“We don’t own Things, they own us”
Posted by Steve Welzer on 04/11/05[Below is an adaptation of an unattributed piece that’s been floating around cyberspace recently - enjoy!]
* * * * * * * * * * *
In 1999, Dick Cheney told the Institute of Petroleum:
“By some estimates there will be an average of two per cent annual growth in global oil demand over the years ahead along with conservatively a three per cent natural decline in production from existing reserves. That means by 2010 we will need on the order of an additional fifty million barrels a day.
“So where is the oil going to come from?”
Good question.
The Government is not going to bail us out of this one. So what do we do?
We start at home.
Choose a place to live that requires the smallest heating and cooling budget. Choose or modify our homes for maximum solar gain in the winter, minimum solar gain in the summer, well insulated with good non-metallic double pane windows. Choose our work places close to home so we can walk or bicycle to and from work, including at noon so we can enjoy a good nutritious vegetarian meal with our loved ones, and a glass of good wine. Choose our homes within walking or bicycling distance to markets, library, schools and live music and entertainment.
Eschew television and other propaganda devices. Participate in neighborhood associations, home owners associations, volunteer fire departments, neighborhood road associations. Attend local civic councils and assemblies and testify regularly in defense of neighborhood and community values. Run for local office. Work for local candidates for local office who support community values, democracy, local self-reliance and mutual aid.
Buy what food we cannot grow at local farmers markets. Participate in food co-ops and CSA (community supported agriculture) programs. Buy from local merchants. Do not darken the doorsteps of big box stores, food chains, fast food emporiums or malls for any reason whatsoever!
Get rid of all but one small fuel efficient vehicle and drive it as infrequently as possible. Get rid of every gadget around the house and neighborhood that has a gas motor attached to it. Yes, that includes the leaf blower. Especially the damned leaf blower!
Get to know our neighbors, work with them on neighborhood and community projects. Block off the street and throw a block party. Organize a child care co-op for families where both parents work.
Learn real practical skills: plumbing, electricity, home repair, car repair, appliance repair. One day we won’t be able to buy a new toy when the old one breaks; we’ll have to fix things instead of pitching them in the “trash.” Work on a farm, apprentice to a car mechanic, build a house, install a toilet. It’s fun, it’s cheap and it’s empowering!
Work less. A little reduction of income means that way we won’t have to give so much money to the war machine every April 15. Hold a garage sale and get rid of all that stuff in the garage where our cars were supposed to park. Strive to never buy anything new except toothpaste and underwear. Everything we really need can be found used and in great condition at the flea market or thrift store. We’ll know we’re on the right track when we don’t spend any money for three to four days at a stretch.
Soon we won’t know what to do with all the money that piles up around the place. Chuck it away, invest it in a local enterprise that produces energy and food.
We don’t own Things, they own us. When we lower our material “standard of living,” we increase the quality of our lives.
If we do these things we won’t care when the oil barons have all dripped dry. And we’ll be living in a world the better for our decisions.