Goal 16:Develop new goals in life less dependent upon material rewards.ObstaclesThe developed world has moved away from a static economy based upon agriculture and inherited land to one based upon the production of material goods. The owners of capital expect to receive a yield on their investments which includes a growth component. Any attempt to restrict the growth of materialism will be resisted by the investor class. As more workers become part owners in firms (either directly or through retirement funds) they will also take on characteristics of the investor class. Finding an alternative "lifestyle" model means getting into "The meaning of life" discussions.The world will not be able to continue with its consumerist/capitalist model much longer. The "haves" already consume too much for a sustainable planet to exist. The underdeveloped world wants to have what the rich do and meeting their demands is also infeasible. They do have legitimate claims for a better standard of living. Balancing these conflicting needs means that universal solutions will not be acceptable. ImplementationFor much of the history of the world societies have existed where the values most cherished concerned family, tradition, artistic expression and ceremony. With the rise of mass production these goals have been deemphasized and replaced with the pursuit of material wealth. Most people have very little in their daily lives that represents their own personal expression. Much effort is expended by advertisers to equate purchasing with self realization. With the continual increase in population and the rapid exhaustion of key raw materials this paradigm will not be sustainable. Many have turned to organized religion as a way to add some meaning and community to their lives, but many of the most successful of the new denominations appeal to material wealth as a goal as well.If we can expect an increase in the amount of non-work time, society will need to develop fulfilling activities for people to participate in. While this probably should be a privately sponsored goal, it is clear that government can play a role as well. Most new sports and cultural centers are built with public assistance, either in the form of tax rebates, loans, or contributions of infrastructure development like roads. Deliberate policies such as funding of national arts endowments can foster the rise of new organizations that will improve the quality of life without as much dependence on the purchase of physical items. Perhaps electronic distribution of intellectual property will become a dominant avenue. Ray Bradbury in "Fahrenheit 451" envisaged personalized soap operas playing in the home in which the characters seemed to be members of one's own family. On-line communities, personal publishing and the like may allow for self expression and satisfying communities without the expenses previously associated with print, video and audio distribution. |