Posted by Rachel on: 04.10.2007 /
Here is the latest installment in our series from artist Tim Nyberg.
Our industrialized economies are based upon the idea of continual economic growth. The advertisers generate need and the consumers buy ever more goods and services. It seems quite subversive and counter-cultural to question or challenge this system.
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Comment by: Benjamin Ady
1 04/10/07 8:06 AM | Comment Link |I bet Dave Richards would have interesting comments along these liens.
It’s a fascinating question. Wouldn’t all the finance people just freak? Consumer confidence and consumer spending would plummet. I mean, maybe, to be wealthy, you have to want to be wealthy. I think you’re right–it’s pretty subversive.
One thing we do is dumpster diving. It’s kind of a way to be subversive–operating “outside” the consumer driven culture. For instance, there’s a really yummy artisan breads bakery not too far from where we live. they deliver fresh bread to a lot of locals supermarkets and shops every day, and they pick up the day old bread, and take it back to their bakery, and into the dumpster with all of it. So we dumpster bread there–beautiful, delicious, artisan breads. Here’s to subverting the dominant paradigm.
Comment by: Julie Clawson
2 04/10/07 9:38 AM | Comment Link |I know I don’t do enough. But one of the big excuses I encounter in myself and others is the “virtue” of saving a buck. Through churchy programs even many Christians are taught that saving money and having the perfect balanced budget is next to godliness. Now there is truth there especially in our culture of debt, but it leads to some messed up habits. It means you shop wherever it’s cheapest. It means supporting immoral businesses because they are cheap (often at the expense of their employees and slave/sweat shop workers). To eat local/heathly/organic is out of the question because it costs more.
So sometimes eating/shopping in ways that are just will require spending more money. But imho when you are conscious of what you need and what you spend, it will help you live simply. Buying unnecessary junk is easy when its cheap. Delibratly buying what you need is easier when you pay more for healthy just items.
Comment by: Staci
3 04/10/07 11:29 AM | Comment Link |I actually think this would, in financial terms, “correct” the market. A false sense of wealth develops when people spend beyond their means and collect massive amounts of unnecessary stuff. Many economists have talked about this over the years.
Comment by: Rachel
4 04/10/07 1:30 PM | Comment Link |That’s great, Benjamin! There was an article in Sojourners magazine last year called The Tao of Dumpster Diving.
Comment by: Helen
5 04/10/07 2:31 PM | Comment Link |I’ve found verses in the Bible which say, in effect, “Buy more stuff - for other people“.
I guess that’s a little different ;-)
Comment by: Staci
6 04/11/07 1:51 PM | Comment Link |Julie - I’ve noticed the cheapness as a virtue philosophy as well. Getting a “good deal” is ingrained for many of us, including me. I’m working on retraining myself (slowly, but surely) - not that good deals are bad - but about what constitutes a good deal. If it feeds injustice it can’t be a good deal. Even when talking with those who aren’t concerned about justice on a global level I’ve made the argument that unfair labor practices anywhere hurts the US economy and laborforce.
Comment by: Rachel
7 04/11/07 7:18 PM | Comment Link |One thing my husband and I love is Freecycle. It is an on-line community where people give away unwanted items. The Freecycle network connects the person who has an unused item with someone who can use it. We have given away an old broken down bicycle, a record player stand and a juicer.
The most interesting thing we’ve given away was a lawnmower handle! Shawn had gotten two old lawnmowers and combined parts from both to make an improved mover so he had leftover parts. A guy posted on Freecycle that he needed a lawnmower handle and Shawn responded to his posting. Once you connect with someone, you give them directions and they come by your house and pick the item up. So you get to meet cool people.
There are over 4000 Freecycle communities, so check it out to see if there is one in your area. It keeps stuff out of landfills and it builds community. Gotta love that!
Comment by: Janice
8 04/16/07 11:41 AM | Comment Link |Wow, some steps…one of the number one steps I think is to turn off the tv. Truly. We are a society that is vegetating through various forms of entertainment and it seems to me that more than half of tv now is marketing. Get back to some simple things - reading and playing games and taking walks…connecting in a different way with those in our homes and neighborhoods.
Freecycle is great and it can be done in communities on a smaller scale and actually with any group. Take for instance my son’s soccer club - he’s 5 and will outgrow his cleats FAR before they are worn out. I suggested we create a cheap BB on the net, or even an email list, and people can exchange with one another.
I agree with you Staci that a good deal isn’t really a good deal if its stiffing someone else in some way. but as far as consumer foods go though, thats a sticky subject I believe….people who are more economically challenged will often find it hard to purchase those prime foods. And that contributes to health issues and its a nasty cycle. Speaking as one who has been through very hard financial times, I can tell you its not that easy to be that kind of smart about buying. And its only now that I’m on the other side and have some ‘loose’ cash that I can see the plight of those who are stuck in that place. I have picked up this mantra over the past two weeks which came ot me as I was driving and thinking about the things I was giving away at Easter time - “People who can, should” For many years I was someone who couldn’t - now that I can, I should. And that can mean many things, I CAN buy smarter now, so I should. I CAN afford to buy and give to others, so I should. I really think a lot of people who ‘could’ don’t and for that it seems we all suffer.
As far as the first question - what would happen to our industrialized economies. Thats a great question and one that makes me a bit unsure/unsteady/unglued/un-somethinged. Only because its hard for me to imagine. What would happen if we really did, all of us, give up, give it all away and REALLY follow Jesus…?
Comment by: Rachel
9 04/16/07 3:51 PM | Comment Link |That’s always a great reminder, Janice! For our family, not having cable TV helps us because our choices are more limited. But it’s still so easy to just sit in front of the TV, rather than make the effort to do something more active or creative.
We have been very fortunate because my best friend has a daughter one year older than ours. So every year or so, Anna gets a big bag of nice hand-me downs. Also - when Anna was younger I would take some of her outgrown clothes and toys to a second hand children’s shop and get credit for other things in the store. We ended up with some really nice things that way.
Well said, Janice! When we were struggling newlyweds, we didn’t have the option of buying fair trade, local, handmade, organic, etc. And that was OK - we were doing our best. But now that we have more resources, I feel we should use our money to buy better, not buy more.
Comment by: Janice
10 04/16/07 5:31 PM | Comment Link |Hi again Rachel :)
Funny you mention clothes. I was walking across the parking lot at church one dreary morning and a lady came up with this HUGE bag of clothes, little boys clothes and handed them to me - I think she didn’t want to have to lug them all the way up the stairs from the lower parking lot and it was such a great gift to us. they h ave served us well over the past 4 years or so and we still have a few items left he will wear next year. That kind of giving can also be a chain reaction, I am more likely to give away my things based on being the receiver.
“buy better, not more” — great statement.
Comment by: Staci
11 04/17/07 2:20 PM | Comment Link |Sharing kids clothes with others has been great for our family, too.
Some kids’ sports organizations have a “leave one, take one” sports shoes bank. Our local one does. My son’s football team had several kids with need, but no shoes to leave. My husband asked all the parents w/outgrown shoes to drop them off and the organzation credited this to our team. This brought in more than the need, so the rest went to the next age group from our area.
Comment by: Rachel
12 04/21/07 12:07 PM | Comment Link |In our discussion of ways to simplify…here is great idea for urban dwellers: Car Sharing Network