The End Of Consumerism?

This is the beginning of admitting, finally, that we have moved into a world with less available stuff. 

Manufactured supply chain bottlenecks and shortages combined with running up against the limits of nature, mean the consumer can no longer consume at will. 

Officials are issuing warnings that even food may be dear in a future with less. 

After centuries of assuming infinite growth was possible on a finite planet, we move from consumerism to survivalism in what feels like the blink of an eye. 

The narrative has changed and there will no longer be unlimited access to things you don't need, and in many cases, things you do.

No jet travel for you. No car for you. No disposable income for you. No housing for you. No food for you.

The gospel of consumption model is dying a natural death as predicted as soon as it started with the industrial revolution.

So what to do?

Sun Tzu, a Chinese writer in 2nd century BC gives advise in his book "The Art of War". Make no mistake, there is a war being waged here, but it is not the one you think.

Sun Tzu's advice is something along the line of "when what you oppose is in the process of destroying itself, stand out of the way".

When something this big goes down there is likely to be collateral damage. COVID was phase one of the war, and pushing for WWIII is phase two. 

Look at the fallout of just the initial phases of closing down consumerism for the masses. Everything has been, by design, thrown into flux. 

Whatever phase three turns out to be, it will not be good for the majority of humans, but especially not for those of us that have consuming more than needed the past few decades.

Another reference to bear in mind is, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall". Or in this case, "the more they consume, the harder involuntary simplicity will be".

For several years on this blog I have been advising readers to "choose to simplify NOW and avoid the rush", and it looks like the rush may finally be here.

Simplicity for most of us will not voluntary any more. Forward thinking people will be downsizing now, avoiding the rush, and adapting to life with less.

My guess is after the dust settles we will end up with more frugal and thrifty lives, as during most of human history, and that won't be a bad thing for the planet.

Consumerism is going down, along with many of our institutions and systems, but it is possible to replace them with more efficient and effective alternatives.

This will only happen if we speak out, hit the streets, and make our voices heard so that we have a say in how this new low-energy, low waste world works.

In the meantime, there could be a world of hurt for many former consumers. Don't be one of them.

It's the end of consumerism. Simplify now.