Is Consumerism harmful?

Here is a blog from a guy who's managed to free himself from the burdens of money.  What do you think of his life style?  Would it be too extreme for a family?


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/oct/28/live-without-money


"we no longer have to see the direct repercussions our purchases have on the people, environment and animals they affect. The degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that we're completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering embodied in the stuff we buy. The tool that has enabled this separation is money."

do you agree with him that consumerism is the root cause of most world issue's?

The perception of "power" is what's destroying the world.

Ugh the whole human race makes me sick.

Quoting Kalith:“ The perception of "power" is what's destroying the world. Ugh the whole human race makes me sick.”

lol what do you mean?

Quoting KTBEAR:“ lol what do you mean?”

People want to be powerful, what they think will make them powerful is what they strive for. Whether it's financial power by becoming wealthy or simply a man/woman at home beating their kids because it makes them feel stronger.

The president that could feed his entire country but instead starves them because it makes him more powerful, the man that could fix his own country but instead blows up another.

One defying another, one beating another, one killing another. It isn't simply consumerism that's bring it down. It's simply Humans wanting to be better than others.

It's the King of the pride.

Quoting Kalith:“ People want to be powerful, what they think will make them powerful is what they strive for. Whether ... [snip!] ... simply consumerism that's bring it down. It's simply Humans wanting to be better than others. It's the King of the pride.”

So wanting to have control over people is the root cause.  I can see that.

Quoting KTBEAR:“ Here is a blog from a guy who's managed to free himself from the burdens of money. What do you think ... [snip!] ... that has enabled this separation is money." do you agree with him that consumerism is the root cause of most world issue's?”

Yes, money is at the root of all the problems, money and our living in huge groups instead of living in small groups and bartering.

C.

Quoting KTBEAR:“ So wanting to have control over people is the root cause. I can see that.”

Yup, The method isn't really the issue. Money would work well if it was fair and not used to control, but it is... and that will never ever change.

Quoting God:“ Yes, money is at the root of all the problems, money and our living in huge groups instead of living in small groups and bartering. C.”

cities are a big problem... I posted this pic on another mommies mommies site and I think they were too clueless to get it, I was accused of being unsympathetic to cancer patients and what not... 

Its not that cities cause cancer, they themselves are cancerous to Earth.  

Quoting KTBEAR:“ cities are a big problem... I posted this pic on another mommies mommies site and I think they were ... [snip!] ... cancer patients and what not... Its not that cities cause cancer, they themselves are cancerous to Earth. ”

As I was flying into LA at night from SD... It made me so smurfing grateful that I live in a country town of about 400 people in the middle of nowhere.

The state that I live in had a big celebration last month because it just hit 500,000 people lol.

Quoting Kalith:“ Yup, The method isn't really the issue. Money would work well if it was fair and not used to control, but it is... and that will never ever change.”

you don't think the human race will eventually remove the control aspect that drives our governments?  Don't we need to be governed and controlled?  Will anarchy ensue if we are not?

nice Monday Morning topic eh?  I really need to go into labour...

Quoting KTBEAR:“ you don't think the human race will eventually remove the control aspect that drives our governments? ... [snip!] ... governed and controlled? Will anarchy ensue if we are not? nice Monday Morning topic eh? I really need to go into labour...”

It'll never be removed, if we revolt then hey, they have enough weaponry to take out the people trying to make the change, and there will be the people sitting at home on the couches thinking that the ones revolting were in the wrong in the first place.

We need a justice system that works, a health system that works, an education system that works and a government that actually cares about the people it's governing... but that will never happen either.

People get involved to "make a change" and they do alright. They see those fat pay checks and boy do they change.

Here in Australia, the Premier (like the governor) of one of our states is now paid MORE than the Prime Minister because they voted to give themselves pay rises.

Never mind that the hospitals are smurfed. That they are so full a 5 week old baby was having a heart attack in the ER waiting room because there was no beds, no, their pay checks are more important.

Who put them there? Us. The people that voted for them. We ousted the last guy because he was a dick only to replace him.. with a dick. Personally I don't vote. There's no point because NON of them are worth putting in to power.

I remember a guy that said, I don't want the pay check of a politician. I just want to help Australia and he got smurfing LAUGHED out of office. All because he DIDN'T want the money.

As a species.. we're freaking nuts. lol.

And it's a bummer that this topic is up now.. it's 1.30 am and it's time for bed.
I'll come check it in the morning if you want to keep talking though  

Quoting KTBEAR:“ cities are a big problem... I posted this pic on another mommies mommies site and I think they were ... [snip!] ... cancer patients and what not... Its not that cities cause cancer, they themselves are cancerous to Earth. ”

Sounds like we think a lot alike. I view humans as cancerous to Earth, heh.

C.

Quoting God:“ Sounds like we think a lot alike. I view humans as cancerous to Earth, heh. C.”

It's hard not to.

Quoting Kalith:“ It'll never be removed, if we revolt then hey, they have enough weaponry to take out the people trying ... [snip!] ... topic is up now.. it's 1.30 am and it's time for bed. I'll come check it in the morning if you want to keep talking though  ”

so a peaceful revolution is impossible?  I certainly hope not for my kids sake.  But you are right that the military industrial complex would have the upper hand in any type of conflict.  But what about a non-violent one?  Not possible in our society?
I found this site just looking thru "peaceful revolution" topics.

IMAGINE:

• Telling someone in 1901 that humans would soon be able to fly...
• Describing a television to someone in 1925...
• Telling someone in 1984 that we could map the human genome...


 NOW IMAGINE: 

Telling someone today that a country could be run with:

• No Taxes
• All Public Services Fully Funded
• Real People Power Democracy minus Politicians
• A complete system of Fair Trade
• A Stable Economy free from Inflation
• Incentives to produce ecological and socially responsible goods and services

http://www.xat.org/



I think re-educating would help a lot but you would have to get people out of the paradigm that the have been living in for ages.  

Quoting God:“ Sounds like we think a lot alike. I view humans as cancerous to Earth, heh. C.”

I've heard other people voice that opinion.  I don't think we would be if we handled things a bit smarter.  
"Science has failed our Mother Earth"  but can it re-deem itself???