I would offer a different view in regards to what we normally think of as excess here in our western world. We hear that quite a bit these days, and there is some valid argument to be made for it, but I would offer an alternative perspective.
I don't know that it is excess that we suffer from, or that there is an excess of anything in regards to material goods, entertainment, etc. Instead, what I suggest is that, as a culture, we are in a state in which we severely lack certain things. What do we lack? Critical thinking skills, compassion, integrity, discernment, just to name a few.
This last item, discernment, really comes into play here, as well as correct and critical thinking. It's not that we necessarily have an overabundance. It's that we lack discernment and correct thinking. Do we really "need" that Ipad, new car, fancy clothes, gourmet coffee? Do we really need all of those rooms in that house we are considering buying, that big of a yard, or all of that genetically modified crap that we eat? Do we really need vitamin water, yet another flavor of gum, or yet another type of natural sweetener that is anything but natural?
You get the picture? Yes...we do have all of these choices, and so much more, but what is lacking is the ability to choose what it is that we truly need, and leave all of the crap that we don't. The markets are driven by consumer want, not consumer need, and consumers seem to want, want, want.....so the manufacturers and markets produce and supply the products to appease those wants. If, instead, we were to change our outlooks and provide ourselves with what we actually need, then the manufacturers and markets would reflect that instead.
Yes...there is excess of a sort, of that there is no doubt. But who is responsible for that excess? Is it truly 'the system', or is it instead the result of 'the people' going along with the system like sheep following the shepherd? If the sheep were to think clearly, they might figure out that the shepherd isn't a good shepherd at all and might perhaps start thinking for themselves.
Although there is a great deal of a type of excess, I would suggest that the excess is in the choices that we have, and most choices offered are bad choices. There is also a severe problem of lack as well. Lack of good judgment, compassion, honesty, integrity, caring, tolerance, acceptance of differences, etc. If there were an abundance of these types of qualities, the ridiculous excesses might, perhaps, dwindle down and a great many of our various problems might correct themselves.
If people chose to consume what was needed instead of everything that was wanted, a great many of these excesses would go away. No one is going to sell 50,000 dollar SUV's if no one is buying, or reality TV if no one is watching. Expensive electronic devices are not going to sell if no one is buying them, nor will they be manufactured if no one is buying. Ridiculous salaries will not be paid to employees for senseless spectator programming if people are no longer being those spectators.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-12-18 04:13 am (UTC)I don't know that it is excess that we suffer from, or that there is an excess of anything in regards to material goods, entertainment, etc. Instead, what I suggest is that, as a culture, we are in a state in which we severely lack certain things. What do we lack? Critical thinking skills, compassion, integrity, discernment, just to name a few.
This last item, discernment, really comes into play here, as well as correct and critical thinking. It's not that we necessarily have an overabundance. It's that we lack discernment and correct thinking. Do we really "need" that Ipad, new car, fancy clothes, gourmet coffee? Do we really need all of those rooms in that house we are considering buying, that big of a yard, or all of that genetically modified crap that we eat? Do we really need vitamin water, yet another flavor of gum, or yet another type of natural sweetener that is anything but natural?
You get the picture? Yes...we do have all of these choices, and so much more, but what is lacking is the ability to choose what it is that we truly need, and leave all of the crap that we don't. The markets are driven by consumer want, not consumer need, and consumers seem to want, want, want.....so the manufacturers and markets produce and supply the products to appease those wants. If, instead, we were to change our outlooks and provide ourselves with what we actually need, then the manufacturers and markets would reflect that instead.
Yes...there is excess of a sort, of that there is no doubt. But who is responsible for that excess? Is it truly 'the system', or is it instead the result of 'the people' going along with the system like sheep following the shepherd? If the sheep were to think clearly, they might figure out that the shepherd isn't a good shepherd at all and might perhaps start thinking for themselves.
Although there is a great deal of a type of excess, I would suggest that the excess is in the choices that we have, and most choices offered are bad choices. There is also a severe problem of lack as well. Lack of good judgment, compassion, honesty, integrity, caring, tolerance, acceptance of differences, etc. If there were an abundance of these types of qualities, the ridiculous excesses might, perhaps, dwindle down and a great many of our various problems might correct themselves.
If people chose to consume what was needed instead of everything that was wanted, a great many of these excesses would go away. No one is going to sell 50,000 dollar SUV's if no one is buying, or reality TV if no one is watching. Expensive electronic devices are not going to sell if no one is buying them, nor will they be manufactured if no one is buying. Ridiculous salaries will not be paid to employees for senseless spectator programming if people are no longer being those spectators.