We want more. We know this from Catherine Zeta-Jones and a steady stream of television commercials. If we don't shop the terrorists win, we know this from the government. More minutes for our cell phones, more clothes, more shoes, a boat, a timeshare, a newer and bigger car. More bling. More, more, more, more, more. When do we have enough?
Our economic system (allegedly free market capitalism) is predicated on demand. When we want more stuff, more stuff has to be made. When more stuff is made, more people have to make it. When more people are making stuff there are more jobs. When there are more jobs there is more money to go around. So we can buy more stuff. The word 'enough' is very dangerous to our economy and should only be whispered. The word 'content' is nearly blasphemous. We are bombarded everywhere with messages that tell us we don't have enough. Billboards, magazines, newspapers, television commercials, radio commercials and product placements within media now tell us what we need to be happy. Many years ago, we were happy when we made it back to our cave without being eaten by something much larger and with sharper teeth. Now we are confused and isolated. Look at all the happy people in the advertising. They've got the latest thing, why don't we? Don't we want to be happy too?
And when we want more stuff, where do we suppose the stuff comes from? Do we make the connection between oil that is required to power manufacturing plants to make the stuff we buy? Do we consider the trees that are clearcut, the rivers and streams that are polluted? Do we think of the toxins that spew into the air? How were the workers treated that made the stuff? What are their lives like? We probably haven't considered it. Because the people that can afford to buy more stuff typically live farther away from manufacturing plants and the people that make their stuff. So we don't breathe the air or drink the water that are cloudy with the result of our latest bling-spree.
I attended an emerging technology conference last September at MIT and heard Ed Zander, the CEO of Motorola raving about their latest phone that would be a cell phone, personal music/video jukebox etc. (I'm not picking on Motorola here, they actually score reasonably well on a Corporate Social Responsibility scale and were rated one of the top 100 companies by Business Ethics Magazine). Nevertheless the thought of this device creating value for society when it will actually lead to more isolation is disconcerting. Now instead of socializing we can put our headphones on, listen to music and not have to communicate with one another. Now I am very happy whenever I can listen to my Wyclef Jean, Coldplay, U2, Morrissey, Neil Young, Laurie Anderson and Elvis (Costello) collection, but not as a substitute for engaging with my peers, my community and those unfortunate souls around me whom I engage in the lost art of interaction.
There are so many things that are wrong around us. People are suffering here in America and throughout the world. There is so much pain we decide we can't save everyone and thus we buy that new pair of shoes we saw on a TV show. Or we buy a new, bigger TV --the image may be sharper and larger yet we don't see any more clearly. As a society, if America is to rise to its potential we must begin to focus. Here are a few easy things to consider for our future-
The most contented people in the world are not the people that have more, they are the people that need less.
No more "Red" and "Blue". We are "We the People". We demand a government that will represent us, not ExxonMobil, Chevron, Halliburton and WalMart.
Everyday take a moment to reflect about the fact that you weren't eaten by something larger and with sharper teeth (of course, if you were then you can proceed past the rest of this list).
There is a great deal of suffering on earth and we can't help everyone. But each of us can make a decided difference. Help someone through sharing your time and/or money. Just do it.
Money comes and goes. Time just goes and is our most precious individual resource. How will you use yours?
There are a growing handful of business leaders that are courageously trying to evolve free market capitalism by infusing it with a balance of people, planet and profit. When you need to buy something, show your support for businesses that are polluting less, plundering less and treating their workforce well.
Fling the bling. We are defined by who we are inside, the lives that we touch and what we do with our time. Bling may bring the admiration of other shiny, "happy" people. Is that who you want to admire you?
Just a few thoughts from my over-caffeinated alphabetic mind.
About the Author: Mr. Polisner founded alonovo.com in March of 2005. He has been working in most aspects of Information Technology since 1981 and was an early commercial adopter of the UNIX operating system. Prior to founding alonovo.com earlier this year, George was a Director at Oracle Corporation. He is a frequent contributor to newspapers regarding political and economic policy and often appears as a guest on radio programs. In fact, when it comes to alonovo.com, it's pretty difficult to get him to stop talking.