Quick Links on the Recession

The most interesting articles that I read this weekend were all about the economy. While David Brooks, thinks Obama's plan is too ambitious, Krugman think it's too small. Geitner is on very shaky ground. Speculators are swapping properties in Cleveland like trading cards. Friedman thinks that the recession will get us to stop buying stupid shit, like salad shooters.

Comments

[Doug]

"Friedman thinks that the recession will get us to stop buying stupid shit, like salad shooters books by Thomas Friedman."

Fixed.

[kip]

tom Friedman lost all cred with me when I heard he lived in a huge house in Maryland.

[jen]

General opinions of Tom Friedman aside, I actually agree that we should all stop buying stupid stuff. It's mostly the environmental impact he mentions that resonates with me.

Am I the only one who found any merit in this? I'm seriously asking for opinions here.

[bj]

I think giving up "stupid stuff" is a good idea, but I don't think all consumerism is stupid. I have always found the Morris quote to be a good guide: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." But, I think it should be up to individual people to decide what they find beautiful or useful. 2000 pairs of high heeled shoes is neither beautiful nor useful to me, but I don't like to judge others on what they consider useful or beautiful, even from the environmental point of view. But, I have a zillions books, and someone else might consider those neither useful or beautiful. I don't think it's my place to determine that books have intrinsically more worth than shoes for everyone.

I wish we did a better job of incorporating all the costs of items (including impact on resources, and the environment, and on labor) when we priced/purchased items. But I don't want to decide what is important for others