Consumerism

I recently read an article that talked about the major problems facing humanity. It wasn’t a new concept to tackle by any means. And that is me saying this with my limited resources (few magazines and random newspaper clippings) in the heart of Africa. But something stood out about how we have these “problems.” Over-population scares, consumerism, and all of the environmental issues in between seem to be the popular talking points. There seems to be a relative consensus on the population issue and honestly it’s not going to be as bad as people think, says the suburbian raised white kid from a farm state where you can go 30+ miles without seeing more than a small homestead. And this ‘scare’ is partially coming about due to the nature of world-wide consumerism, which in effect affects the environment. The ‘doomsday trifecta’ of sorts.

And to that almost everyone (that I have read) says that ‘we are making strides’ on the environmental change and the consumerism issue by finding renewable sources of energy and biofuels. Now I am no genius or anything, but finding new ways to consume the same amount doesn’t exactly do much other than create a few jobs, take away others, and start us on a path towards another ‘consumer crisis’ when our newfound source of energy falls into a state of peril or isn’t the ‘answer’. The experts have it right, consumerism is the problem. But they all go awry with the solutions. That is because their solutions aren’t more than temporary fixes, duct tape and a paper clip if you will. And so far as we consume the way we do, the problem will constantly be masked by gray and silver fixes until…Basically all I am trying to say is that if the problem is consumerism then the solution has to include the idea of reducing it, not simply finding a way to allow it to continue at its current levels or even increase at the expense of a newer or more bountiful natural resource.