Austin can survive just fine without multinational corporations that pay high salaries. Many Austinites would rather have some free time than a big salary. Big companies are generous with money and stingy with leisure time. It's time to slow down, think small, and become less attractive to outsiders. There are now six billion people on earth, consuming away like mad and destroying other species.
Every city considers growth a sign of health and prosperity.
But this is a mistake. Now that it's clear how catastrophic growth and overconsumption can be, let's slow down. Let's encourage local businesses, not multinationals. Let's stop closing local music clubs. Let's stop building and widening roads to facilitate mindless zooming.