The husband and I had a conversation last week about the environment, changes that need to be made, and the uncertainty of the future for all living creatures on this planet. He'd mentioned that we need to demand that the government does what's right.
While I agree that we should demand from our leaders that which will benefit us all and not just a handful of the wealthy and powerful, I also think that, as with health care, we must exercise control over ourselves.
You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
No one is forcing us to leave lights on, or to leave computers on, or to run water while washing dishes or brushing teeth, or to use a dryer, or to eat irresponsibly raised food, or to eat food products, or not buy locally, or not buy organic, or to drive large vehicles, or to drive at all, or to run the AC to arctic temperatures, or to run the heat rather than don a sweater, or to feed wants rather than needs, or to not switch to solar power, or to not reuse, reduce, and recycle, or to not build our homes eco-friendly, or.... (and on and on and on).
"They" are not forcing these products and habits and addictions on us. When we stop buying what they are pushing, we send a message loud and clear, to our government, to big business, and to the world. Perhaps when we demand that our government make regulations to protect us, or ask that big business starts thinking not just in terms of short-term profits but long-term sustainability, we must already be diligently working on quitting those habits which got us into this mess in the first place.
6 comments:
I agree that we aren't being "forced" to make obviously bad and detrimental decisions, but we are being pushed and influenced heavily into doing so. Not necessarily just with advertising (though that is powerful in and of itself), but with government policy. The subsidizing of crap food and policies tilted towards larger corporations can leave segments of society with very few choices. Sure I can go to a Whole Foods, a farmer's market or even a farm. What about that part of our society that has almost no access to any of this? The neighborhood I work in is fairly typical of the urban patchwork in this country, I think. There are multiple bus stops, which is the main transportation choice (if you can call it that) for the residents. There is a Kroger's (a large grocer-I don't think they have them in Cali). There is also a White Castle, KFC, McDonald's, Wendy's, Hardee's, and several other "restaurants" which serve food of this type. There are a couple of corner stores selling groceries for insane, unreasonable prices. No buying power=higher priced goods=poor people have to pay MORE than the average family for a gallon of milk or loaf of bread. The best financial option, in this situation, is fast food. It is within walking distance, cheap and high in calories (substantive in a sense). I don't think it's practical to expect these folks, who have survived a good portion of their lives on this type of diet, to use their buying power to change things. My opinion is those of us who can make reasonable choices absloutely should, but we need government to change the way things are done to make a big impact. We need a government that doesn't subsidize one end of the food industry problem and then tax it on the other end BECAUSE it is a problem. Stop the subsisdies (or at least do them in a responsible manner for real food), promote the growth of local food from local farmers, and influence the system in favor of the little guys.
BTW, linking my blog in yours is pure genius! Thanks, Renee.
Oh I agree that there are plenty of people in this country who need help, not just in paying the bills and getting the necessities of life, but having the healthiest choices made affordable.
However, I think that even they are not as helpless as they might seem.
Take Oakland for example. A large percent of that population is low-income. Yet I know for a fact that there are farmer's markets. Many farmer's market's take food stamps, which to me is the community's way of doing exactly what I'm talking about: taking things into our own hands.
In Marina, a lower income area here, there is a Farmer's Market that is decidedly cheaper than the one I go to in Monterey.
In Seaside (don't let the quaint name fool you), people are very poor. I wold say at least a third don't drive cars. Yet, there are local produce markets every other block. The prices there are extremely reasonable, certainly less than at Savemart or Safeway (which are in turn decidedly less than Whole Foods or even Trader Joes,neither of which are anywhere near Seaside or Marina).
I too survived a good portion of my life, up to 4 years ago, eating fast food every day, sometimes twice a day, because it was cheap. We could feed a family of four on $15. We fell under the poverty line, or hovered right above it, for several years. Thing is, a bag of beans and a bag of rice and veggie cost less than that. It may not be a cheeseburger, but it is proof that even the poor among us don't have to eat fast food if they don't want to.
But they do. We all do. As you say, it's cheap, it's filling, and the fats and sugars make one crave it again and again. Do we want the government to regulate Fast Food? I think if we do any kind of universal health care in the future, it would be in their best interest to do something along those lines.
Speaking of Whole Foods.. I can't afford to shop there either lol.. That place is ridiculous. But I have found, with a little practice, that I can get my food bill for a family of four in a month well below what it ever was back when I was buying junk.
As to other things, like solar power, etc., people are not as powerless as they think. There is a new concept being put into practice where companies will install the solar equipment and maintain it free of charge. The customer then buys the power from the company, which in turn sells back excess power to the grid.
I could see concerned and motivated citizens who rent getting together to find ways to get on board with this. What landlord wouldn't want to save a little money, do something to stand out amongst all the other rentals? And, do it for free! :)
My point is that, while I do agree with you, I think that vast majority of people in this country, including those who are fall under the poverty line, have the power to make better choices. There are things that we choose to live without, if necessary, like cell phones and cable tv, in order to have the extra money to put toward more useful/beneficial things.
And then there are the alternatives which save money while being green, like kicking the paper towel habit, drying clothes on the line, taking the bus in stead of driving if it's at all convenient, reusing things, and simply not shopping for things and stuff and useless junk.
The problem as I see it is that, most people, both rich and poor and in between, are simply not interested in changing themselves.
You are most welcome for the linkage :p
PS.. about shopping at Whole Foods.. I need to clarify that they way I get my food bill to a reasonable price is by NOT shopping at Whole Foods lol. I buy my meat and maybe dairy there, plus my bulk grains. Everything else is Trader Joes, Farmer's Market, and little neighborhood produce markets.
Well said. Perhaps my work neighborhood isn't nearly as representative as I thought!
You are right, of course, that options abound for the majority of people. Even those with few options still have choices to make, albeit more difficult ones.
I like the idea of buying the power from someone who installs your solar panels. I hope that takes off! Keep in mind that California truly is light years ahead of most other places, especially Ohio, in innovative ideas. This is coal country.
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