Last night was whiskey night with my good friend Dawson. There is just something about Seagram’s, iced tea and a pack of cigarettes that's so satisfying. Oh it's awful, but true. We're sitting there just talking about whatever and we get on the subject of Wal-Mart. I seem to be bringing this up in conversation a lot lately. I'm interested in other people's opinions because it's so easy to say down with the big corporations but what if we keep overlooking the key to our own salvation? I'm not saying Wal-Mart is the Christ-figure of capitalism but I am saying that maybe we all need to buck up and start working with what we have. On the one hand, Wal-Mart takes life insurance policies out on their employees and names themselves as the beneficiary, but at the same time wins an organic taste test against Whole Foods (with a slew of food critics and organic farmers as the test audience)? What does this all mean? Moral of the story, everything is grey.
For the entirety of the past year I worked with a marketing incubator for local business. Our life was to promote and develop local businesses in an almost elitist manner. I still agree with that mantra except for the whole being an elitist deal (not my scene). Yet, I have trouble accepting that as an answer and furthermore the local-vore movement confuses me. The rise of local business is essential in maintaining a level of competition in the market and demanding quality of livelihood and consumer product. Also, like every subculture, I believe that even complete anarchy has a place in the balance of things. However, the ultimate goal of a local utopia is to have every city, county and state to be completely self-sufficient through the development of their local markets, right? That seems impossible to me. I see this as a beautiful notion and necessary to some extent but how is that even possible? How can we completely dismantle our current system? I've heard people say that it's time to completely get rid of capitalism and start over but how can someone say that? Historically, it's possible to overthrow the government but in my opinion it's too radical to say we're at that point.
I had this professor last semester, Saleem Ali, and I can't quote him verbatim but he told us some very wise words during one of the first classes. Essentially, he said that we can't focus too much on regressing into what was or developing too far into the promise of technology but that as a collective humanity we need to resolve our crises through the use of what we have before us. Wise words Saleem. Also, as a side note, I would recommend to anybody to read his book "Treasures of the Earth". It's really great and focuses on the history of mining, our relationship with minerals and the concept of the "treasure impulse" in relation to why we consume at such an alarming rate. It’s really very interesting and not dry.
Oh shit, I totally lost my train of thought and it's not coming back for a bit. But either way, to just sum up what I'm attempting to suggest, there is something we're missing here. I'm still figuring out what I know though. So don't take me seriously just yet - this is a cyber sounding board.
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