So reading about the new $5,000 paper house gets me excited. The problem is that is seems like all of the interesting new ideas outthere never reallly happen. I think this has to do with the lack of integral thinking and the inability of developed markets to incorporate new ideas. The places that can afford easily to do something like this won’t let it happen.
Every person with a large yard could erect one or even five of these nice little units in a short time. I see a benefit for the homeless for sure, but I also see a benefit for those that just don’t want to start running on the hedonic treadmill, yet don’t have an alternative. Lets say that before you buy your first house or first car someone explained that with $10,000 you could have a house (shelter), bike (transportation), nourishment and health insurance for a year.
The big question now for this person is what do you WANT to do for work knowing that you NEED $5,000 – $10,000 per year not $50,000. This changes everything, but the question is will the dominate system let it happen. I am worried that the answer is no, but I would love to be proved wrong.
Oh and what I would really love to see is ten of these little units inside a commercial green house on an acre of land with permaculture gardens and cottage industries on site. This is the future, if we will let it happen.
Steve Valenta said,
January 20, 2009 at 4:18 am
This is good stuff, really good.
“…will the dominate system let it happen.” I love that question. Actually, I hate having to ask that question, but I love the answer. I love seeking to answer the question each day with a counter-culture upside down way of living our lives.
I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds. More, I want more of this stuff! What other practical things are we going to do to “make this happen!”
anewsystem said,
January 20, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Steve Valenta
I don’t think the dominate system will “let” change easily happen. If it did, it would not be dominate. I think the key is to use its energy and redirect instead of going head on. The 60s counter culture movement went head to head against the cultural wave and they wiped out. I think we need to surf the wave to a different shore.
I think that we make change by first examaining our own loops… more on those later!!
Steve Valenta said,
January 21, 2009 at 5:12 am
Wow…that’s really interesting actually. “Surf the wave to a different shore.” Reaaallly interesting.