Culture-central to most issues
07/15/03
J.J. Burton
1. CULTURE – CENTRAL TO MOST ISSUES
There seems to be general agreement these days that materialism is the
predominant aspect of our culture. This is particularly true in the U.S.,
probably to a somewhat lesser degree in Europe. And, although I have
not seen it mentioned, I wonder if globalization, the increase in
international trade and travel, has not made the people in many
underdeveloped areas more materialistic by their exposure to the
attractions common in the developed world.
Secondary only to our economic doldrums, security from terrorism is the
primary concern of Americans these days. Peoples in the Muslim mid-east,
stirred up to hate Americans by charismatic leaders, are seen as the
source of this threat. To what degree is envy of our culture which they
can’t afford the basic cause of this unhappiness and susceptibility to
terrorist leaders?
The question of whether we are happier in a materialistic world – whether
watching TV is better than family conversation – gets some debate. I am
inclined to say yes – cars, TVs, computers, etc., have added pleasure and
ready-made clothes, automated factory machines, large scale mechanical
farming, etc., have eliminated much unpleasant drudgery.
But the question that is being ignored – or being viewed too optimistically
– is whether the earth and atmosphere have the capacity to
accommodate for very long the type of growth characteristic of our
culture. It is obvious that even under the current rate of consumption,
the world could not accommodate our proclaimed objective of bringing all
the world into the same state of industrialization and consumption as is
now enjoyed by Americans.
A drastic reduction in world population could alleviate this, but instead we
are almost certainly going to see a near doubling in this century. It is
more likely that we will continue to have a 2 tier world pretty much as we
have at present, with billions of people barely managing to survive their
short and unhappy lives. We regret this situation now and will continue
to do so, giving it little thought and anyway, considering it a natural state
of affairs about which we can do nothing. American culture is too self-
centered to worry about such global problems.
But even the developed world faces some problems that badly need
actions that are anathema to our culture.
Global warming, better called climate change, is almost certain to have ill
effects here in this or the next century. While we can help to avert it be
putting known and future technology to more use, I don’t see prospects
of much being done. Business and political leaders are afraid that the
needed actions risk a disastrous slowing in the economy. SUVs are a
conspicuous example of the extravagant use of energy that should be
curbed but their popularity continues.
To put it simply, our culture lacks a global perspective, an understanding
and compassion for the economically or socially disadvantaged, an
awareness and concern for the future and a willingness to sacrifice some
aspects of our lifestyles for the common good. We have a flawed
definition of a successful life in which “success” is seen as the amount of
power, prestige or wealth an individual has acquired.
I am strongly against overconsumptionism – consumption of things we
don’t really need but that are seen as essentials by our culture and the
power of advertising. It is most likely that the people of the wealthy
nations are going to suffer from global warming, and exhaustion of global
resources, starting with shortage of water. We need a culture that does
not glorify wealth and high living but instead glorifies individual merit.}
For every policy we think of adopting we should carefully weigh rights of
the individual vs. the welfare of all. Banning smoke in restaurants is a
simple example, assuming we can accurately gauge harmful effects of
second hand smoke. A more complex issue is whether I have the right to
smoke in my house if the taxpayers are going to have to pay my medical
costs. Does a poor person have a right to have a child if the taxpayers
are going to have to support it?
CULTURAL CHANGE
Most of whom I rate as good writers say a cultural change is essential to
overcoming [the predictable future major flaws in our world. But none
offer a proposal a to how this can come about. In the book “BUILDING
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES” , one chapter is devoted to this problem.
After 20 pages of discussion, the author, Lester Milbrath. A Professor
Emeritus of Political Science and Sociology, concludes that the way we
think about sustainable development will change only when “we are
suddenly confronted with the grim results of our apathy.” So we ( the
good guys) should vision this happening and planning our strategy for
this time. ( When the Atlantic engulfs Miami and New York City after
inaction on global warming, then those who are not listening will listen)
In the conclusion of “BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES” the author,
Dennis Pirages, says the beliefs that served society well in the past will
not serve the different world into whch we are m now moving but
“Democratic elections virtually assure that the candidates must espouse
society’s dominant social paradigm”
In “THE CONSUMER SOCIETY AND THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH” Alan
Durning concludes “The future of life on earth depends on whether we
among the richest fifth of the world’s people, having fully met our
material needs, can turn to nonmaterial sources of fulfillment.” In “THE
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY”. Herman Daly concludes “ A physical steady
state if it is to be worth living in, absolutely requires moral growth. Future
progress must be made in terms of things that really count, rather than
in things that are merely countable.”
In the conclusion of “ THE FUTURE OF LIFE’ Edward O. Wilson says of
the problems of this century that in the end, success or failure comes
down to an ethical decision;
adequate resources already
exist.
