An Informative Novel

“It is extremely hard to imagine a world substantially different from the one we know. But our current economies are changing the physical world in horrifying ways” (McKibben 232). McKibben’s novel was a very thorough analysis of the current setbacks of society. He adequately addressed each problem with logical, possible solutions. His choice of statics and outside information were very eye-opening and hard to forget. His revelations for the possible future motivated me to try and understand the economy and why it has become solely rooted with creating profit. Overall, Deep Economy was an excellent book that should read by all Unites States citizens at one time or another.

A Little Goes a Long Way

“Change happens because of how we invest our human energy, and it always has since we came down from the trees. Everybody’s got a margin of discretionary energy…that isn’t used in making their way in the world. That’s the energy that’s available for social change. If you can get a whole community to start focusing their energy together…then you get social change” (McKibben 211). I am a firm believer in the saying “A little goes a long way”. All we need are baby steps. Baby steps to take down the path of social change. If every citizen in a town were to pick up one piece of trash every day, the town would then become an infinite amount of times cleaner than before. All they had to do was pick up one piece of garbage, which takes virtually no energy. “Change happens because of how we invest our human energy,” McKibben writes. If every person were to invest a minimal amount of energy into this social change, improvements would be rapid and change would be remarkable.

A Difficult Task

“But creating those values [of a local economy], and the laws and customs that will slowly evolve from them, may be the key task of our time, here and around the world” (McKibben 210). The process of turning the current economy into the local state of growth will be an extremely difficult task. It took the Unites States over one hundred years to transition into what it is now, and reverting the economy back to its original state will not be a quick process. People must become familiar with the idea of a stable local economy before it is possible to actually commence the development. Many people are still unaware of what a local economy can provide. Therefore, we must begin the process with education. Informing the people through classes, conventions and advertisements can help jump start the well needed movement.

A Communal Economy Leads to More Generosity

“Once economies grow past a certain point, however, ‘the behavioral contingencies essential to promoting social stability in a market-regulated society—close personal relationships, tightly knit communities, local capital investment, and so on—are quickly eroded’” (McKibben 124). Walmart is a cooperation I am still very confused on how to feel about. Yes, the prices are good but the actual store consumes so much of the local economy that surrounding small businesses are no longer able to compete. Local economies are the most stable and the most efficient. It creates a communal bond, where it is okay to go ask the neighbor for a cup of sugar. Mckibben states, “Recent statistics show that, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates notwithstanding, Americans making $50,000 to $100,000 give away two to six times as much of their money (in percentage terms) as people who make more than $10 million” (124). But why is that? Wouldn’t you think that wealthiest in the world would also be the most generous? I suppose not. When the United States first began, money was inherited. There was no way to truly spring to wealth, like we can today. Once the political machines came into play and the Industrial Age was in full swing, the economic divide between the rich and the poor became even larger. There was no middle class and the community that was there before the Age was lost. If we focused our economy to be more localized just like when the United States first came to be, maybe then a more communal world would erupt where generosity would come more naturally.

The Advertisement Attraction

“‘Advertising is so attractive to us, so powerful, so seductive. What is offers us are images of the real sources of human happiness,’ for example community and friendship and family. And if it could deliver those things…then the twentieth century would have worked better than it did” (McKibben 113). Advertisements. They are everywhere. On television, radio, highways, buildings and even at local schools; it is hard to escape being in sucked into their trap. Today’s advertisements make simple products appear to be so glamorous or even giving back. To admit, I would not have bought that Coca Cola without watching their iconic Polar Bear take a sip of too. But often times, the advertisements are not so direct. In music videos particularly, one may see a shot of a particular brand that the singer is wearing, subtly making the audience want it as well. What it really comes down to is the feeling this products wants to give its sellers. Often times it will not fulfill the void of missing a friend or family member, but companies are more than happy for their consumers to experience trial and error. I, though, am not so happy to do that.

Together is Always Better

“Do we just think that we are happier in communities? Is it just more sentimental affection? No; the body reacts to community in measurable ways. Staggering ways. According to Robert Putnam, if you do not belong to any group at present, joining a club or a society of some kind halves the risk that you will die next year” (McKibben 110). Taking part in a community is a necessary part of life. When human first evolved, the nomads and the cave people travelled in packs. Humans cannot survive alone; they need some sort of involvement with people, participating in a greater purpose. By taking part in any sort of group, one is most likely to form companionships that will further elevate overall happiness. Relating to McKibben’s stress on the local economy, this type of market can and will be achieved with community involvement. We all strive to find that inner satisfaction and why not start together?

Social Shopping

“Sociologists studying shopping behavior reported recently that consumers have ten times as many conversations at farmers’ markets as they do at supermarkets. An order-of-magnitude difference. A simple change in economic life—where you shop—produces an enormous change in your social life” (McKibben 105). Like I mentioned before, the CSA brought our school community closer. But who knew that famers’ markets could do the same? It is interesting to see how people tend be more social in a more social environment. Who wouldn’t want to talk about the fresh, daily tomatoes? This type of market could even be a central hub for sharing and learning new recipes. Now, the market is not only for food but also for a social occasion that promotes healthy living.