The FT has reported this morning that:
UK retail sales experienced their “worst June on record”, according to a key industry body, as uncertainty over Brexit continued to affect the economy.
Total sales fell 1.3 per cent year-on-year in June, compared with a year-on-year increase of 2.3 per cent in June 2018, according to the monthly retail sales monitor from the British Retail Consortium, the industry lobby group, and the consultancy KPMG.
Of course this matters: there are clear signs that there will be economic stress in the UK economy, and Brexit will only make it worse as time goes on.
But there is another issue here. And that is that if we are to face the climate crisis we need to consume less, or at least better, so that our needs are met, but in ways that are consistent with survival with life on earth, which current consumer spending patterns are not.
The new real is that by the standards we have had, and of growth in GDP in particular, we are killing ourselves as sure as junkies solely dedicated to the next fix. That means that the new real requires that we accept that declining consumer sales are very good news. But that also means that the new real has to look at something quite different, which is the quality of what we are buying, and its durability.
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In addition to durability items should also be repairable. This should be extended to software such as Microsoft XP, why should I and every one be forced to buy a new computer and replace all the software just for the supplier to make more profit. My existing engineering design program is suffering from extended redrawing time so I ordered the new version and this will not work on my XP machine. This seems too much of a coincidence.
This will need enforceable regulations.
The drug addiction analogy works well on several levels. Addicts are usually in denial – and it’s not until they hit rock bottom do they ‘awaken’. In the meantime many appear to lead quite ‘normal’ lives, depending on the drug of their choice. The City is supposedly the cocaine capital of the world. And heroin is now cheaper on the streets than cigarettes (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-48800675).
Translated into the macro-economy the global Neo-liberal ‘establishement’ are the pushers & dealers. And as with their narcotic equivalents they need to be bought to justice and locked up for the greater good & safety of society. But who’s going to do that when the gatekeepers and criminals are from the same Mafia families? Therein lies the challenge for the future of our society. Short of mass resistance on a global scale I can’t see any other viable ‘change process’ on the current horizon, with the risk of violence never far away.
Interpreting the news on a daily basis it does seem like the new Alt-right/Conservative Neo-liberal alliance is colluding to bring about some form of dystopian New World Order either by intent or out of ignorance. Maybe that’s a touch melodramatic but it’s difficult to see any quick & meaningful reversal of trends anywhere. The Greek election result is just another step in the wrong direction.
Barista Рun caff̬ molto forte per favore.
Make it two….
“…new real requires that we accept that declining consumer sales are very good news.”
Hmmm…. don’t think so Richard, unless the reason for declining sales has to do with declining demand. I don’t believe this to be the case. The demand is there, but the money is not; symptomatic of the gross inequality of distribution of both income and wealth.
Those with oodles of boodle want for nothing and those that do want have inadequate income. It’s the neoliberal reductio ad absurdam in play, where all the money belongs to the one ‘Monopoly’ player and the board ends up on the floor under the sideboard along with the little plastic knick-knacks which end up in the hoover.
The demand needs to change too
Some clearly need more
But many need to consume less
Changing the rules on advertising yachts could help that
“Changing the rules on advertising yachts could help that”
Why not make it illegal for people to own one?
Because as yet I do not think that necessary
From the perspective of someone now in the throes of burying an elderly deceased parent, the economic and ecological issues are important but I would just like to highlight that other aspects of our society remain in grave danger (no pun intended). I’m talking about adult social care.
My mother (who was beginning to show signs of dementia but had a long history of alcohol abuse) was going into care and was assessed at a fantastic facility in Boughton, Nottinghamshire. There, she was given her own room and looked after by people of high calibre but were greatly under valued I felt by society (mostly women, but black Africans are on the staff too).
The place was spotless, well designed, quiet and orderly with staff interacting with residents – they had Mum smiling and relaxing very quickly. Yet this facility is to be closed down by Nottinghamshire County Council next year because the authority ‘has no money’ and all the staff (who always offer you a cup of tea when you visit) will be made redundant.
Personally I find this really shocking. No doubt some property developer will get their hands on the site for some expensive executive homes or some cut throat private provider mighty step in (Who? Most seem to be getting out of this sort of provision).
Yes – the climate and sustainability issues are important but it seems to me that we are also losing the means and the will to care for each other and to value that as well.
And all the Tories can think of is Boris whilst having tremendous fun wreaking havoc in our country
And all too many of the population can think of is other things. Take for example my brother with whom I have been working to deal with our Mum. He thinks the biggest issue of the moment is the spread of extreme Islam when I’m afraid it is the Tories who are the extremists – they’re the ones we should be concerned with.
However you look at it, we still losing so much at the moment whilst BREXIT and Tory leadership shenanigans etc., take up the spotlight.
We’ve had outrageous Government for far too long; we now need courageous Government in the vein of Richard’s book. But I do not see a potential one anywhere. It feels very grim.
PSR
This is why the GND has to be about creating the new society we cant – and not just tinkering at the edges to keep the rotten system we have going, which is impossible, come what may
I hope all goes well
Richard
Yes – by all means – GND could do that. My point is however, how much more are we going to lose before the penny drops? Nothing is abating the degradation of our society under these damned God-forsaken Tories.
They persist.
Agreed