COLLAPSE

I have noticed that the Dow Jones Industrials Index is down more than 300 points in midday trading. I have also seen that there have been a flurry of comments and blogs seemingly blaming either Republicans or Democrats for a poor and sick economy here at home. What these writers fail to realize is that the blame does not fall on just one group of people but to all of us. First of all the U.S. economy is interconnected with every other economy and they to us so the economic malaise is global and for the most part needs a global solution.
First of all let’s point the finger squarely where it should be if we are going to blame anyone for the lack of jobs here in America. I would squarely put it on the American consumer. Think about it when you go out to shop for anything you usually demand the absolute best price you can get and this best price is usually the lowest price. Well if this is the case what do you think happens to the companies here that used to provide those products for you; they cannot compete especially if their competitors move their operations to; say China or India? You get the picture! Those American companies that were here now have to move offshore just to compete. There goes the jobs and by the way they are not coming back! Lower prices, better living, Wal-Mart. What they should really be telling you is; lower prices no jobs for you.
Look, this is just the tip of the iceberg and if you draw this out the whole economic system is unsustainable. Human beings just consume way too much of everything and I mean everything. The planet’s resources cannot keep up with us as a species on this present consumption path. We demand infinite growth in consumption on a planet that has finite resources so what do you think is going to happen… What is going to happen is that the species is going to collapse and there is nothing you can do about it when that happens but just survive, more on this later.
As for our government and all other governments elsewhere they are too focused on the old paradigm of consumption and this only compounds the problems of unsustainable growth. We as citizens demand that the idea of infinite growth continue and this just cannot happen. Which means, our political leaders are part of the problem because of our shortsightedness we will vote for those politicians that subscribe to the same shortsighted policies of yesterday that just does not work anymore. Now here is where it really gets interesting, we have competing views of the same outdated paradigm of consumption and when they are so polarized about an outdated view of economic growth (not sustainable) then nothing gets done. No jobs of any kind, no real growth of ideas for the new paradigm and well how can I say it no progress whatsoever. So if this is the case then economic, population, and total collapse is inevitable. Right?
Wrong; I don’t believe that perhaps because of my infinite optimistic demeanor. Here is what you can do now; first of all start your own small and sustainable business. If you type these key words into your browser/search engine all kinds of cool ways to get started in a new and exciting business will come up you are sure to find something that will fit your skill set. As a consumer we need to close our economic circuits, grow your own food (organic only), get your power consumption off the electric grid by installing solar panels and a wind turbine if the zoning allows. Your home can become totally self sufficient in terms of energy. Recycle, reuse, and redo, and hand them down’s always worked when I was a kid and because we were poor we knew how to stretch a dollar and Americans need to get back to those roots again. This kind of behavior is sustainable and the benefits to you could be immediate in cost savings, you can invest more in you and your community. With this kind of action you can have a closed economic system that is sustainable.
To close, I don’t look at these dire economic times as a problem I look at it in such a way that could get us on a sustainable path. In the long term this is what is best for all of us. I also know that a large number of humans are not going to do as I suggest and unfortunately these folks are going to fall by the wayside and if you are an elephant that is in a herd that is too large you will be culled. It is called natural selection; I intend on being here in the new paradigm making a difference, I am going to do my best to build sustainable wealth for my family and my community and that is the new paradigm. Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”. How responsive are you going to be to the new paradigm?