: We are headed for disaster. We can see it off in the distance. The world
: cannot sustain the consumption at the American rate when China and India
: try to duplicate our gluttony. But we'll put off dealing with it.

: We have allowed ourselves to become insatiable consumers.

: We have allowed the profiteers to whisper in our ears from birth to death to
: buy more, to replace the old, to buy goods of designed obsolescence, to
: choose solely on low price.

: Endless commercials show us this American Dream that we must all be
: millionaires.

: The "American Dream" is now the world model. Bigger is better.
: Gotta have the latest thing. Buy a big house and car and second house and
: car and work two jobs to pay the debts of for the rest of your life. And
: move and buy a new bigger house and bigger car!

: With this hunger for the money needed to sustain this style, everyone becomes
: an opportunity for plunder.

: Can we think, less is better? Can we stop buying throw away trash?

: Can we get by with one car and move to a smaller house?

: Can we control greed?

: Rob

Hear-hear. We are rapidly losing the art of taking joy from simple pleasures. To be inspired by a poem, to enjoy a philisophical conversation or play music with friends, to be content with a boat one can use in small places leaving small footprints.

The lie of the Disneyworld extravaganza is being sold to us all the time and we are buying it.

We have been conditioned into thinking that if we don't grow we will atrophy and if we don't compete we will be left behind.

Hell, leave me behind, by all means. I like my lazy life. If anyone feels like joining me there is plenty of room at the back.

Etienne