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February 2009 
What economic structures might help shift to sustainable living?
Posted on Mar 29th, 2008
by 
Spencer
Spencer
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for March 29, 2008:
I beleive that if we begin to identify our emotions around money, as individuals and as a community, we will be able to come together and build a sustainable economic platform for sustainable living. Until we can talk about our money problems, fears, and dreams, we will not be able to come together and make a truly sustainable economic structure. We need to cure our money madness!
Here is an example of money madness I experienced :
When I first started to make money, I began to wonder what it would feel like to spend it on sheer luxury—and whether that would bring some inchoate but profound change to my life. To be sure, financial security was still my foremost aim, but the wondering would not be denied.
So one day I sold my Chevy Nova and bought a BMW. I remember that as I drove it away from the dealer’s and sensed the power, felt the fine engineering, sank down into the comfort, and contemplated the image of myself driving this high-priced machine down the highway, I experienced a moment of elation.
It was, literally, a moment—and quickly over. The elation did not come back. In its place was a kind of emptiness, even a regret for the joy that had been so short-lived. In fact, arriving at the emptiness was downright painful, for I had worked so hard to feed myself this gourmet dish, had looked forward to it so much, imbuing it with the power and sanctity of a Holy Grail, only to find that it was nothing but empty calories and that the Grail was just a common cup.
Now what? I remember thinking. If the BMW isn’t enough, what is?
How much is enough—and enough for what?
Here is an example of money madness I experienced :
When I first started to make money, I began to wonder what it would feel like to spend it on sheer luxury—and whether that would bring some inchoate but profound change to my life. To be sure, financial security was still my foremost aim, but the wondering would not be denied.
So one day I sold my Chevy Nova and bought a BMW. I remember that as I drove it away from the dealer’s and sensed the power, felt the fine engineering, sank down into the comfort, and contemplated the image of myself driving this high-priced machine down the highway, I experienced a moment of elation.
It was, literally, a moment—and quickly over. The elation did not come back. In its place was a kind of emptiness, even a regret for the joy that had been so short-lived. In fact, arriving at the emptiness was downright painful, for I had worked so hard to feed myself this gourmet dish, had looked forward to it so much, imbuing it with the power and sanctity of a Holy Grail, only to find that it was nothing but empty calories and that the Grail was just a common cup.
Now what? I remember thinking. If the BMW isn’t enough, what is?
How much is enough—and enough for what?
Access: Public
I like what you say. Take a look at www.onlinehumanities.com, specifically the course humanities 112 on economics. This might help you butress your ideas and what you do.
Are you able to stand new and different thoughts?
Can you view economic issues without losing yourself in an either/or, right vs. left “mind set”? Can you transform this conflict creatively?
Does money really not die?
What has immortality to do with your own economic behavior?
Required Reading:
Small Is Beautiful, E. F. Schumacher
Money and Freedom, Hans F. Sennholz
Reincarnation and Immortality, Rudolf Steiner
Money and the Meaning of Life, Jacob Needleman
This is synchronicity at her naughtiest best! ;) Dawn and I were discussing this a couple of days ago. I agree with you completely about the feeling of being let down… I can't think of a single expensive item I've bought that gives me as much gratification on a daily basis as feeding a bunch of strays does, or handing out with underprivileged kids, or anything really… that serves an interest larger than mine! A lot of my friends feel this way too, but the lure of advertising is often too strong! ;) My own plan involves saving, investing, creating my nest egg, and then kicking back to a level of earning that helps me sustain myself, while I go do things that bring me more joy - like some of the activities I mentioned above.
Dawn and I both had read newspaper articles that talked about how people consuming 'less' was bad for the economy..and my reaction was…. why?? Why should it be bad for the economy?? If people are consuming less, it means they're spending less, which means they're saving more! But apparently, that view doesn't factor in GROWTH. Industrial growth, leading to more income, blah blah. What use is more money, if the purchasing power of it is on the decline thanks to inflation??
Why are companies growing for the sake of growth? And in doing so, producing items we don't NEED but are hypnotised into buying by advertising.. the costs of which (in billions) are built into the product, which means that the cost is higher than it should be causing inflationary pressures on our currencies, which means that our money is worth less than it should be because of these inflationary pressures, which means that we need to work harder/longer to stay in the same place!
My point, though simple, is hard to accept. There will always be work for willing hands. We don't need to produce goods that we don't need - especially ones that poison our environment. Companies dont need to 'GROW' to pay salaries. Anyone who's worked anywhere can attest to that.
If we, as a collective, decided today that we will no longer consume luxury goods, especially those that pollute, the folks who own and work in these companies WILL find alternate investments/employment. They have to right?? And they'll find it too - something will have to replace petrol guzzling cars, or whatever else the product was. New opportunities. New technologies. New work. No?
Can you help me with this Spencer? This may be oversimplified, and flawed. So I'd really like your views on this so I know I'm not talking rubbish!! ;)
A little money solves very real needs, like food or clothes or shelter. It is only reasonable to imagine that a lot of money would solve a lot of needs. However, this does not quite work because many needs are social or even spiritual.
Some nations have gone the socialist route of confiscating money from those who have more than they need and giving it to those who have too little. This works in a way when the poor are actually starving and freezing, but it stops working when we reach a level where the other needs kick in. There is never going to be enough money in the world to make even one man happy, much less all.
The best we can do is continute to spread understanding. This can only be done by the relatively few who already understand it themselves. I don't think we can make institutions out of it until we have enough people with a life experience that make them suitable “teachers”.
wow. thanks for your friend invitation spencer. I have been perusing your blog and this entry grabbed me, so I clicked to make a comment and I see my name is right there in one of the comments from almost 6 months ago. I hope that you'll post a response here to shriyansi's request because I'd be fascinated to read it.