Revisiting Assumptions

Why is it that every household should have it’s own lawn mower and shovel and rake? Why, on a tight-knit suburban cul-de-sac can’t dozen’s of families share a snow blower, a weed eater, a power washer, a paint-sprayer, a CAR?

This pathology, that the nuclear family must possess—for itself and only itself—all the necessities of life (toasters, bread machines, coffee grinders, ice cream makers, CARS) came about not because it’s necessary, but because capitalism made it SEEM necessary because capitalism can only survive if it can find growth. That is, bigger markets…more people to sell more things too. Without growth, capitalism is doomed. Not doomed in a tragic way, but doomed in the sense that it will have to change its model. Those are heady changes that will require some revolutionary thinking, and hopefully that change will come about peacefully, because if bail-outs continue to be used to prop up the business-as-usual approach to things, there will be an awful tipping point where gated communities are invaded and national guard units are deployed and—let’s be clear—the rich don’t have a chance, they are outnumbered 1000 to 1. So to anyone who knows a millionaire, give them a clue. Get this economy in order, even if you have to pony up many millions, otherwise you stand to lose everything and the rule of law and the greatest platform for business ever (the USA) and your ability to make another dollar. Think I’m overreacting? Place your bet carefully.

Love Your Wall

Keep an eye on this website. http://www.icynene.com/

It's a building material used for insulation. I just did a shoot for the product here in Cleveland, entitled "love your wall". Thankfully it can't get onto TV, nor can it be plastered onto billboards. But it very well might be everywhere else. I brought my own tool belt, well used as you faithful few can attest, and I made silly love to a wall. This crazy silliness pays a lot. Shakespeare, not so much. Which is more difficult? Guess. Does capitalism work? Yes, to a degree, as we are now seeing. Is there a better system, that values cultivated skill over goofy histrionics in service of a cheap laugh or selling stuff? You bet. We just haven't been smart enough to invent it yet. Well, we invented capitalism four or five hundred years ago (not so very long). We have the capacity to invent something better. But there are many many people who can't see the forest because it is obscured by the trees.
Time to get the chain saw.