I've come to see that if we are to build a better world with the elimination of
poverty, those of us who have more than we really need to physically
sustain us will have to give up our addiction to 'stuff' and get over
our love affair with material possessions. I reckon, from personal experience, that it's not easy!
But there is good news: There is growing evidence that more material possessions don't necessarily make us any happier.What's more, many of those studying these matters have come to see that a price is paid by societies who give high priority to material growth. Those who consider prosperity as including our ability to flourish psychologically and socially have identified a 'social recession' which means that material growth has been accompanied by a loss of community, trust and feelings of belonging.
A Sheffield University study found a breakdown in trust accompanies the erosion of geographical community when travel becomes easier and people move away often to find work. The study found that during the 30 years from the early 1970s incomes doubled on average but the 'loneliness index' increased dramatically. Oliver James' 'Affluenza' identified the mental illness and addictions which so often afflict those who are rich living in a divided society.
Why then are we so addicted to material possessions? Tim Jackson (Prosperity Without Growth):
'Material goods provide a vital language through which we communicate with each other about the things that really matter: family, identity, friendship, community, purpose in life.' Can't quite get my head round that but it reminds me that in his wonderful book 'Free to be Human' David Edwards said that capitalism depends on everyone being discontented because they will then go out and buy, buy, buy.
I'd like to offer the Russian revolution as an example of how spreading a nations wealth in a Socialist society, started with however good will to all can and was corrupted. I've always thought that sadly it is a human fault for someone always to want "More" and not be happy with their lot and all too often there are too many who would prefer a easy life rather than complain and so the corruption starts.
ReplyDeleteI remember one of my friends suggesting I should(Given the hippie lifestyle I aspired to) go to live on a Kibbutz which might have been a great idea if not for the location in a possible Israeli war-zone!
http://www.socialistrevolution.org/ideas/whats-the-alternative/what-went-wrong-in-russia/
It isn't human nature to want more and more, we are conditioned into it in a capitalist society, and maybe it also happens in some socialist societies, but we need to follow Buddhism and discover the meaning of enough to be truly happy
DeleteInteresting ... good to hear from you ... I'm not sure I agree with you that 'human nature' means we all want more and more. I think perhaps that is one side of human nature but that we need to build a system which encourages and links into the altruistic/co-operative aspects of human nature. For a really good discussion of this I've found this really useful - http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_jackson_s_economic_reality_check.html
ReplyDeleteI have found the ConDem gov austerity program
ReplyDelete: has been a great help for reducing my
: addiction to buying stuff. Thank you Dave
: & Nick.
But when we don't buy stuff the economy collapses, which is why governments are so reluctant to tackle consumerism. The ConDems austerity measures will crash the economy unless they can succeed in increasing our indebtedness to the banks
DeleteTim Jackson suggests we can continue to grow but through activities which are resource light and non polluting. Wonder how this would work? In case you've not yet read 'Prosperity Without Growth' (lent to me by Jonathan Essex of the GP. thanks Jonathan)he asked 'what would this economy look like?' and came up with the answer -
Delete"'Selling 'energy services' rather than energy supplies. Selling mobility rather than cars. Recycling, re-using, maybe. Yoga lessons, perhaps, hairdressing, gardening: so long as these aren't carried out using buildings, don't involve the latest fashion and you don't need a car to get to them. The humble broom would need to be preferred to the diabolical 'leaf blower'" I'll have to think about all that ...
Try switching off all the sources of advertising, E, permanently.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. It feels though that the whole of my day to day life is permeated by subtle and not so subtle advertising but I guess to switch that off I'd have to live on a desert island! It comes close though when I spend a morning at the allotment or at my caravan in a field in Suffolk ...
DeleteOne way around the need for increasing production of more stuff to keep the economy going is to have people working on repairing on the stuff we have already so it doesn't have to be thrown away
DeleteBrilliant Chris although I understand that much modern 'stuff' is specially built so that it can't be repaired. Also, I learned the other day that built-in obsolescence isn't always necessary now because a new gizmo only has to be offered for a perfectly good old one to be thrown out. I guess that's true with phones and fashion
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