The end of the world as we know it, or cultural renaissance? You decide.

The paradox between the economic disaster of the 1930s-40s and the flowering of cultural achievement in that era has been often commented upon. We get writers like Henry Miller, Ernest Hemingway, Zora Neale Hurston, TS Elliot, ee cummings, Langston Hughes, etc... And artistic movements from documentary realism to expressionism and surrealism. Not to mention the music, this was the golden age of Jazz/swing and the first time marginal genres like folk and country received much wider appreciation. And the same goes for Hollywood and theater in general. How did so much artistic creation rise out of the wide-spread poverty and despair of the first great depression?

There are many answers to that question. For example, there were WPA programs like the Federal Theater Project that funded local theater groups. There was no TV, so people were more likely to get out of their houses in search for entertainment. And 1933 saw the end of prohibition, making night clubs and dance halls possible.  

Beyond the misery produced by such economic downturns, there are other less negative effects as well. When business is slow, or non-existent, people may have more time on their hands. More time to think and create and/or more time to appreciate music, art, theater and writing--the former may also be encouraged by economic imperative, the latter motivated by a desire to escape the confines of their situation. 

Today, our cable TV and the internet are a mixed blessing. These are relatively inexpensive sources of endless entertainment, which can be a good thing when you are too broke to go out. But they are also easy, habit-forming options for unimaginative, and this could wind up being a detriment to the growth of our cultural resources, and a drag on the recovery of the economy as a whole.  But, who knows, perhaps folks will take their economic stimulus (in the form of paycheck tax reductions) and go buy a book, see a theater production or a band--supporting the artistic rebirth of the early millennium, an historical event that our great grandchildren will point to as evidence of our collective cultural sophistication and elan.  

Great Depression 2.0: time to get organized!

Freemarketeers are as obsolete as my old Commodore 64 (RIP). The "free" market, based as it is on speculation, exploitation and private ownership, cannot operate when the future is bleak, jobs are being lost by the millions, homes are falling into foreclosure and cars are being repossessed at historic rates (1.5 million cars and trucks in 2008, up 12% from 2007). From an social and economic standpoint, 2008 was a train wreck. To top off the dismal performance of the stock market, skyrocketing foreclosure rates and unemployment figures, it turns out that retail sales were down in December--double their projected fall to 2.7%. Retailers call the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" because this is the symbolic start of the holiday shopping season and the time of year when retailer first start to see profits (out of the red and into the black). With sales down 2.7% in December, it can be expected that many retailers would not have seen a profit in 2008--and with the credit markets still frozen, we should expect to see more stores closing up in the ensuing months. This leads to even more job cuts and the spiral downward continues. What is to be done?

1) Volunteerism: the more goods and services people are willing to donate to community projects, the better we'll be able to stave off the deleterious social and economic effects of the current crisis. People are already needed to staff food drives, soup kitchens and community shelters--the demand for dedicated individuals will only grow as the economy sinks.

2) Cooperative ownership of businesses: A business venture may be more feasible during economic turmoil if the rewards and risks more evenly spread across the business. This provides incentives for higher productivity in times of plenty and can entail greater job security in times of scarcity.

3) Community organizing: Government won't be able to assess or address the varied existential needs that will arise in the months to come in a timely enough manner. Communities need to organize and implement solutions to their problems. During times of economic uncertainty these issues will invariably include: unemployment, shortfalls in health care, poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, municipal transit, availability of nutritious food, crime and corruption in government... Community groups can form a bridge between a slow and possibly inadequate governmental response and eventual economic recovery.

4) Local initiatives to vie for government largess. If local government fails to address local needs, then community organizations can float initiatives for funding through other channels (state, federal, private, or through religious organizations).

Needs are only going to increase, as will the pressures of social disintegration--communities can and should take charge of these issues now. Check out http://www.volunteermatch.org/ to find organizations in your area to join. If you don't have any that meet your concern, organize one!

Trickle up economy

There are many good arguments for buying from locally owned businesses. The foremost is that your dollar goes much further in strengthening your community's economic base when you skip the Big Box or chain store and buy from a local retailer (see this summary of several recent studies). In the current economic crisis, supporting your community's economy is even more crucial. Vital communities  require a diverse range of businesses to maintain higher wages, yet local businesses are the most vulnerable in this economic climate. 

One reason for buying local has not generally been discussed (here's a list of the more persuasive arguments). Instead of waiting for bankrupt state governments, or the often ineffectual federal government, to fix the global economic tailspin, economically vigorous communities can contribute to a global solution through their philanthropy, sustainable socioeconomic models and their tax contributions (Big Box stores often receive tax breaks that border on the criminal). 

So, when you make the effort to bypass one-stop shopping, or the convenience of the drive-thru chain restaurant, and buy local, you are not only strengthening your community's economy in ways that will ultimately reward you--you are also making a contribution to the institutions of state and federal governance that, like it or not, are key for stabilizing the overall economy.