Let me tell you a little bit about Ethical Consumerism

[Taverner]

Many people brought up good points in my "Consumerism is good" thread. Those who responded did their homework, and on the face of things, Consumerism looks evil, right? I mean wanting more and more and more is what's destroying us, right?

Well yes and no - wanting more and more is killing us. But there is another way. A way that keeps consumerism alive to keep our economy well oiled, but also takes into account the ethics involved with conserving resources and being efficient.

We have learned Consumerism + Credit Spending is bad. And Consumerism + Cash Only is not feasible in the long term. Eventually, your economy, no matter how much you produce, will crash. Credit can be a band aid between production cycles, but that's all it is.

However, if we tie in aspects of Ethical Consumerism - and make this the norm, we get our cake and eat it too.

Europe already practices this in most EU nations. What is it? Here's an example: it is of a family I know in Paris, France. Let's call them the Rimbaud family.

Every day Mr. and Mrs. Rimbaud go to work. They both have good professional jobs. They take turns taking their daughter Chloe to day care. Day care, like preschool and education past college is covered by the state. It allows for greater production from its citizen consumers in that they don't have to worry about finding day care, etc when they work.

On the way to work, Mr. and Mrs. Rimbaud take the bus. They own a very nice luxury Peugeot, but with gas being 2 Euros per Liter that can add up. The bus system in France has been subsidized, so that its not like the US where public transit can cost as much as having a car.

On the way to work, The Rimbauds get a snack from one of the many vendors that work the bus line, selling breakfast pastries to consumers. In France it is actually easier to start your own business - all you need is to fill out a form and boom, you are a business. To sell homemade pastries, you just have to get a health inspection once a year and you're good to go. In the US, getting say, a hot dog cart, is near impossible unless you have connections.

The Rimbauds do their work, and go home. On the way home, they pick up food at a market for that days food. This is another element of Ethical Consumerism - buying only what you need for the day. It reduces waste and also makes for healthier, fresher food.

Ethical Consumerism is all about applying efficiency to our existing consumerist model. In Europe, they have just as much of a desire for cheap plastic as we do, but they take steps to make sure everything is more efficient.

[valerief]

1. France must not toss all its tax revenue into the pig-trough military budget. nt

[Taverner]

2. True, but they do have a military, and a Nuclear Program

They just are more responsible as to their powers and money

[valerief]

9. I wish I were French. nt

[Romulox]

3. Terrible example. France has a functioning social safety net. nt

[Taverner]

4. No - I think its a good example

As in, WE NEED THAT KIND OF FUCKING SAFETY NET

It is how we can have a consumerist society that doesn't implode

[Romulox]

5. We don't have that sort of safety net, and probably never will.

We do have a soulless, consumerist society already, however.

Strange that you'd spend so much time advocating for the latter...

[Taverner]

6. Wow - did you wake up in some universe that I didn't?

One where we DIDN'T live in a Consumerist Society?

Sorry, but that's where we are. It would be easier to add the safety nets than it would to suddenly don our little red books and take the great proletariat leap forward...

[Romulox]

7. Then why are you defending consumerism rather than calling for an add'tl safety net

"It would be easier to add the safety nets than it would to suddenly don our little red books and take the great proletariat leap forward..."

It "would"? As in the future? What's stopping us from implementing additional social protections today?

Could it be the massive greed necessary to maintain a soulless consumerist society? :shrug: Naw, couldn't be! :hi:

[sui generis]

8. I mostly agree

but having many "small" resellers of any item means that there is also a waste cycle on the downside of that competition, especially if we're talking about perishables.

I buy groceries once a week, because driving to the store every day would be wasteful of fuel.

My product consumerism is limited to replacing durable-goods equipment that is starting to fail or not cost-effective to repair, toiletries and groceries, and a very gradual evolution of wardrobe as clothes either wear out or become damaged.

Service consumerism: I pay for hair cuts, a housekeeper, pet sitters, lawn care, gym memberships, the occasional theatre ticket / movie, and the occasional restaurant meal.

I also spend money on travel - planes, trains, automobiles, pogo-sticks, lodging, whatever, and I tip very generously.

Non-necessary consumerism: I support the arts. I shop for art pieces, go to the museums and galleries, and I always tip the dick-dancers :P to support the performing arts.

I DON'T waste anything, throw away leftovers, run the AC too low or the heat too high, overwater the lawn and garden, or drive anywhere it's more reasonable to walk to. I don't throw away anything that can be given to goodwill and used by the less fortunate and I recycle religiously. I do have a ginormous pool and that is an enormous waste of water, but I actually use it nearly every day that it's seasonable to do so. My other guilty pleasure is I don't use a regulator on my shower heads, BUT I don't take long showers either, unless I get a wild hair and decide to shave my nads instead of Nair.

I've started using canvas bags at the grocery store with the small exception of bagging meats before placing it in the carry bag to keep things clean and hygienic, and and and . . . I mulch. If I smoked weed I'd plant the seeds, but alas, I no do grass.

I even recycle change - usually between $600 & $800 per year, converted and donated to the local AIDS food pantry (not to mention quarterly contributions of money and food).

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Many offices, data centers and corporate campuses are NOT near city center or on public transport routes here. In contrast, if most office work could be conducted from home, we would have smaller buildings, smaller eco-footprints, and less fuel consumption and less need for right-of-way for surface transport.