When I hear the stock market has fallen,
I say, “Long live gravity! Long live
stupidity, error, and greed in the palaces
of fantasy capitalism!” I think
an economy should be based on thrift,
on taking care of things, not on theft,
usury, seduction, waste, and ruin.
-from Some Further Words by Wendell Berry
I’ve been mulling these words over for the past week. These words are abrupt and forceful, yet I find them captivating. What do you think?
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February 17, 2009 at 8:53 pm
giraffemilkshake
i have to agree. it seems like the stock market crash was caused by dishonest business practices. it seems that our current economic troubles have been caused by dishonest business practices. it seems that people don’t really learn very well.
February 17, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Maria
I’m not sure those who are working so hard to “stimulate” an economic recovery would see it Berry’s way, but the words to resonate with me. At the very least, those of us who profess to belong to a different kingdom have the chance to see behind the curtain at what makes our economy tick — and choose to live a life based on thrift and stewardship.
February 19, 2009 at 9:46 am
scochenour
I don’t think I’ve ever been attracted to such a polarizing figure. Berry is the type of person who is so consistent in what he believes, that his beliefs are hard to dismiss simply for that reason. I suppose that if someone just reads these words it is easy to dismiss him as a wacko. “Sure buddy, you go find a system of government that isn’t driven by greed.”
There was an SNL skit (I think) I saw recently about an infomercial for a guys book. It was titled “Don’t buy things you cant afford.” It was a pretty funny skit. The guy in the skit said that his step to finical freedom was one step, not buying something that you can’t afford. I remember thinking that there was such truth to it, but I think a bunch of people took it as something meant to be funny. “Sure buddy, like I’m just going to not buy something that I don’t have the money for. That’s not the real world.”