Mayer Hillman Mayer Hillman, Senior Fellow Emeritus, Policy Studies Institute, supplies a regular 'Hillman's Musings' column to the Institute for Social Inventions. After all, we seem prepared to forego very little of what we see as hard-earned improvements in our quality of life even when it is becoming apparent that that may lead to ecological disaster. Indeed, we seem to avoid enquiring or caring about what is going on lest it affect our dedication to pursuing hedonistic practices. Although, in general, the wider public interest is the inspiration for proposed changes in policy, the main thrust of our reaction to hearing about them is to effectively set aside that interest and focus solely on evaluating the effect on our own situation.
Examples are all too easy to cite.
Thus, there is a complementary instinct within us that reflects an awareness of the desirability of demonstrating that we are prepared to share what we have and to curb our selfishness. This no doubt accounts for the remarkable lack of opposition to concessions made to senior citizens in the form of subsidised fares, winter fuel payments or lowered entry charges to public places. It seems increasingly likely that the early years of the new millennium are going to reveal far less opportunity for ignoring the wider social and environmental consequences of our actions. What will distinguish it assuredly is the essentiality of our coming to terms with the finite nature of the planet and its resources, particularly fossil fuels. There is sufficient evidence to show that technology will not be able to deliver the degree of change that would allow the world's population to adopt western lifestyles.