Good Life and Good Earth

Mingling with the crowd, dazzled by the Xmas decorations and walking from one Orchard Road mall to another I suddenly wonder whether there is another way to have economic growth and employment in our world without the need for consumer spending. I think of the excessive things an average family has at home, be it clothing, utensils, furniture, electrical appliances etc etc and at the great variety of brand and choices in every single  consumer product and how the limited world resources are depleted to feed this insatiable human desire of material needs. Just when I wonder whether some form of social awakening can allow our earth to heal and replenish I was confronted with the thought of high unemployment amongst youths in so many countries and how economic growth is vital to avoid a wasted generation. Is there another way out ie. economic growth without consumer spending?

I thought my question was miraculously answered when an article in yesterday's BT entitled "Low growth and the good life" caught my eyes. In it the question asked was "Is there a way of living with slower growth?" It then followed with this comment "The beginning of an answer is to recognise that economy should serve society, rather than the other way around. What this means is that the economy's social task is to provide the conditions in which people can lead good lives".

The article then borrowed Aristotle's concept of good life which encompasses the well being of both body and mind where health and material comfort satisfy the earlier and mind preoccupations with value, creativity, appreciation of beauty, intellectual curiosity and life's meaning the later. However  the growing loneliness and depression in developed countries "suggests that a materialistic-only philosophy is not in accord with human nature."

Sad to say the article ended in a clueless note. What a disappointment. It did mention the Green movement as a possible place to look for answers but also described the movement's futile efforts and ineffective suggestions amongst which is sharing work to solve unemployment.The article did however reminds that a "mindset that values the good life" is an essential starting point.

I guess my dream of a Good life and a Good Earth will remain just a dream for the time being.