Comment on: Waste Not, Want Not?

Bigthink — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:57:31 +0100

Jamie's point in his response is a good one. Selling soap without a box may seem like a small act but it reflects a mind set that we need to adopt for survival. except during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars has our country as a whole ever had to do without? Other countries have learned frugality from experience. I don't agree with Ms. Newkirk that it's a universal characteristic of people. It has more to do with the state of mind of empire and taking what we want without thought for the future.
Personally I was a great 'hoarder and am just now learning how to "let go" of a sense of fear of doing without. It is so illogical! My worst most embarrassing pattern though was crazily buying toys for my children so they would have what all the other children had. And even worse I have more trouble giving them away than my children have!
There is a psychological barrier to doing with less, recycling, no pretty packaging, etc. that we must face in The States. Logic (that we must change our habits for our survival) isn't working well enough. Personally I can do it, but trying to change a whole culture, I don't know. I get a lot of inspiration from guests on the American Public Radio program The Story who have decided to set a goal, say 500 Things, to keep.
Maybe states or the federal government could challenge us to meet a goal of say 1000 things in our house, garage, and Rental Storage Bins (no cheating!).
If it was a competitive challenge with clearly stated rewards, I think we could meet it. When giving up excess belongings it naturally follows that we become more aware of other excesses with which we are faced, like packaging, etc.

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Comment on: Waste Not, Want Not?