The Cure That Kills: Shopping Shopping Shopping

If you are puzzled about how the US economy suddenly found itself going over a cliff, but are disinclined to read detailed and technical accounts like this one, check out this finely written piece in today's paper of record. Focusing on the outlandish bastion of overconsumption, the Mall of America, where upwards of 5000 couples have gotten married in the last 10 years, this account is a fine exploration of how the downturn, otherwise known as a depression, will force the culture of shopping to end. Truly, the US public's attachment to huge centers of consumerism is over; these people just don't realize it yet. There are few better uses of your time than to peruse this, and ponder the implications...

The Yearly Xmas Admonition, Updated

Yes yes, this is the time Chaos will launch into a rant on the materialism and commercialism of Xmas, the early start, the slavish devotion to the market's demands, and the ridiculousness of citizens putting themselves into debt. None of this seems necessary at this particular moment in time, seeing as how the economy is collapsing faster than can be recorded, jobs are being shed at a breakneck pace, and companies (particularly retail) are busily filing for bankruptcy, or at least preparing for a very chilly January. At the risk of being redundant, then, here's the latest: the world is entering a global deflationary depression. Prices for assets will drop, because people will have no money to buy. Jobs will shrink, governments will go bust, promised pension benefits will not be paid, people will starve. Those with debt will be destitute, those with cash will make out somewhat better. In light of this, the celebration of the holidays should not be marked by increased consumption of anything, except perhaps food and beverages. Take Chaos' advice, get an early start on living with less, spend nothing on cheap trinkets this year.

The Road Not Taken: How Consumerism Destroys Leisure Time

In the spirit of expanding one's consciousness, or looking at life at this moment in a different way, try this thoughtful history of working hours and leisure time in America. If you've ever wondered why our material wealth doesn't translate into a better life (and if you think it does, do some more thinking), this piece will give you some ideas. In Chaos' view, it is simply tragic that the demands of industrialization have reduced the public to mere "consumers." There's also some interesting stuff regarding the "marketing" of political decisions...an extreme abomination, in Chaos' opinion.

An Engaging Video: The Story of Stuff

Apropos of practically everything that is mentioned here at the Edge, is this quite entertaining video (for those not inclined to read) that summarizes a good deal of what's wrong with the endless, mindless consumerism which has replaced a lot of meaningful activity here in the Empire in recent years. Check out The Story of Stuff....

Holiday Peak Oil Humor

Try this little site for a psychological look at resource depletion. Latest entry is "A Dozen Peak Oil Quips You Might Want to Avoid During Holidays Get-Togethers." Funny stuff, for those who are aware; probably incomprehensible for anyone else (which is to say most people). Again for the chosen few, when you are out and around performing the traditional holiday chore of gift-buying, cast your eyes around you at the society and marvel at how clinically dysfunctional, nay, crazy it all seems, in light of the looming problems all the monkeys on the planet are so soon to have to face.

Lester Brown Wishes You A Happy Holiday

This eminent being, featured here several months ago in context of his book, is here with us again with a message of holiday cheer:

"Underneath the American Christmas spirit and good cheer is a debt-laden society that appears to have lost its way, marred in the quicksand of consumerism. As a society, we seem to have forgotten how to save so we can invest in a better future. Instead of leaving our children a promising economic future, we are bequeathing them the largest debt burden of any generation in history."

How sad, and true. The rest of the article is equally penetrating and eloquent on the subject of the declining culture of the Empire....its citizens are only preoccupied with endless consumption, at the expense of future generations.