Here is a question for you. What is a sustainable
economy? That is a question that I have been pondering of recent. Is it an
economy that does not suffer from boom and bust cycles? Is it a global or local
economy? This is what I am asking but I am not just asking but I have some
ideals of my own. Ideals built on the concept of how many McMansions do we
really need in our society to make it a viable economy.
One thing I keep hearing that bothers me a lot is
that as soon as the housing market get back on track then all will be all right. But it was overbuilding of over price homes and
selling of unsustainable mortgages to finance them that got us where we are
today. It would seem to me that to repeat what we were doing that got us into
the pickle we are in now will only lead back into the depression we are in
right now.
So instead of talking about loaning money to
potential homeowners and financing more whatever then maybe we should instead
talk about what we really need to get us back on to a even keel.
First I believe is to listen to what some of what
president Obama has spoken of. Startups that realign our manufacturing sector
with what society really needs that help meet our future energy needs and I don’t
mean more drilling. While natural gas
meets some of our needs it doesn’t answer all of them particularly with the
current drilling practice of fracturing that endanger our water supply. Rather
let us delve into more efficient wind, solar and geo-thermal energy. But let us
not leave it to the fat cats to do rather let us make energy a public own consortium.
Own by the public and benefitting the public that uses this energy and needs
this supply of energy. If left to the fat cats the elite then they well benefit
and we will still pay for it and not have any say about it.
One of my history profs to help us understand the
reason for boom and bust of 1929 said it broke down to this how many refrigerators
do you need to build before you saturate the market. That overbuilding and
overreaching and financing led to the 1929 crash. Bottom line every boom followed
by a bust in the 19th, 20th and 21st century has been the
result of over speculation of how many of anything we might need and the use of
slavery of consumer debt to wring from us every last drop of our humanity.
It is time we question our priorities and as to what
makes a sustainable economy. To stop
allowing ourselves to be manipulated for the benefit of the big corporations
and the elite 1%.
Projects-
reading-movies
I have not been physically able to spend much time
in the shop due to problems with my arthritis. But even so I have been in the
shop even if but for a short spurts of time. The one thing I have been reminded
is how much I love the smell of fresh cut wood. Since I am using western red
cedar for Reba’s planter the smell of cedar has been refreshing out in my shop.
One thing though is that I have decided
to sell my little Delta band saw as it just not able to do what I need. So I
think I will sell it and buy a used scroll saw with the money.
Reading still in progress Craig Johnson “The Cold
Dish” and Joe Bagenat collection of essays “Waltzing at the Doomsday Ball” both
excellent books in their own area of mystery and commentary.
Movies have been focused on AMC “The Killing’ 2nd
season and it has been riveting in it’s political intrigue. For fun though NBC series
the “Grim” and Fox “Fringe” have been great. My youngest paid for his mother
and I to accompany him and his kids to see “The Avengers” and I must say it was
very good. Well worth the price.
Gear
Recently I bought a Rothco “military map bag” to
hopefully use to carry my ipad. Well I am not disappointed. It fills the need
nicely. With room to carry my ipad, book, and magazine as well assorted other
items in a compact bag that doesn’t scream look at me. Well worth the $12 I paid.
Right now I also saving my nickels and dimes to see
about buying a point and shoot range finder style camera. Amazon has a Olympus pen
that appeals to me for less than $300 with the 14-40 kit lens. I will take me
awhile but it will be worth it.
Well enough for now