Article: A new, minimalist economy?

[Ultralight]

Any thoughts on this guy's perspective?

http://www.becomingminimalist.com/minimalist-economy/

[LDAHL]

I'm not sure what would drive the culture to make this kind of change. Redirecting status anxiety and economic output from "things" to "experiences" (which require a lot of "things" in their own right)? Some rising environmentalist ethic (which would probably be in some way antithetical to "experience" production)? Necessity driven by hard times that causes a fundamental shift in habits? A greater demand for leisure time? Some form of coercion from a high-minded political elite?

[oldhat]

The simple answer to the question of "What would happen if everybody lived the way you do?" is "Most people don't, and there's not much danger of them starting to live that way any time soon."

[Ultralight]

The simple answer to the question of "What would happen if everybody lived the way you do?" is "Most people don't, and there's not much danger of them starting to live that way any time soon."

But, just for kicks & giggles, imagine (really imagine!) that over the next year everyone went minimalist, like the author or like Kestra or, if I may be so bold, like me...

I think the article by Becker is a bit foolish and a bit smoke-in-mirrors.

Why?

Because if everyone lived like me there would be a massive collapse of the house of cards we call "the economy."

I think I would be okay with this, despite the turmoil between the start of a collapse and the leveling out that would eventually occur.


With all that said and imagined. I agree that the simple answer is: "It ain't happenin'! Thing will be business as usual until there is no other option." sad-LOL

[ApatheticNoMore]

The simple answer to the question of "What would happen if everybody lived the way you do?" is "Most people don't, and there's not much danger of them starting to live that way any time soon.

really, when every one only has the same question to ask sooner or later the question has to be: who brainwashed you? Because really while I can't promise brand new never thought before thoughts 24/7, when responses are so knee jerk .... What if everyone on the planet lived like the average American etc.. Might as well just counter with that. And why is it so seldom seem as at least an equally valid counter? Brainwashing ...

[Ultralight]

really, when every one only has the same question to ask sooner or later the question has to be: who brainwashed you? Because really while I can't promise brand new never thought before thoughts 24/7, when responses are so knee jerk .... What if everyone on the planet lived like the average American etc.. Might as well just counter with that. And why is it so seldom seem as at least an equally valid counter? Brainwashing ...

What do you mean?

[ApatheticNoMore]

Mostly just that every single time someone says they want to live a minimalistic life the question is asked "but what if everyone does it?", a question that doesn't get asked automatically for everything else. It's very lockstep.

[Ultralight]

Mostly just that every single time someone says they want to live a minimalistic life the question is asked "but what if everyone does it?", a question that doesn't get asked automatically for everything else. It's very lockstep.

Oh, I see!

So no one asks a professional football player: "What if everyone was a professional football player?"

[oldhat]

really, when every one only has the same question to ask sooner or later the question has to be: who brainwashed you? Because really while I can't promise brand new never thought before thoughts 24/7, when responses are so knee jerk .... What if everyone on the planet lived like the average American etc.. Might as well just counter with that. And why is it so seldom seem as at least an equally valid counter? Brainwashing ...

I'm not quite sure what you're getting at--if you mean that a few stubborn people like to point out that if everyone lived like the average American, we'd need about 5 planets to provide the resources, than I wouldn't call that brainwashing, I'd call it facing reality. That's a fact that can't be repeated often enough.

If, on the other hand, you mean that when confronted by unconventional lifestyles like minimalism, people recoil in horror and retreat into cliches, I certainly agree. Whenever I read an article in the mainstream press on simple living/minimalism/sustainability, I always find the comments section more interesting than the article. In addition to the aforementioned "What if everyone lived like you do?" we usually get "I work hard and I'm not going to deprive myself of life's little pleasures, even if it means racking up huge amounts of debt." (Okay, they usually don't say that last part.)

[Ultralight]

I'm not quite sure what you're getting at--if you mean that a few stubborn people like to point out that if everyone lived like the average American, we'd need about 5 planets to provide the resources, than I wouldn't call that brainwashing, I'd call it facing reality. That's a fact that can't be repeated often enough.

If, on the other hand, you mean that when confronted by unconventional lifestyles like minimalism, people recoil in horror and retreat into cliches, I certainly agree. Whenever I read an article in the mainstream press on simple living/minimalism/sustainability, I always find the comments section more interesting than the article. In addition to the aforementioned "What if everyone lived like you do?" we usually get "I work hard and I'm not going to deprive myself of life's little pleasures, even if it means racking up huge amounts of debt." (Okay, they usually don't say that last part.)

I get the "why deprive yourself? question all the time.

I have a hard to answering it in a way that resonates with the person asking. Though I am not so sure this is my problem to be dealing with.

And... there are so many ways to answer it honestly. I almost want to ask: "Do you have three hours?!" haha

[oldhat]

I get the "why deprive yourself? question all the time.

I have a hard to answering it in a way that resonates with the person asking. Though I am not so sure this is my problem to be dealing with.

And... there are so many ways to answer it honestly. I almost want to ask: "Do you have three hours?!" haha

I find that question real easy to answer: "What makes you think I feel deprived?"

[Rogar]

I suspect without some sort of equivalent replacement to the economy, if everyone or a lot more people became minimalist the reduction in spending and economic output would result in massive unemployment and people in bread lines trying to feed their families.

The author sort of acknowledges this in the short run, but the economy would eventually adjust. I suspect the short term could seem very long to many.