The Role of Consumption in Being a Good Citizen of the Earth, by Odle

The Role of Consumption in Being a Good Citizen of the Earth Good Citizen of Humanity

Consumption takes raw materials and energy.  So far, capitalism only seems to work if the economy is expanding, growing, and consuming more raw materials and energy.  I was once told and believed that capitalism was the only workable economic system in the world.  Of course, China even though it uses some capitalism to motivates its people is a centrally planned government that works great by our own metric of increasing the GNP.  But, it also needs to keep growing to be considered successful by its people.  But, there is a big difference in the maturity of two economies.

The U.S. with 5% of the world’s population consumes about 20% of the world resources.  China with 30% of the world population consumes 12% of the world resources.  In  America, on average we have plenty.  Of course, with our growing wealth inequality about 12% of U.S. Families live below the poverty level.  But, there is plenty of money in coffers of many American companies, for example, Apple has a trillion in cash while U.S. citizens and the government wallow in debt.  

Consumption by humans uses resources and produces carbon dioxide.  Renewable energy sources reduces the consumption of resources and produce far less CO2 and all other forms of pollution.  Germany is being a good citizen of the earth and is rapidly pushing toward getting 80% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.  

But here is the challenge.  Can we as Americans and people of this planet ever say we have enough, we do not want to consume more?   Instead, are we willing to say we are willing to share more and find more value in things like family and friends and consume less stuff?   If you value animals like the elephant, tiger, etc. that are losing habitat to the expansion of mankind, then we as a country and we as a world are going to have to find ways to consume less and find pleasure in helping the less prosperous on the planet.  Can we be more efficient and do more with less, of course.  

Which statement do you think is true:  1) the entire world can consume at the same level the U.S. consumes without harming the planet or 2) the U.S. must slow, perhaps reduce, its rate of consumption if it wants to do its part to reduce pollution, reduce the encroachment of man on animal habitats, and preserve finite resources for future generations.  Likewise, if we want to be good citizens on this earth do we push for more renewables like Germany or just depend on fracking for our energy future?  If we want to be good citizens on this planet, do we learn to live and be happy with less consumption or do we just let the rest of the world worry about it?  Perhaps, we should move toward a tax based on consumption?  

Worried citizen of this earth,

Robert R. Odle