- Capitalism and Alternatives -
Daily life personal economics
Posted by: Claire on September 05, 1997 at 19:36:06:
Thanks for all the responses. It makes me giddy thinking about my ideas reaching other people across this neat medium.
Anyway, I'd like to explain why I am a youthful idealist. I don't have much opinion about the merits of the modern day work world, which is what Kevin seemed to focus on. Instead, I have had a very eye opening experience which leads me to question how people spend their free time.
I just got back from living in Moscow, Russia for a year and a half. I'm only 19, and I didn't know what to expect besides cold. But over there, there are not any 24 hour super stores. God knows that we needed them at times, since it took us two weeks to find an alarm clock, but I had to do without. I lived without a lot, much like Samuel did living in the forest. I didn't have a TV, VCR, microwave, toaster, dryer, dishwasher, vaccume, car, movie theatres, magazines, etc, NOT because we couldn't get those items (electronics are the big craze over there, and anything is available for a price) BUT because we didn't need them. I got to start fresh outside of a society where people don't try to sell you everything, and it surprised me how little I really needed.
THIS IS NOT MY MAIN POINT, THOUGH. I do NOT advocate all of us shunning appliances like the devil, and hanging our clothes to dry. But I'll tell you what made a difference. Suddenly, I had time on my hands and no distractions. Everyone my age lives for entertainment and distractions. Going out to eat, videos, shopping, TV, music, magazines, magazines about TV, magazines about music, magazines about entertainment... Does anyone sit back and contemplate how much crap there is that we are buying? Well, for better or for worse, I didn't have that. And life was very different. I had to spend my time productively. I had to create meaningfulness. And I also developed some of the closest friendships I have ever experienced.
I came back to the US with new talents and a whole new perspective on what makes a life worth living. I think Samuel is right when he said that our society doesn't produce many interesting people. I don't want to sound condescending in the least, really, I don't, but I know that I would be just another person with no convictions, no passions, no experiences, etc., without having moved to Russia. Now, I have a better life than I have ever enjoyed before. I continue with what I've learned by being creative, by using my time productively, on my own terms, in a way which expresses and embodies my character at the same time.
Ok I've gotten a little vague, so I'll put it this way: here is your choice. You can go pay 19.95 for a blanket that only takes you the twenty minutes in the store in order to acquire, and is a perfectly good blanket. Or, you can spend a lot of time, patience, and energy making a quilt yourself, even though you have no intention of becoming professional, and other professionals with machines can do it faster/ better/ cheaper. Which do you do? Well, I'd say that 99% of Americans would go buy it, and consider the alternative a waste of time. But which would you value more? Which would you pass on to your grandchildren? Which action would make you a better, more talented and patient person?
I agree that buying the blanket for 19.95 and then sitting down to eat while watching the new Adam Sandler movie is easier. I'm arguing that capitalism has misrepresented the connection between easier and better. Things that are harder end up being better, and capitalism, marketing, and advertisement neglects this. Their role is to appeal to laziness. And I don't think that that's good enough any more. Being creative, painting my room, designing and making my own dresses, hell debating are all acts of creativity which I take pride in and enjoy. But I find more and more people don't do this. They train for one role, one that will maximize their income, and they neglect tending other roles because somewhere nearby it is cheaper, faster, and easier.
My basic assertion is that if there were more Renaissance people out there, people would have more rewarding, fulfilling lives, they would develop better relationships with eachother, and (as a side effect) they would be less responsive to the false fulfillment which we as consumers are being sold every holiday, every ad, every store. Any sort of creativity will do-- I'm not an elitist about only art. Sports, or telling stories, or making sand castles is all producing something REAL.
Ok my computer is acting up so I have to stop my manifesto. Hope I didn't bore you. As always, please respond!
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