Read other letters about this article

• Tuesday, December 2, 2008 07:16 AM

  fabric of our society

  Your piece is a nice start to a discussion we've only begun to have (or have not!) about the material being of our society and, indeed, our world.

  I have stopped nodding in assent when someone says, "I mean America doesn't make anything anymore" and then goes on to say that that is the root of the problem--that more material goods are not produced here to be consumed here. While manufacturing represents jobs and numerous jobs have gone overseas, I think consumerism is not only not sustainable but also will not sustain a country's or the world's economy.

  I am becoming convinced that services--not goods--for "good" wages are our only hope for survival economically,spiritually (in the larger, not the religious sense) and ecologically. I do think that our government needs to use our tax dollars and the money it prints and that is secured by other countries, principally China, to fund WPA-like projects to renew our physical infrastructure. At least we will get something tangible and vital for the debt. By services, I do not mean the self-service (in other words, serve themselves) "industries" like insurance and other brokerage-type money shuffling that have overall become dishonest and greedy.

  Like Andrew Leonard in his essay, I will contain the nature of this comment. Pulling the string of the consumerism topic just leads to more and more. All of it must be discussed and acted on for the survival of our country and our planet.

  I suggest a donation, however big or small, to the charity of one's choice.

  —Alison M. Swann Read Alison M. Swann's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel