The main news programme on the BBC tonight had the word RECESSION plastered behind the newsreaders for virtually the entire duration of the programme. Got me thinking about what on earth’s going on in our “global economy”. It seems the economic system we are all living with is designed around the concept of growth. Technically, a growth rate less than zero for two consecutive quarters is the official definition of a “recession”. Some of the items covered under this heading included fears of shop owners that people won’t buy so much this Christmas. But hold on a moment. Does this make sense? Can you really design a system that will work forever on the basis of consumption and production of more, more, more? We’ve already seen in recent weeks the consequences of a financial system geared around the mantra of making more and more money. In a finite world, does any of this make sense?
And what happens when human beings just keep consuming more and more? Oh sure, they grow all right – take a look at this map of the increasing levels of obesity in the USA – watch it spread across the whole continent like a contagion. This growth, this getting bigger, fatter, consuming more……this is health? This is a goal worth striving for? This is a system which will deliver good lives for the human race?
I don’t think so.
You see growth in a healthy way, growth in Nature isn’t about ever increasing consumption and accumulation. It’s about development. A healthy child grows into a healthy adult by maturing and developing. This involves learning, experience, acquiring skills, becoming resilient, adaptable and fit. That kind of growth is sustainable. That kind of growth is worth pursuing.
I don’t have the answers to this one, but it just strikes me that maybe we need an economic model which is based on a more natural and a more human concept of growth…….development, maturity and the fitness to be able to cope with what comes along. Not the current model based on greed, consumption and ever increasing production. The current model doesn’t work. It’s an illusion.
Heroes Not Zombies 
First of all… don’t you just love how the news loves to scare us and embed fear?? Thats just brilliant! I’d like to slap the hell out of them to be honest!
Secondly… you are so right. Balance is needed. We are so out of balance… I hope change is coming for us all soon.
Truly, it is an illusion! Great post.
I ABSOLUTELY agree with you that a change in focus is required. I also know that the readjustment is going to be SOME KIND OF PAINFUL for a LOT of people. It’s all about values and how they’re promoted in the culture. We’re a society of “bigger, more, and better,” and until we can learn to live with “enough,” we’re going to continue to destroy ourselves, physically AND spiritually.
yes Bob …..excellent point with no easy answers. My young daughter is impressed with her friends modern ‘Southfork’ mansion with tripple garage and huge Range Rover. This vision of ever increasing consumption as a road to nirvana is madness.
Pruning back is a feature of nature which we fail to heed. Maybe this is a good time to reflect?
http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/beyond-belief-candles-in-the-dark
Bob this series of lectures is interesting — I have only listened to the first one but the points about a good life perhaps are relevant here…..
Amen! I believe we are distracting ourselves from impermanence. Yesterday I blogged about a book I just finished reading, Living in the Light of Death. I think this obsession with growth, with more, with multi-tasking, is a way of avoiding our lives and their inevitable end. And when we come to die, so many of us will discover that we have not lived.