To be clear, Lloyd, I am FULLY on board with the concept of sufficiency.
A bit about me for context. I'm 60. My average annual income from age 18 to present is well under $20k. Likely close to $15k. It did not cross the $10k line till I was past the age of 50. I've never been in debt. I've never been homeless. I've never wanted for food. I've had a rich life. (And no, I'm not a trust fund baby!)
Up until my mid 40's, I really believed that the problem was us (individually) and that I couldn't be critical if I didn't walk my talk 110%. I've done almost a full 180 from that position in the past 15 years. Yes, we still have some responsibility as individuals but I firmly believe that the vast majority of the problem is systemic and not solvable by individuals.
However...
It has been driving me a little crazy as of late that it is so difficult to push for cultural change. I think cultural change is a better way to think about individual change. Any one of us or even a lot of "one of us's" (no idea how the hell to spell that!) Is not going to move the dial. But a lot of us's will. So yeah, cultural change. And the pushback against that is so strong and angry. As you point out here, the false equivalencies are ridiculous. As if there is nothing between living in a mansion and living in a hole in the ground wearing a hair shirt. It's just ridiculous! I have no problem with the idea of some people living in a big house and some people living in small apartments. However, NOONE should be living on the street and NOONE should be living in a mansion! There's no room in my world for billionaires. And just say that today in our culture gets you labeled as a communist, libtard, woke whatever. Even our governments won't talk about it.
This was super long-winded but I just want to say thanks for pushing sufficiency but at the same time, let's keep the pressure on the rich m'kay?
Oh, if more people could understand the difference between wealth and prosperity. One can have a better life with an e-bike than bearing all the costs and consumption of an SUV.
Good post, including my favorite comic quote of all time. I am with you on riding bikes, personal responsibility, and most everything else in the post. However, I will not let go of the corporate system driver that blinds people to their responsibility. Most people don't read you, most students do not take my classes. They grow up in a world of propaganda, which we mistakenly call advertising. And they believe the media they watch. It is a sad situation. I am not going to blame my neighbors for believing the lies spread by Fox News, though I will try to get them to broaden their sources of information, and try to get them to see that a Ford F150 is not the best choice for a family car. I would tell them while riding my bike, but they tend not to slow down even as they pass on a winding road. Personal responsibility combined with regulation will get us further than personal actions alone. We need the politicians on board and the only way we can do that is to get money out of politics.
Of course this is a Catch 22. You can't get the politicians you want if the money controls who runs, and you can't control the money unless you have the politicians you want. So we will have to struggle to both raise awareness at the personal level and change the political direction at the broad societal level. Corporations will only listen, these days, to investors, and even then barely. It may take a much larger crisis than we have experienced so far to drive people to awareness and action on the environmental degradation our actions cause.
I think the bigger question is why do we think we need more, rather than less/make do with what we have.
I have been a champion of passive houses since you brought this to our attention all those years ago. I preach it to people in my Dome Group to where they (by the count) I am ignored. I am also fighting some builders pm me with messages such as domes are already efficient. My point here is, why do the builders (at least some are catching on) fight this? It's as if most want people to live in less energy efficient houses.
The answer, look at the media coverage they get as well as the mind-numbing commercials.
Why does the general public need pick-ups or giant SUVs? The answer, is because of the same mind-numbing commercials that ignore energy efficient houses.
And the list can go on, and the answer always is, the mind-numbing "Keep up with the joneses" or "be a trend-setter" commercials that we are subject to.
Then you have the social media people showing-off the stupid things they do and get publicity, or even people who do nothing at all (think Kardashians), get publicity from whatever they do. They show-off their make-believe life-style and kids (of all ages) fall for it and want to emulate them from the less than sustainable fashions to the private jets (and please let's not get started on private jet travel).
The reason why we're going backward and living in the Roddy Piper movie THEY LIVE is the same reason John Carpenter stated. The mass media is selling consumption. Buy more, consume more. Public relation people do the same with their celebrity talents (again think Kardashians). Yes, we are brain-washed by the media into wanting the latest, greatest, biggest, least affordable, products. I remember a commercial on social media that said "there are two people in the world, those that travel in private jets and those that wish they could."
And let's not forget the environmentalists also have to take the blame for environmental burn-out. How many times do we have to endure studies, warnings that demonize the poor and the middle-class for surviving and yes, falling for the media's message while those that demonize are also buying and consuming and flying in private jets?
Yet nobody is calling the media out on that. And that is the problem, and until companies switch gears and their messages we as a people in general (there are always exceptions) will be brainwashed to want, and spend.
And that makes the media, the celebrities, and those that make us want the real culprits. And yes, big corporations (that are owned by millions of people and expect a profit each quarter) that spend money for these abominable commercials also culpable. Some of us have pulled the plug and not have the mass media in our house, yet that didn't last too long. Now if you don't want commercials on the streaming site, you have to pay extra. The commercials will always follow the people.
