Contractive, Extractive, Distractive - Economics in Free Fall
In attending a meeting of the "Belfast Area Transition Initiative", a local citizens group formed to locally address the global concerns of climate change, energy constraints, and the attendant economic instabilities, some thoughts took root in my mind that I will herewith set forth.
In point of fact, we live in a contractive, extractive, and distractive economy. This is true, in the main, of the US, and to greater and lesser extents, the world at large. The fact that I have written of this, separating US from World suggests that I am both aware of some distinction between a national identity and global identity and that I am stuck in the world that is the US. The following thoughts bear some reflection on that awareness.
We are contractive right at the moment in the sense that we have gone into overshoots of various kinds and the readjustments are being made. The obvious examples of this are unemployment, mass protests, national belt-tightening, educational cutbacks, cultural grid-lock, a culture of fear, hunger, poverty (so labeled), foreclosed homes, vacant storefronts, free stuff on sides of roads, empty office buildings, empty warehouses and factory buildings. The list goes on in obvious and subtle ways.
We are extractive in the sense that we take, take, and take some more from natural capital, and rarely do we give back anything of equal value or utility. Walking into any large department store, small corner store, or even a cooperative, and what we see is a collection of things that used to be part of the natural world (increasingly fossil). More things. Fewer people to sell and service them. We also extract freedoms from people in the economic system. The freedom to health, vitality, a greater sense of worth, value, and sense of community, freedom to be educated, to give in a joyful way to the community in which we live, if we are fortunate enough to live in a community of friends, amicable neighbors, and people who care. So many freedoms, disappearing into the Great Extraction.
The extraction and contraction can only happen because we also live in a distractive economy. To say that we are distracted personally by the order of the day is an understatement. TV, Media Blitzes, huge personal debt, the next new car, laptop, or smartphone. It's all there, the siren song of consumerism. "Love" of things is fear of absence, or poverty; of not, somehow, moving in lock-step with our peers, being apart, bereft of friends, camaraderie, community, all now replaced with a simulacrum through twisted wires, a cable, or strands of glass.
This transition group I spoke of has core members who come to every meeting. Several were absent. Maybe with summer here we are too involved with other projects. In the meantime, weekly, daily almost, we see ourselves being herded toward a cliff with intractable forces on either side. We've taken the red pill at various doses and work to swing the boat in a new direction. The captain is resistant to any change of course. Transition is a model, one of many, and there was question and discussion on whether we were following that model. The waters are muddy, full of turmoil. Change will come. It's the only constant. Transition will happen. Inevitable. In small communities and neighborhoods, we only need to decide if we want to Be The Change or have it foisted on us. Red Pill, Blue Pill: Our Choice.
In point of fact, we live in a contractive, extractive, and distractive economy. This is true, in the main, of the US, and to greater and lesser extents, the world at large. The fact that I have written of this, separating US from World suggests that I am both aware of some distinction between a national identity and global identity and that I am stuck in the world that is the US. The following thoughts bear some reflection on that awareness.
We are contractive right at the moment in the sense that we have gone into overshoots of various kinds and the readjustments are being made. The obvious examples of this are unemployment, mass protests, national belt-tightening, educational cutbacks, cultural grid-lock, a culture of fear, hunger, poverty (so labeled), foreclosed homes, vacant storefronts, free stuff on sides of roads, empty office buildings, empty warehouses and factory buildings. The list goes on in obvious and subtle ways.
We are extractive in the sense that we take, take, and take some more from natural capital, and rarely do we give back anything of equal value or utility. Walking into any large department store, small corner store, or even a cooperative, and what we see is a collection of things that used to be part of the natural world (increasingly fossil). More things. Fewer people to sell and service them. We also extract freedoms from people in the economic system. The freedom to health, vitality, a greater sense of worth, value, and sense of community, freedom to be educated, to give in a joyful way to the community in which we live, if we are fortunate enough to live in a community of friends, amicable neighbors, and people who care. So many freedoms, disappearing into the Great Extraction.
The extraction and contraction can only happen because we also live in a distractive economy. To say that we are distracted personally by the order of the day is an understatement. TV, Media Blitzes, huge personal debt, the next new car, laptop, or smartphone. It's all there, the siren song of consumerism. "Love" of things is fear of absence, or poverty; of not, somehow, moving in lock-step with our peers, being apart, bereft of friends, camaraderie, community, all now replaced with a simulacrum through twisted wires, a cable, or strands of glass.
This transition group I spoke of has core members who come to every meeting. Several were absent. Maybe with summer here we are too involved with other projects. In the meantime, weekly, daily almost, we see ourselves being herded toward a cliff with intractable forces on either side. We've taken the red pill at various doses and work to swing the boat in a new direction. The captain is resistant to any change of course. Transition is a model, one of many, and there was question and discussion on whether we were following that model. The waters are muddy, full of turmoil. Change will come. It's the only constant. Transition will happen. Inevitable. In small communities and neighborhoods, we only need to decide if we want to Be The Change or have it foisted on us. Red Pill, Blue Pill: Our Choice.
Welcome to Africa
* 2010 *
Message to The Whole World From South Africa Ready To Host The World (written by Ed Jordan & Neil Andrews) Every child deserves to live their dream i’ve got the heart to be a part of a winning team i might make it on my own But i don’t want to be alone So let’s join hands together We’ll stay children forever And make this world a better place to be Mama Mama Weh Welcome to Africa We’re ready to host the whole world on our own We’re ready to host the whole world and open up our homes To people like you and me Young, Wild and Free People like you and me Part of one big family |
Mama Mama Weh
Welcome to Africa Every child deserves to find a friend To stand besides, to stand with pride to the very end As we walk along life’s road Let’s share each other’s load Because we’re stronger together Sister’s and brother’s forever Let’s make our world a better place to be Every child deserves to sing a song To shout out loud, above the crowd so why don’t you sing along For the future and fame Of the world’s most beautiful game Our time has only just begun Let’s stay forever young And make this world a better place to be |