some problems with capitalism because of the amount of waste created under the system.

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  3. The website has a very extensive list of sources for just about every claim she makes.
    http://www.storyofstuff.com/resources.html

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  4. It's interesting, I think the law of the Sabbath is intended not just as an exercise in obedience, or to worship god, but to remind us of our own divine nature, and that we are more than just consumers.

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