The times I really enjoy myself are when I am creating something; writing, drawing or photography because at those times I can work slowly and do something of quality instead of quantity.
The working world focuses on quantity at the expense of quality. I think it is time, and wise, to get back to work based on quality.
We over produce. Every day grocery stores throw out enough food to feed several cities. There are huge automobile graveyards filled with brand new cars that no one can use. Doctors allot 15 minutes or less to each patient. There is no time to focus on one task and do it well, nor to take time. There are unreasonable quotas and deadlines and for what? Do we need to produce 10,000 Teslas in a week that there is no demand for? Do we need to poison our land with chemicals to produce food we throw out?
We need to produce less. Perhaps even take a lesson from some book publishers – create on demand. That is, you order something and it is made for you, it does not exist until there is a demand for it. Talk about saving resources! Do you know what happens to books that don’t sell in a bookstore? They throw them out! In the garbage!
We manufacture appliances and equipment so that they wear out in a short space of time so we have to buy new. There is hype over the latest and greatest, new telephones and tablets every year – seriously – do we need that? How many gizmos and gadgets do we use on those wasteful items? Why such a big deal over electronic devices? Devices that are difficult to recycle. Telephones and cars and appliances were built to last not so long ago and were not over produced.
I read an article claiming we need more agricultural land and grow more crops because our population is growing. We don’t need more agricultural land – we need to make better use of the crops we have – as in don’t grow so much and better distribute what we have – oh I know – politics! Look what happened when Bob Geldof tried to feed the starving Ethiopians. You should read his autobiography sometime (Is That It?)
Not so long ago the slow food movement began, advocating eating our meals more slowly, and actually enjoying the experience. Well, I say we need a slow hands movement (I am not talking dirty, take your mind out of the gutter please). I am advocating working for quality and not quantity. Spending time talking to people and creating things of value that last. Taking our time. Not over producing for those fat cats called shareholders who demand more and more money. Abolish quotas and deadlines. Manufacture on demand. Recycle everything. Use our brains and talents, skills and experience, education and brilliance for saving our world and ourselves, and stop making more damn telephones, crap cars and junk.