Bill McKibben is the writer of The End of Nature and Deep Economy.
After hearing him talk I can say that McKibben has an infectious affability to his speaking. He manages to infuse just the right touch of self-depreciation in his speech in order to sugar-coat his interesting ideologies. Ideas like communities establishing local currencies in addition to our national currency.
Friday was focused on his newest book, Deep Economy, which attempts to show how America’s drive towards generating wealth is doing far more harm than good. Since WWII, we’ve been attaining affluence at an astonishing rate, and for a while this massive economic growth meant increased happiness. Now, however, that statement isn’t quite true. And on top of our decreased happiness, the way we’ve been doing things has proved extremely harmful to the environment.
He would agree that wealth does increase happiness to a certain point. We just need to create ways in which to generate this wealth without destroying the earth and creating dissatisfied people. He thinks (and he has me almost convinced) that the answer to that dissatisfaction lies in revitalizing local economies. This would have a dual purpose of reconnecting people with each other and lessening the strain on the environment.
Some miscellaneous thoughts from his talk:
-The entire idea of the suburbs is to spread people out, which mathematically decreases the opportunities for personal contact.Do you think Americans would be willing to relinquish wealth in order to attain intangibles like increased happiness and community? Any other thoughts?-Individualization is rampant because our of our economic ability to sustain that individualization. This un-reliance on others drives consumption.
-House sizes in the United States have doubled in the past 20 years even as the number of people on average in those houses has been cut in half.
-About ten times more conversations happened in farmer’s markets than in supermarkets. To paraphrase him: that’s not some minuscule percentage that sociologists have to justify. No, that’s an entire order of magnitude more conversations.
-Your average bite of food has traveled approximately 2000 miles before it hits your fork. To paraphrase him again: this is asinine. It’s like stepping outside after this talk in Michigan and calling up Denver for take-out.
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January 7, 2008 at 14:36
Have heard this theory before from other social expositors and have enjoyed Glenn Beck’s debunking of the “wealth equals harm to societies and environments” myth in his release “An Inconvenient Book.” Highly recommend it to all.
Do I think Americans would be willing to relinquish wealth in order to attain intangibles like increased happiness and community? Hmmm… Wealth pays for good health via gym memberships & medical care (or the ability to be sedentary while watching sporting events on pay-per-view); fresh fruits from the local market (or a Big Mac with a coke, ‘supersizeme’); a trip to the zoo (or watching Animal Planet on cable TV every weeknight); it pays for an amazing world-wide connection to others and their ideas via internet (or access to vile pornography); a mission outreach (or a packet of meth).
The Bible says that “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” It takes no rocket scientist to figure out that there is a lack of community – in fact, real terror – among those living in slum area, too.
Just my 2 cents’ – er…my halfpenny’s worth.
January 7, 2008 at 15:34
I’m a bit tired of all the talk blaming wealth or the lack thereof for no satisfaction in life. The only One who brings true joy (as opposed to happiness which is transient) is Jesus Christ. That quality comes from a relationship with Him.
If you’re part of the Body of Christ and gather as the Scripture says, there’s plenty of opportunity for conversation and community. Those who get involved in the mechanics of government (of the people, by the people, for the people) also have ways to connect. Loving your neighbor as yourself – helping those in need, bringing a little gift to the family who just moved in – giving a ride to an elderly friend – hmm – plenty of chances there to have meaningful conversation.
America is a place of freedom. Freedom to pursue your chosen profession, freedom to worship, freedom to live where you want, etc. Wanting the government to “fix things” or expecting a free ride is nothing more than socialism in disguise.
Let’s take responsibility for our own lives by submitting them to the Lord Jesus Christ and following His precepts.
January 8, 2008 at 06:50
It’s not the wealth; it’s the consumption. The need to buy and own more just for the sake of owning and buying more.
I believe it was Madison who said ‘Men are not perfect and to the extent they are not perfect they need government.’ I don’t believe I am a socialist because I believe the government should protect some of it’s citizens from being exploited by some of it’s other citizens. Supporting those extravagant lifestyles often means exploiting laborers and the environment.
The world will never be a perfect place until our Lord and Savior makes it so, but in the meantime we ought not to applaud greed and selfishness as a symbol of ‘freedom’.
January 8, 2008 at 09:54
Chuck, I appreciate your reply, but you are confusing greed & selfishness with wealth. A person can be extremely wealthy and not be greedy; you can also have a person who has very little but is always coveting more. Few of us have learned to be content with what we have. But this is not a wealth issue; it’s a Lordship issue.
When you talk about “supporting those extravagant lifestyles” my thoughts turn immediately to entertainers and sports figures, astronauts and lawyers, university educators and CEO’s, computer game programmers and doctors, politicians and televangelists. In every single one of these “extravagantly” paid areas I control their profits by my lifestyle choices – from the music I listen to, to the missions I support, to the people I vote or don’t vote into office. So we really are discussing the issues of freedom here. One dollar is a very powerful tool – do I spend wisely, redeeming the time, or do I spend selfishly? Working in a job where I make more than 75% of the rest of this world, yet still struggle to make ends meet, I do understand it is not the amount of money, but where I choose to spend it, that makes a difference in whether exploitation takes place or not.