Enough is Enough

I want to shed a little "lyte" on the concept of "enough".  A large portion of this economic meltdown can be attributed to the dearly held assumption that unlimited growth is good.  It is not. The only things that experience unchecked growth in nature are viruses and cancer.  Both of these things can kill their hosts.

Our country has long believed that the American Dream was a constantly rising arc of consumption:  a bigger house, a newer car, a younger wife, etc., culminating in a nirvana of excess.  This is madness.  It is not sustainable or responsible.  We need to embrace the idea of enough.

More is not better.  More is madness.  We need to return to a sustainable model of consumption.  This constant chasing of more is causing undue stress on ourselves and on our planet.  This upwardly mobile insanity leads people to believe that you truly can get something for nothing.

Work is not bad.  Earning your money by actually making something or providing a worthwhile service is much more noble than helping money make more money.  Our tax code needs to support this endeavor.  Increase the capital gains tax so we take money making money more than people earning a living.  

We need to transition back to valuing the customer more than the shareholder.  A shareholder is a bottomless pit, always wanting bigger dividends.  A customer is in a relationship with a company, seeking a superior product or service.  Running your business for your customers is a long-term, sustainable proposition, running your business for your stockholders is a short-term road to disaster.

Also, the time has come for us as Americans to define ourselves as citizens, not as consumers.  A citizen is responsible, concerned with the greater good.  A consumer consumes, that's it.  Consumers do not contribute, they are takers not givers.  Our economy needs to reflect this change, and no longer be so dependent on consumption as a determination of our wealth.  We need to be citizens who make things or do things for other citizens.

Here's an idea:  you want to increase the GDP in a big way?  Put a value on the raising of children.  It is the most important product that we create and service that we perform.  It has the greatest effect on our future prosperity.  It is walking the talk that, "Children are our greatest resource."

We need to grow up and our economy needs to reflect our values.  Otherwise, we will end up doing this again and again.  Enough.