Returning to the States and our home in Sacramento from a two week trip to Europe made me realized that we, as Americans, live in a country of abundance, and in many cases, excess of material posessions.
In most German restaurants that we patronized, we sat down and ordered our own water or other drinks, the restaurants do not serve you free water, you have to order your own water and pay for it. So guess what, Jim and I only had beers when we had our meals and we started craving for water after a week of beer hydration. The gas prices in Europe was unbelievable, not only that the prices were quoted in Euros, the unit that they operate in is in liters not gallons, no wonder they drive small cars and have brilliant transportation system for the masses.
Going into the global recession, we'll all have to learn to conserve and choose between our needs and wants on a day to day basis. The convenience and instant gratification that we have enjoyed for so long will be challenged and will have to change. However, I am not so sure if this is a such bad thing. We'll save more, consume less, support each other more, and waste a lot less. It is about time that our contributions to the world outweigh our out of control consumption appetite. This is not so bad is it?
4 comments:
I agree that americans have a life of luxury; however, i don't think all of it is bad - yet, i don't think cutting back would be bad, either. for example, i think water should be free. you should be able to get water at a restaurant - this may cut down on alcoholism and is healthy. i think driving less or smaller cars is good, but on the other hand - if you can afford things and not live in debt, is it so bad to have belongings and other worldly possessions? i don't see an issue with this as long as you recognize the limits of these items. i love my book collection and am happy to add to it when i can afford it, but will i be devastated if there is a fire and its destroyed? not to the point it would kill m.e would i sell my collection if i needed money? sure. having these things is not the issue, its having things you cant afford and i think there is a difference.
I don't think it's just about being able to afford something. a lot of "things" are made and consumed because we think we need them, not because we really need them. If you believe that resources are scarce, then our consumption is taking away from someone else. Either we bid up the price or make it less available for others. There's always give and take. We drive cars and build highways so public transportation is not available for everyone - only those who can afford it. However, I am not complaining about the big house that we get to have in the States. I think consuming what we need rather than what we can is the what I am trying to say...
last year when I was in Italy I felt the same way. I don't know if 'abundance' is the way i'd describe consumerism in the States. I think it's hmmm.. 'excessive'. What we 'need' and 'want' is very different. Winston Churchill famously said
All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Great things inspire me not commodities.
I agree. Abundance is a nice way of putting it... :)
Post a Comment