Forget about Eco-Consumerism!

I’ve written in the past about this eco-consumerism fad we’ve foundourselves in lately.  The message is good, but the practice is bad.  YES we should be making responsible planet-wise choices as consumers, but NO we should not go out of our way to purchase more useless crap because it’s green.

And as I write this, gas prices continue to rise, we continue to pump more crap into our precious atmosphere, and we continue to demolish valuable resources, such as rainforests, that help to clean up after us.

Gas prices will aid in increasing inflation which will in turn raise interest rates.  And it’s not all George W.’s fault.  It’s my fault, and yours, too.  What is your carbon footprint?  Reducing your carbon footprint and spreading education about the true signs of global warming and world economies in trouble is the way to help this problem.  Not slapping a “Not my President” or “I Buy Green” bumper sticker on your 19 MPG internal combustion car so that those who sit in traffic behind you can take in messages hand-fed to you by the mass-media in addition to your exhaust fumes.

How we can really save the world and the economy after we admit that a new president cannot do it alone:

• Stop buying so much crap.  Try minimalist living.  You’ll be more organized and I bet you won’t miss the clutter.  You don’t need to save everything just in case you need it later.  Chances are, it will be available later as well.
• Skip the trip to IKEA and try buying used furniture off craigslist or from thrift stores.  Be creative and you can have a project that creates a totally unique piece of furniture for your home.
• Skip the toy in the happy meal and the impulse purchases.
• Better yet, cut back on the beef all-together.  You’ll be healthier and we’ll need fewer methane-producing cows in the world.  It’s a serious problem; cows put more pollutants into the atmosphere than any 3rd-world country and more than all of the SUVs in the US.
• Walk or bike to the grocery store, work, or other erands.  You’ll be healthier and happier with exercise.  Exercise makes a healthier body and mind AND increased energy levels.
• Move closer to work or work from home.  The great American highway system has created suburbs everywhere.  You buy a cheap house and fill it with crap, then drive in traffic for an hour or more each morning and evening.  Save yourself the gas and crap money but investing in a home near work.  This is why Austin and other cities are urbanizing now.  You’ll fit in that 200 square foot urban home after you follow tip #1 (dumping all the useless crap).
• Are you getting the idea?  Make smart decisions, not “green” purchases.

Are you getting it yet?  Improving the environment should also improve the economy.  Frankly, it bothers me less that it should that gas prices are high.  I think this is finally the motivation we (as lazy “someone else will take care of it” Americans) need to create real, practical sustainable energy sources.