by rdf
Fri Dec 5th, 2008 at 05:38:29 AM EST
The employment situation in the US is getting dire and even people like Paul Krugman are getting worried. He wonders what projects could be ramped up quickly to provide a counter to the drop in economic activity.
Here's my suggestion: more dancing in the streets.
Another intriguing suggestion from rdf. With a small edit. -- Jérôme
The Obama inauguration is bring over a million people to Washington. Think of all the economic activity this is generating - transport, lodging and meals, crowd support and media and the sale of souvenirs. The bars and restaurants in the inner district are going to be allowed to stay up 24 hours a day for the four days surrounding the event.
Just before this we will have worldwide celebrations over the new year. We need to use these events as models for part of the new economic system I've been advocating. One based less on "stuff" and more on community.
This means more ceremonies, more sports and cultural events, more amateur activities and so on. Done right the cost doesn't have to be very great in material terms. Not every event has to be a Madonna-sized concert. Furthermore there is no real limit on how much of this can go on. It's true that any individual can only participate in a limited number of activities because of time and monetary constraints, but there are millions of people whose only source of entertainment is TV.
This is isolating, they need to get out of the house more!
So more dancing in the streets as way to pull us out of economic (or at least, psychological) doldrums.
