The Two Definitions of Economy
Our definition of economy has changed from what the term means environmentally. Currently our working system does not match the appropriate, natural definition- it is the exact opposite. Here are the two primary definitions of economy, courtesy of Google:
- the wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services. Synonyms: wealth, (financial) resources
- careful management of available resources. Synonyms: thrift, thriftiness, providence, prudence, careful budgeting, economizing, saving, scrimping, restraint, frugality. Antonyms: extravagance
"even heat distribution and fuel economy"
It is obvious that our current state of affairs is more focused on the first definition of economy: the wealth of resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services. Unfortunately, it is in stark contrast with the environmental definition: the careful management of available resources. We live in a world that worships the antonym of economy, extravagance.
From an objective view, we are truly pathological, compulsive, and obsessive. A species that sees its environment as envisions how much it can get out of it. We literally measure our success by how much we gain- with unlimited upper bounds. And round and round we go, fiscal year after fiscal year. We idolize those who are financially successful, striving towards financial success as a culture. We measure ourselves using the financial definition of economy, in terms of GDP and financial metrics. Our idea of a "healthy economy" is actually, in reality, producing massive sickness and disease for ourselves and our environment. Financial health is the antithesis of natural health.
Our perspective as a culture is highly interior. We live in boxes (local, state, and federal), watch boxes (smart phone, tv, computer), consume boxes of prepackaged goods- and anything that comes in a box is available at a competitive price. We measure our success on balance sheets and other made up interior metrics. It is time we look outside ourselves and view the world and environment as a whole that we live with. We are all stuck on this rock long term and it's time we started acting like we're gonna be around for a while.