J.J. Burton
1. CULTURE – CENTRAL TO MOST ISSUES
There seems to be general agreement these days that materialism is the
predominant aspect of our culture. This is particularly true in the U.S.,
probably to a somewhat lesser degree in Europe. And, although I have
not seen it mentioned, I wonder if globalization, the increase in
international trade and travel, has not made the people in many
underdeveloped areas more materialistic by their exposure to the
attractions common in the developed world.
Secondary only to our economic doldrums, security from terrorism is the
primary concern of Americans these days. Peoples in the Muslim mid-east,
stirred up to hate Americans by charismatic leaders, are seen as the
source of this threat. To what degree is envy of our culture which they
can’t afford the basic cause of this unhappiness and susceptibility to
terrorist leaders?
The question of whether we are happier in a materialistic world – whether
watching TV is better than family conversation – gets some debate. I am
inclined to say yes – cars, TVs, computers, etc., have added pleasure and
ready-made clothes, automated factory machines, large scale mechanical
farming, etc., have eliminated much unpleasant drudgery.
But the question that is being ignored – or being viewed too optimistically
– is whether the earth and atmosphere have the capacity to
accommodate for very long the type of growth characteristic of our
culture. It is obvious that even under the current rate of consumption,
the world could not accommodate our proclaimed objective of bringing all
the world into the same state of industrialization and consumption as is
now enjoyed by Americans.
A drastic reduction in world population could alleviate this, but instead we
are almost certainly going to see a near doubling in this century. It is
more likely that we will continue to have a 2 tier world pretty much as we
have at present, with billions of people barely managing to survive their
short and unhappy lives. We regret this situation now and will continue
to do so, giving it little thought and anyway, considering it a natural state
of affairs about which we can do nothing. American culture is too self-
centered to worry about such global problems.
But even the developed world faces some problems that badly need
actions that are anathema to our culture.
Global warming, better called climate change, is almost certain to have ill
effects here in this or the next century. While we can help to avert it be
putting known and future technology to more use, I don’t see prospects
of much being done. Business and political leaders are afraid that the
needed actions risk a disastrous slowing in the economy. SUVs are a
conspicuous example of the extravagant use of energy that should be
curbed but their popularity continues.
To put it simply, our culture lacks a global perspective, an understanding
and compassion for the economically or socially disadvantaged, an
awareness and concern for the future and a willingness to sacrifice some
aspects of our lifestyles for the common good. We have a flawed
definition of a successful life in which “success” is seen as the amount of
power, prestige or wealth an individual has acquired.
I am strongly against overconsumptionism – consumption of things we
don’t really need but that are seen as essentials by our culture and the
power of advertising. It is most likely that the people of the wealthy
nations are going to suffer from global warming, and exhaustion of global
resources, starting with shortage of water. We need a culture that does
not glorify wealth and high living but instead glorifies individual merit.}
For every policy we think of adopting we should carefully weigh rights of
the individual vs. the welfare of all. Banning smoke in restaurants is a
simple example, assuming we can accurately gauge harmful effects of
second hand smoke. A more complex issue is whether I have the right to
smoke in my house if the taxpayers are going to have to pay my medical
costs. Does a poor person have a right to have a child if the taxpayers
are going to have to support it?
CULTURAL CHANGE
Most of whom I rate as good writers say a cultural change is essential to
overcoming [the predictable future major flaws in our world. But none
offer a proposal a to how this can come about. In the book “BUILDING
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES” , one chapter is devoted to this problem.
After 20 pages of discussion, the author, Lester Milbrath. A Professor
Emeritus of Political Science and Sociology, concludes that the way we
think about sustainable development will change only when “we are
suddenly confronted with the grim results of our apathy.” So we ( the
good guys) should vision this happening and planning our strategy for
this time. ( When the Atlantic engulfs Miami and New York City after
inaction on global warming, then those who are not listening will listen)
In the conclusion of “BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES” the author,
Dennis Pirages, says the beliefs that served society well in the past will
not serve the different world into whch we are m now moving but
“Democratic elections virtually assure that the candidates must espouse
society’s dominant social paradigm”
In “THE CONSUMER SOCIETY AND THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH” Alan
Durning concludes “The future of life on earth depends on whether we
among the richest fifth of the world’s people, having fully met our
material needs, can turn to nonmaterial sources of fulfillment.” In “THE
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY”. Herman Daly concludes “ A physical steady
state if it is to be worth living in, absolutely requires moral growth. Future
progress must be made in terms of things that really count, rather than
in things that are merely countable.”
In the conclusion of “ THE FUTURE OF LIFE’ Edward O. Wilson says of
the problems of this century that in the end, success or failure comes
down to an ethical decision;
adequate resources already
exist.