The actual situation ('conventional paradigm')

Stimulating desire. “Since our whole economic system rests on generating desires that the commodities can profitably satisfy, it is hardly to be expected that a critical analysis of the irrationality of desires would be popular.” The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Erich Fromm, 292

Scarcity. “Scarcity is the peculiar obsession of a business economy….The market makes freely available a dazzling array of products – all these ‘good things’ are within a man’s reach – but never his grasp, for one never has enough to buy everything.” The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Erich Fromm, 169

Quantiy instead of quality. Unfair trade.

“According to economics textbooks, money is value-free. It is nothing more than a means of exchange and is regarded as having no effect on transactions. Lietaer contests that view. ‘Money isn’t at all value-free,’ he argues. ‘The monetary system is programmed—albeit not deliberately—to cause certain behaviour. It promotes competition and short-term thinking; it forces economic growth; and it undervalues care, education and tasks crucial to maintaining a society. Economics theory teaches us that people compete for markets and raw materials; I think, in reality, people compete for money...." Bernard Lietaier, Ode magazine, September 2005.”

What is the 'gospel of grab'? What purpose does it have and what needs does it satisfy?
How can we judge what wealth is? (John Ruskin)
The meaning of money
What is the proper scale of economic relationships?
Is there a limit to prosperity? Should there be?
The non-dollarized economy
What are just economic relationships?
How is it possible to go beyond the utilitarian, trivial, egotistical self?

Obtaining life. “Labour being thus various in its result, the prosperity of any nation is in exact proportion to the quantity of labour which it spends in obtaining and employing means of life. Observe, —I say, obtaining and employing; that is to say, not merely wisely producing, but wisely distributing and consuming.” The Genius of John Ruskin, 266

“Can we ever hope to create a better system? Can we expect to create a system that synthesizes and harnesses the benefits of both capitalism and socialism? Can we overcome the inherent selfishness of capitalism without undermining the benefits of competition and personal initiative? Can we create a system of equality while maintaining and respecting the power and character of individuality?” Simon Jacobson, Money and Spirituality

Companies can serve a social purpose. ‘The economics textbooks are ripe for revision. Then we can also rectify the misconception that a company is not always just a way to make money and a businessperson is not always someone who wants to maximize profits. Companies can also have another goal: to serve a societal purpose. The Grameen Bank is one such example, there are ore and we need many more. We need companies whose first priority is striving toward a good aim. We need businesspeople who are not driven by money but by their desire to contribute to society.’ ‘I’m talking about a new sector: companies that don’t want to make a loss, so they can continue to do business that contributes to the community as a whole. There aren’t many like that because the private sector has been wrongly labeled as a group of merciless profit-makers.’ Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank, July 2005

Revitilization work. An essential goal of human life is to bring one’s unique identity and vision into one’s work, not just as a hobby. This is the transformation of work. We must look for the outer and inner limits of achievement of that goal, and overcome these. This is a key to vitality and meaning. "From a moral standpoint, it seems more important that human activity be directed from within than that it have no outside end or material outcome….In part, what is at stake here is the control of work, the distribution of power in the workplace and in the economy at large.” Spheres of Justice, Michael Walzer, 186

Alternatives
Care trade
“It will be impossible to prosper because of the suffering of others. It will never enter our minds to pay slave wages, dominate economies, annihilate cultures. Our contacts will be fair, equal, non-exploitative....This will happen not because of any rule or law or idea or principle, but because of who we have actually become.” I have rich material for Alternatives page!

“Why should all virtue work in one and the same way? Why should all give dollars? It is very inconvenient to us country folk....Farmers will give corn; poets will sing; women will sew; laborers will lend a hand; the children will bring flowers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, Spiritual Laws, 80

Compassionate businesses

“We need businesspeople who are not driven by money but by their desire to contribute to society.’ ‘I’m talking about a new sector: companies that don’t want to make a loss, so they can continue to do business that contributes to the community as a whole. There aren’t many like that because the private sector has been wrongly labeled as a group of merciless profit-makers.”
Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank, July 2005

Local, Living Economies. Connects consumers and businesses, Alaskans and travelers, creating alternatives to greed-based corporate globalization.These local associations connect entrepreneurs and consumers who want to encourage businesses that are human-scale, locally-rooted, and equitably owned.

What is provided by multi-national corporations that can we make for ourselves? For example: “With the help of a potter, a pottery studio, or a paint-your-own-ceramics shop, make your own plates and platters for the community dining room.”

Challenges

Repenting the vulgarization of existence. "The most urgent task is to destroy the myth that accumulation of wealth and the achievement of comfort are the chief vocations of man. How can adjustment to society be an inspiration to our youth if that society persists in squandering the material resources of the world on luxuries in a world where more than a billion people go to bed hungry every night? How can we speak of reverence for man and of the belief that all men are created equal without repenting the way we promote the vulgarization of existence." Abraham Heschel, Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity, 31

Giving money to those who need it
“Only 0.2% of the total gross national product of the U.S. goes to foreign aid – more than 50% of it to Israel and Egypt.” Democracy Matters, Cornel West. Perhaps the government should increase its aid, but the direct response is for the 'people' to do so, through referendums, etc.

Stop manipulating

Support compassionate, small, local businesses
What would it take for small, local, compassionate businesses to survive and thrive? There are multiple dimensions of the response, and we could engage in all of them.

More variety in the things we use everyday. For example, shoes, socks, food.

Right to knowledge of complicity
Labeling or providing information about the ramifications of products and services, such as: the condition of the workers who produced them, the environmental and social conditions of the production, the health effects, and more.

Food labeling: Biotechnology, Condition of animals

Mission should be to do good, not just to make money

Stores that charge just under a dollar amount to manipulate the public.

Right to knowledge of complicity
A reasonable social demand is to have the tools needed to know and act on one’s complicity. This includes: labeling or providing information about the ramifications of products and services, such as: the condition of the workers who produced them, the environmental and social conditions of the production, the health effects, and more.

Labeling of products: Justice, Environment

Full discloser of toxics

Copyright and Patent laws unfairly favor large corporations.

Manipulation through public relations and advertising should be confronted. “The merchants are the biggest fools of all. They carry on the most sordid business and by the most corrupt methods. Whenever it is necessary, they will lie, perjure themselves, steal, cheat, and mislead the public. Nevertheless, they are highly respected because of their money. There is no lack of flattering friars to kowtow to them and call them Right Honorable in public. The motive of the friars is clear enough: they are after some of the loot.” Desiderius Erasmus, The Praise of Folly (1509)

Culture
What is the effect on local culture of globalization?
What are ‘Western’ values?
What are the ethical and spiritual questions globalization raises? 'Shall we dedicate our lives to individual acquisition? Shall we define ourselves in terms of narrow interest or identity groups?'
Alternative: How can you avoid being dominated by corporate culture?

Democracy
What is the relationship between the free market & democracy?
What is our complicity and responsibility for economic abuses?
What is the effect of globalization on the power--or freedom--of the individual?
Is globalization what we want, is it our 'choice'?
Who gains and who loses from globalization?
Is globalization what we want, is it our 'choice'?

Nature & farming
Is industrial farming linked to the depletion of democracy, religion, and nature?
technology & labor
What is fair pay?
To what extent is technology driving globalization?

Poor countries
Do the poor benefit from globalization?
What is our complicity and responsibility for economic abuses?
What is the effect of development aid on the poor?