I attended the Powerdown Circle last night and it got me thinking about the ethics of this crisis again. We discussed the fear of death and suffering caused by injustice. Death is a natural thing, but to have it be the result of injustice is something that most of us never have to deal with in our personal lives. One of the things I brought up was that I am the one profiting from the injustice. If things are to be recitified I am the one who must suffer. It is not me alone, of course, but the wealthy as a whole who are living on the backs of others.

This is the current situation. As the global economey falters many who are now well to do will find themselves sturgling. I myself am definatly reciving a "subsity" from the impoverishment of the world, but I am not wealthy enough to buy property or otherwise secure myself and my family for the future. What can I do, in the face of injustice and limited time, to help myself?

My current tact is to "get ahead" - to make money as quickly as possible in order to buy property and begin forming community as soon as possible. I tend to view our current economey as intrinsicly unjust, it was mentioned in our discussion circle that if you buy your food with dollars your meal is subsidized by suffering. While that is very bleak I tend to agree. But in the face of Peak Resources, there is another problem. By trying to 'get ahead' I am burning up even more quickly the very resources whos depletion I am preparing for. In my own small way I am playing a game of "Last One Standing" - can I get a little higher on the rigging before the whole ship sinks?

On the other hand, I tell myself that because I am not wealthy I have no option but to continue to engauge in the economic system. I cannot 'buy my way out' right now, but have to keep making dollars just to keep myself stationary. I could accept a very reduced standard of living and be mostly clear of the economic system, but to do so would put me in a position of dependancy on the excess of our society. I would have no means of supporting myself and would thus have to rely on such things as dumpsterdiving to feed and clothe myself. If things get bad I will have to compete for thoes resources with people in a more favorable position (thoes who did not opt out of the system as early as I) and will quickly be driven away.

I could also try to use my skills to find a position where I trade work directly for food and housing. This is a good option but there are very few of these situations and they unstable because so many people, many of whom are more stilled than I, will be looking for them in the future. I also cannot shelter my family in this case as I will be beholden to the people I am in the agreement with.

So, what is the appropriate response? Drop out or buy in while you still can? I am chosing the latter option and have thought about it alot. Anyone else have ideas?

-Will in Mt Tabor