In DeGraad, Wann, and Naylor’s Affluenza, I began to re-examine my way of life and what I find most important. Is it what I spend my money on or who I spend my time with? It is how a product makes me feel physically or how I feel emotionally after I’ve physically done something? In a sense, I hadn’t been able to actually side one way or the other, my answer turned out to be somewhat gray. I’m sure I’m not the only one who says they care about recycling, buying environmentally-friendly products, and conserving natural resources – but doesn’t actually follow through with sorting out the trash, buying compact fluorescent bulbs, or using both sides of printer paper. However, the next question at hand is two-fold. If we all made the effort to help our surroundings and atmosphere, would this solve our national problem of over-consumption? But, if we do not over-consume than what will that do to our economy; will we fail as a society?
This series of questions made me question, did I actually know what the purpose of an economy was? What is an economy for? Specifically, our economy requires us to work all of these hours, produce all of these goods…goods that are supposed to serve our needs and us. I think in a way this system is kind of backwards and that we need to make adjustments. Economy is Western Europe works almost without any flaws, or so it seems. While from the outside they appear to have high taxes, they often practice intervention in businesses through government. But is this truly a result of an efficient economy? If it’s a government intervention in business that we need, who will ask for it? I doubt anyone will, because no one even thinks it’s possible. Is money greater than time? Which would make the biggest difference in our economy?
How ironic. Over the weekend, my neighborhood was affected by the snow storm because of the absence of electricity. The absence of electricity has a major effect and many people. When I was in Panara, I expressed to one of the customers how this blackout would help people to think about using their resources wisely in the future and improve our economy. But he disagreed, he said in the past, the United States have made an effort to conserve their energy but they decided they are better off than they are now. I do not remember which era or which president who made this law. That person could be Regan, Carter or Eisenhower.
ReplyDeleteTime is more important to me sometimes than money. Ever been kept waiting for over an hour for an appointment? I feel like charging them for my time. My family and I were also left without power for 5 days as a result of the freak October snowstorm. It made us realize just how much we depend on it and that we probably should make more of an effort to conserve it. Thomas Walsh 01
ReplyDeleteagree that the Affluenza text shines the interrogator’s spot light on our lifestyles! Those were lots of big questions you asked and no big obvious answers. I think that our desire to belong and participate has been twisted and conditioned to believe that over-consumption is a necessary aspect of a healthy economy. The results of those misconceptions are our feelings of never being satisfied. It seems to me that some distance from the consumption machine is always a good idea. In Part 3: Treatment of Affluenza the authors quote Dick Roy, director of the Northwest Earth Institute, who says, “We don’t claim to be teachers or preachers. We’re just a simple resource that enables people to express their highest values to others, and then align their actions with those values. (208)” Small meaningful changes are doable with a support structure that builds on the successes of the individuals that make up the group. It makes a lot of sense to me. We can make what we do with our time more worthwhile than what we do with our money.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I am just confused by the question but I feel like the subjects at hand are entirely separate. Conserving and over-consumption are not necessarily opposing concepts. Some could argue that the idea of conserving has turned into a new form of consuming. Products are created and advertised with this concept of being "green" as an advertisement tactic. In the past ten years there has been a huge rise in hybrid cars, more energy efficient light bulbs and recycled products in general. Are people buying green to conserve the planet or are people buying green because its just one more product ploy?
ReplyDeleteKara Kiensicki (Section 01)