When More Is TOO Much…

On March 28, 2021, the Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in the world, became lodged sideways between the sides of the Suez Canal, blocking all traffic for six days. On May 18, 2022, PBS presented an excellent explanation of the incident in the NOVA series: “Why Ships Crash.” For most of us here on the opposite side of the world from the Suez Canal and at an even greater financial distance from the titans of industry, the accident was merely an annoying curiosity. For many, it was a financial disaster. But I’m sure I wasn’t the only viewer who couldn’t help asking, “Why? Why does a ship have to be that big?” The limitations of the Suez Canal aren’t the only drawbacks. We use fewer workers to transport more goods.

We live in an industrial society of more. Regardless of the almost inconceivable profits being collected by many multi-national corporations, the society wants more—and faster. Of course, the mind numbing profits don’t make it down to the consumers, but clever advertising convinces us that we the customers will be wanting somehow if we can’t afford more. We judge success by money and lots and lots of stuff—electronics, items for convenience, drugs—both prescription and personal needs, cars, entertainment, homes, and more. People who can’t always make their rent or mortgage payments still have pricey cell phones and maybe streaming services.

The psychology of more often permeates our educational systems. Teachers struggle to improve student scores on tests devised by corporations in a desperate effort to make students become more productive as adults—better, more pliant consumers of more. The ancient days when scholarship was designed to create better minds—stronger character and integrity, a person better able to cope with the demands of living while sustaining mental/emotional balance, healthy relationships, and a sense of personal pride and empathy—those days are nearly forgotten. What was all that talk about personal responsibility, anyway? In some areas, parents are glad their children aren’t encouraged to think for themselves beyond the tests in case they disagree with the family line. For them, more conformity is a desirable goal. We build ever larger schools to shuffle more young bodies into graduation. “You’ll earn more with a degree,” we promise the students, although the advantage is slim or none for many. Lots of young adults learn they aren’t good enough. They need to be more. Suicide rates soar.

What horror would arise if we truly did cut back on what we think we need? For example, what if clothes were about being flattering and/or practical instead of trendy? I’ve known more than one woman who permanently damaged her feet by wearing masochistic shoes—not only one pair but more and more. And why does our refuse include a glut of discarded clothing with nowhere to go? We needed more—newer, more fashionable.

Perhaps we need to take a deep breath, pause, and examine our priorities. Colorado recently realized that increasing the size of their major highways would be only a temporary fix, if that. More cars wouldn’t mitigate the air pollution at all, and more wouldn’t move more smoothly, either. Instead, the governor is planning to redirect the funds that had been earmarked for bigger roads to more sustainable mass transportation—that would also be less damaging to the land and its people. We need new ideas that aren’t bigger but better. We can change if we think about it.