So my question is what is the solution when the Media is the Massage?
This is tantalising because of the truism "the best things in life are free". While this has been taken to be little or no financial cost, it is equally true that the best things in life are (or could easily be) carbon free - and Universal Basic Income has to deal with the essentials.
Heh! Looks like you just quoted me a couple of times. Unfortunately, I can't take the time to respond right now as I have to take the Grandson to his specialist in northern NH and there's no public transit available from central NH where I could use my laptop. But, given that NH is 80% and very low density, that is as it should. So the trusty F-150 will do the transport for the 2.5 hours each way.
However, you quoted the RIGHT things from me. Let's see how this plays out when I reread this post.
BTW, some of your commenters (besides me!) are starting to "write long". Would you consider "guest posts", even if Point-Counterpoint in nature, from your community? Heh! It could turn into your own custom "TH" with more readership (and more readership may convert to more paying subscribers - see, I DO think of you!)
As I see it, Earth Day is primarily observed by people participating in some litter clean-up activity, organized by the City, surrounding towns and villages, or any of a number of community organizations, over-arched by our County resource recovery agency, which provides collection sites. While I'm happy to have the litter picked up--I participate as well--I find that a lot of people feel like this, paired with filling their recycling bins weekly, means they can check the environmental box and be done.
I'm fully on board with sufficiency, i just felt that your last post was letting the oil companies off the hook by not considering how these entities are stacking the deck in their favour. thank you for elaborating, it makes more sense now. I think it's important we work on both the demand and the supply side!
ps when will we get a link to watch the recording of your presentation? I'm looking forward to it!
Thanks. I needed that post today. When I’ve read your work on sufficientcy in earlier posts and what you saw as the response from the PHI conference, I felt myself step back and wonder if I could even consider trying to control the beast within. I’m not good at dealing with a constant state of self evaluation especially when I’m pushing myself to be “less than” my contemporaries: less of a consumer, less of a buyer, less of a… PH and working on reducing building energy was easier since the numbers spoke and guided the work. This is much harder as it’s also got other human attributes wrapped up in it like ego, caring for your family, limited material choices pushing you down a tighter decision tree. I wish us luck but am glad that you keep pushing the conversation. -Even tho it still makes me uncomfortable.
To be clear, Lloyd, I am FULLY on board with the concept of sufficiency.
A bit about me for context. I'm 60. My average annual income from age 18 to present is well under $20k. Likely close to $15k. It did not cross the $10k line till I was past the age of 50. I've never been in debt. I've never been homeless. I've never wanted for food. I've had a rich life. (And no, I'm not a trust fund baby!)
Up until my mid 40's, I really believed that the problem was us (individually) and that I couldn't be critical if I didn't walk my talk 110%. I've done almost a full 180 from that position in the past 15 years. Yes, we still have some responsibility as individuals but I firmly believe that the vast majority of the problem is systemic and not solvable by individuals.
However...
It has been driving me a little crazy as of late that it is so difficult to push for cultural change. I think cultural change is a better way to think about individual change. Any one of us or even a lot of "one of us's" (no idea how the hell to spell that!) Is not going to move the dial. But a lot of us's will. So yeah, cultural change. And the pushback against that is so strong and angry. As you point out here, the false equivalencies are ridiculous. As if there is nothing between living in a mansion and living in a hole in the ground wearing a hair shirt. It's just ridiculous! I have no problem with the idea of some people living in a big house and some people living in small apartments. However, NOONE should be living on the street and NOONE should be living in a mansion! There's no room in my world for billionaires. And just say that today in our culture gets you labeled as a communist, libtard, woke whatever. Even our governments won't talk about it.
This was super long-winded but I just want to say thanks for pushing sufficiency but at the same time, let's keep the pressure on the rich m'kay?
Oh, if more people could understand the difference between wealth and prosperity. One can have a better life with an e-bike than bearing all the costs and consumption of an SUV.
Good post, including my favorite comic quote of all time. I am with you on riding bikes, personal responsibility, and most everything else in the post. However, I will not let go of the corporate system driver that blinds people to their responsibility. Most people don't read you, most students do not take my classes. They grow up in a world of propaganda, which we mistakenly call advertising. And they believe the media they watch. It is a sad situation. I am not going to blame my neighbors for believing the lies spread by Fox News, though I will try to get them to broaden their sources of information, and try to get them to see that a Ford F150 is not the best choice for a family car. I would tell them while riding my bike, but they tend not to slow down even as they pass on a winding road. Personal responsibility combined with regulation will get us further than personal actions alone. We need the politicians on board and the only way we can do that is to get money out of politics.
