What's the Economy for Anyway? (9/21/09)

What Is "the Economy" for Anyway?

Annie Leonard, Documentarian, The Story of Stuff
Colin Beavan, Author, No Impact Man
David Batker, Executive Director, Earth Economics
Chip Giller, Founder and President, Grist - Moderator

While the economy hums away in an uncertain environment, some people question the basic purpose of the capitalist market: to provide iPhones to the masses, or to provide food to the needy? What is the role of the government as trust in the free market falters? "No impact man" Beavan opts out of the system completely, Leonard tells us the true "story of stuff," and Batker applies economic theory toward protecting the environment. Giller, Grists "beacon in the smog," will help us unpack these perspectives and navigate the global economy what its really for and who needs it.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• commonwealth club
• capitalism
• sustainability
• consumerism

[xbowmanx]

My air conditioning was on and NO ONE WAS HOME?!?!?! OH MY GOD WHAT A TRAVESTY I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON.

[MadBadVoodo]

Lee Doren Owns Annie Leonard!!

[dwdeclare]

@MrNonintendo eventually, we are all going to have to be on the same page if we want a cleaner, more sustainable and healthier future. one where we promote critical thinking and health care for all, over profit making and commerce. one where we consider the detrimental impact that our consuming lifestyles are having on all the inhabitants of this planet. a future where we finally come to the realization that our current distribution of wealth is not only grossly unjust but patently immoral.

[MrNonintendo]

Really bad panel. Not that ecology isn't importante, but they are all on the same page. Just seems like a Greenpeace reunion and not a panel to answer the question. And they should view some libertarians solutions, because instead of changing the rules, you should erase the useless ones.

[brentisone]

We don't need better solutions, we need solutions, point.

We don't need a better lifestyle, we need a life that is valuable for us as human beings and not only as cattle to some rich and powerful interests that uses us more and ever. we don't need a "newer economy", we need al life without economist who decides for us. Quality of life is something wihich can't be mesured by materialistic needs. No rich congressman will decide in a non economic structurated way. Less work for consumptive needs.

[brentisone]

We don't need to be American or some kind of nationalist to change economic structures foisted on us be all kind of external super-powers. We have to get back and to look inside us, where we are: humans with small life exspectations and poor habits which ruins the world. We need a constructive, not nationalistc way to perform changes and there is nor more "America" who will decide for us or the rest of the world how to manage a less consumptive an less destructive lifestyle, no leaders no more!

[rafnezden1968]

Am I the first one to react to this video??

Wow!!

I think this forum is really interesting, some times funny some times slow

I also think it's pityful that only 853 people before me wacht the video in one year and nobody reacted to it, at the same time I think it's really cool that I found the Commonweath

Thaks for the vid