If a retired couple sold their big house in the suburbs and downsized to an apartment closer to essential amenities would we think they were stupid and wipe them off our Christmas card list?
If an ‘on-the-road’ salesman trimmed down his clothes closet and traded in his fat Lincoln for a fuel-efficient Honda in order to conserve resources and save money would we call him an idiot?
The answers would likely be nope, good move and it’s about time, buddy.
So, why is there panic in the streets, bailouts to the sky and a lot less talk about so many things more important than the economy?
This from the local paper, under the headline World Faces Worst Decline Since ‘80s:
“In its half-yearly economic outlook, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said economic output will likely shrink 0.4 per cent in 2009 for the 30 market democracies that make up its membership, against the 1.4 per cent growth prediction for 2008.”
It strikes me funny we cannot downsize our collective lifestyles (related to food, clothing, shelter, transportation, communication etc.) by such a small amount.
And isn’t our planet in more danger than our lifestyles?
Excuse me. I gotta take this call on my plastic cellphone.
***
Can we not learn to live within the natural limits of our home turf?
.
No comments:
Post a Comment