02-09-2013, 09:37 AM
quote:
Originally posted by punafish
And can the "free market" find a better solution? I have my doubts, only because the premise of the free market (which really isn't "free") is short-term profits based on consumerism (the more the better), both notions completely counter to a sustainable lifestyle.
I think you misunderstand what the "free market" is. The free market is something that has been working well for us for ten thousand years or more, it works great for nature too. It is free will and your ability to voluntarily trade with others, as opposed to you being told who and what you can trade with. This does not preclude education and wisdom, in fact it is built off of these things as you decide what is important. It is us individuals after all who choose to buy the goods and have them packed in plastic and our choice again if we choose to dispose of it in a way that hurts others or the environment. The free market involves free thinking individuals making decisions about their life to benefit themselves, it does not benefit to be ignorant or to cause damage, hurt others, or just generally destroy instead of creating.(All though creative destruction is important, but thats another lesson.) People need to realize this, realize that they are free and take control of there own lives.
Authoritarian control is just about the lowest form of interaction and in fact works to defeat intelligence, wisdom and free thinking individuals. It literally makes society as a whole worse off as people spend less and less time doing and thinking and more and more time following directions and entertaining lower brain function.
If you don't want plastic, don't get it. If you don't want to be fat, don't drink large sodas. If you think others are ignorant, educate them and persuade them to your position without force. Taking away freedom with control is not the solution and is probably the most short sighted, in fact backward outlook one could take.
“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul