material- the demise of earth?

all in favor that material and possession is the root to all the corruption and destruction of earth. i blame America. we dont seem to realize we dont really need money or cars or entertainment to survive yet thats all our country consists of. we've scarred the earth in a matter of centuries, mind you thats not much time in a realistic sense. im bitter towards this and its saddens me to not have someone agreeing with me. maybe im just rambling

 

There are, as a matter of fact, a lot of people who agree with you.
http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204391

 

why blame america? its been that way long before europeans came here, lets blame the british, or the romans, ?

 

It's the problem of individuals, no one forces you to buy SUVs, or DVDs you personally make that choice. It's time to own up. If you choose to be manipulated by marketting, the only one at fault is you!

 

Impsosible. As an old saying goes, "with great power comes great responsibility." By declaring their independence, america declared that it also takes the responsibility for its actions, which are not in any way influenced by either the british or the romans. So it's the only one to blame, especially today now that it's world power...

Majority of the people are brainwashed too easily, and that's not their fault. They are just not intelligent enough to see the grand picture. The entire world, including those who are intelligent and understand the problem, suffers as the result of this brainwashing of non-intelligent majority, brainwashing motivated primarily by self-interest of businesses rather than by the concern for the world.

 

People have "wanted" since the dawn of humankind. A little self restraint is good, but to put the blame on materials and possessions is ridiculous. Individual overconsumption is a problem, excessive greed is a problem. But to want is part of human nature.

 

People can do what they want. If I want to be a greedy little bitch, I have every right to be.

 

Yes, you do have that option.
The next question is; do you want to be a bitch; greedy, little or otherwise?

 

What would you do to stop them?

 

it just seems to me like we're raping mother earth. theres alot of shit we dont need that we are using that's constantly causing problems for us. were tipping the balance of things and once its tipped far enough it wont come back up. i see america as an industrial monster and we just keep feeding it by not doing something.

 

How should we be living? While I would enjoy living a rustic, no frills lifestyle, most people would not. Have you started by giving up some material convinences, like cells phones, TVs, computers and start gardening, making your own clothes and doing some other eco friendly activities?

 

i agree with you! but its not just amarica, its mankind in genral,

 

its not america at all.... i can only find 2 american made products in my entire house, and thats my car (mustang) and dads car (tahoe) the two bikes are jap (my GPz and dads Bandit) the vast majority of the rest of our worldly possesions are aisian..

i bet every home in the US or most of europe is the same, cirtainly in terms of exported goods, america is small fry...

 

America IS an industrial monster. To have people do something with enough overall force, we must first teach them that individual action makes a difference.

People have lived 100,000 years (at least) in a nomadic lifestyle before agriculture began. The fact that they have lived like that once is an evidence that it is possible, and that people have not "wanted" until they were taught wanting by civilization.

Of course you can. It is your right. But will you be happy if you choose to be that? And, let me ask you another simple question... let's say, you can have all the shit you want, anytime you want, at no price. You'll get bored with it in no time. At that point, what will be the further purpose of your life?