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Where are the producers? |
| We live in a consumer society. While this is not new to many of us, I think very few of us are aware of how much the consumer mindset has infiltrated our daily lives. I have recently noticed how often people expect things to be done for them, but when presented the opportunity to make a contribution to the solution, suddenly every plausible excuse surfaces. Many organisations, which rely on the support of volunteers, are floundering because they are not getting the hands required to get the job done. Have you been at a homeowners meeting and noticed the dirth of volunteers after all the residents have spent an hour complaining about issues? The list of such examples I can think of endless, but I have no intention to bore you all. My theory is that in our consumer society, we are destroying the culture of "production" - how many people do you know have a vegetable garden? how many people do you know are carpenters? How many have hobbies that do not involve tv, computers or books, but instead involve the collection of stamps, trinkets or anythig else. Even gardening is becoming less accessible, courtesy of the high-density living we have today. Lets take it to the extreme - when last did you wash your own car ?? Our lives are so full and busy that we are geared to getting the most we can out of the shortest possible time. But what can you do ? Here are some ideas:
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