1 Thing

I have an idea and it's definitely not bad.
It's called a Regional Economy.
Hopefully, we get to see it sometime in the near future and I see it as not unlikely.
In case you haven't looked or paid attention (probably? not), the economy has mostly become based on making things as simple and easy for you or the "consumer."
There are some problems with this.

1 Is that everything gets shipped (cross country often) right to your door, lots of pollution and a transportation mess is involved in this operation.

2 Is that you/we basically work as hard as clicking a "mouse" to get some goods you might want. There is next to zero effort connected to such means. Here's an example. I am sitting around at 6 pm on a Wednesday night and decide "Hey, I would love to have some m&m's." Now this is highly basic, but now decisions such as walking two blocks or riding a bike through some fresh air! to the local grocer have turned into a casual dilemma of perhaps ordering a ton of m&m's from Mars direct so we can have plenty of m&m's for the next time we may have a chocolate and candy craving. so a ton of m&m's get loaded on a dock in Atlanta and get brought to one's door in Seattle or Sante Fe or Bismarck or who even cares. There are tone of byproducts to such decisions that my hope is I do not have to underline. Anyways, this happens with diapers and toilet paper and cosmetics and bottled water and EVERYTHING today - thanks Amazon!! Now, it is not all bad as it is providing jobs and simplifying things to a degree for consumers but as things become simpler and simpler, be careful. The planet is probably exhibit 1.0 as to how these acts we participate in have an unintentional effect (yes, I am not blaming you - or anyone). But we have to do better. We just do. Me and you and you and you. So stop becoming so disconnected and attempt to refocus if necessary. I guarantee it can be done. We're never really lost but we have passed a frightening tipping point and it will be our burden to carry going forward, perhaps sooner before later.

There are more unfortunate byproducts of this trending economy, which is like a perilously floundering fish to use a metaphor, but I am done writing for now. Let's shape it and make it better? And think twice or maybe even three times about what we do? It's possible, but it might take some additional effort or an extra 5 minutes. Here we go.