Of course this is a Catch 22. You can't get the politicians you want if the money controls who runs, and you can't control the money unless you have the politicians you want. So we will have to struggle to both raise awareness at the personal level and change the political direction at the broad societal level. Corporations will only listen, these days, to investors, and even then barely. It may take a much larger crisis than we have experienced so far to drive people to awareness and action on the environmental degradation our actions cause.
I think the bigger question is why do we think we need more, rather than less/make do with what we have.
I have been a champion of passive houses since you brought this to our attention all those years ago. I preach it to people in my Dome Group to where they (by the count) I am ignored. I am also fighting some builders pm me with messages such as domes are already efficient. My point here is, why do the builders (at least some are catching on) fight this? It's as if most want people to live in less energy efficient houses.
The answer, look at the media coverage they get as well as the mind-numbing commercials.
Why does the general public need pick-ups or giant SUVs? The answer, is because of the same mind-numbing commercials that ignore energy efficient houses.
And the list can go on, and the answer always is, the mind-numbing "Keep up with the joneses" or "be a trend-setter" commercials that we are subject to.
Then you have the social media people showing-off the stupid things they do and get publicity, or even people who do nothing at all (think Kardashians), get publicity from whatever they do. They show-off their make-believe life-style and kids (of all ages) fall for it and want to emulate them from the less than sustainable fashions to the private jets (and please let's not get started on private jet travel).
The reason why we're going backward and living in the Roddy Piper movie THEY LIVE is the same reason John Carpenter stated. The mass media is selling consumption. Buy more, consume more. Public relation people do the same with their celebrity talents (again think Kardashians). Yes, we are brain-washed by the media into wanting the latest, greatest, biggest, least affordable, products. I remember a commercial on social media that said "there are two people in the world, those that travel in private jets and those that wish they could."
And let's not forget the environmentalists also have to take the blame for environmental burn-out. How many times do we have to endure studies, warnings that demonize the poor and the middle-class for surviving and yes, falling for the media's message while those that demonize are also buying and consuming and flying in private jets?
Yet nobody is calling the media out on that. And that is the problem, and until companies switch gears and their messages we as a people in general (there are always exceptions) will be brainwashed to want, and spend.
And that makes the media, the celebrities, and those that make us want the real culprits. And yes, big corporations (that are owned by millions of people and expect a profit each quarter) that spend money for these abominable commercials also culpable. Some of us have pulled the plug and not have the mass media in our house, yet that didn't last too long. Now if you don't want commercials on the streaming site, you have to pay extra. The commercials will always follow the people.
So my question is what is the solution when the Media is the Massage?
In the word is the great poet, Martin Carter of Guyana: "There are no innocent bystanders. All are involved. All are consumed."
This is tantalising because of the truism "the best things in life are free". While this has been taken to be little or no financial cost, it is equally true that the best things in life are (or could easily be) carbon free - and Universal Basic Income has to deal with the essentials.
Heh! Looks like you just quoted me a couple of times. Unfortunately, I can't take the time to respond right now as I have to take the Grandson to his specialist in northern NH and there's no public transit available from central NH where I could use my laptop. But, given that NH is 80% and very low density, that is as it should. So the trusty F-150 will do the transport for the 2.5 hours each way.
However, you quoted the RIGHT things from me. Let's see how this plays out when I reread this post.
BTW, some of your commenters (besides me!) are starting to "write long". Would you consider "guest posts", even if Point-Counterpoint in nature, from your community? Heh! It could turn into your own custom "TH" with more readership (and more readership may convert to more paying subscribers - see, I DO think of you!)
Just a thought...
Good post Lloyd! Sometimes the hardest truths are that we have to change our mindset and habits to make things better.
As I see it, Earth Day is primarily observed by people participating in some litter clean-up activity, organized by the City, surrounding towns and villages, or any of a number of community organizations, over-arched by our County resource recovery agency, which provides collection sites. While I'm happy to have the litter picked up--I participate as well--I find that a lot of people feel like this, paired with filling their recycling bins weekly, means they can check the environmental box and be done.
to add to my comment on your previous post:
I'm fully on board with sufficiency, i just felt that your last post was letting the oil companies off the hook by not considering how these entities are stacking the deck in their favour. thank you for elaborating, it makes more sense now. I think it's important we work on both the demand and the supply side!
ps when will we get a link to watch the recording of your presentation? I'm looking forward to it!
Thanks. I needed that post today. When I’ve read your work on sufficientcy in earlier posts and what you saw as the response from the PHI conference, I felt myself step back and wonder if I could even consider trying to control the beast within. I’m not good at dealing with a constant state of self evaluation especially when I’m pushing myself to be “less than” my contemporaries: less of a consumer, less of a buyer, less of a… PH and working on reducing building energy was easier since the numbers spoke and guided the work. This is much harder as it’s also got other human attributes wrapped up in it like ego, caring for your family, limited material choices pushing you down a tighter decision tree. I wish us luck but am glad that you keep pushing the conversation. -Even tho it still makes me uncomfortable.