It is natural to ask the question, “When will things get better?” However, that could be a very misleading question. It is not difficult a stretch to claim that values of consumerism were pervasive, but not sustainable. The consequence was the creation of a consumer-based economy that was dependent on people living beyond their means, supported by easy credit. As credit dried up, house values and retire accounts decreased, so did purchasing. So, when will things get better? To have purchasing power as widespread as it is now, it will take another period of irresponsible lending and purchasing. So… is that better?

In times of great stress the opportunity for great change is also possible. We are in a period of change far greater than just a new political direction, but an overall re-shaping of our economy and how we work together. My hope while everything seems to be going wrong is that we both rediscover the values of community and cultivate a new ethic of service. Going out will shift from restaurants to potlucks, child-care will move from McDonald-like centers to local community parents, and our private skills will be reciprocally shared with neighbors. These examples just scratch the surface. In general, we will be forced to be more creative and interconnected when we can no longer outsource as many parts of our life. This is how things will get better.

As this is my first post for the blog, here are my goals. 1. Post at least weekly 2. Advance my half-baked out ideas and at least articulate my quarter-baked ones 3. Identify ambiguities that should be actively considered 4. Challenge assumptions of social debates 5. Explore how new technology is being leveraged to get people more involved with the decision that influence their lives.

On another note – I am thankful to the grad students at ASU who are putting together this web site and mobilizing on their own. Each year the community here continues to mature and innovate – keep it up.