Man Power

There are plenty of people in the world, but only so much oil. For the past 125 years or so we have been replacing man power with oil power. Look where that has gotten us. We are currently residents of a planet whose ecosystems teeter on the brink of collapse. 

It is about time we started to realize that real wealth comes through the earth vicariously from the sun  and the way to sustainably harness that wealth is with MAN power. Man can and has sustained himself (fed, clothed, and housed himself) for thousands of years, without the benefit of fossil fuels. During that time he enjoyed much in the way of comfort, luxury, culture and joy. We are often lead to believe that life before fossil fuels was cold, dark and miserable. This is a gross exaggeration. The Romans had indoor plumbing, hot baths and mosaic tiles. And modern central heating predates the use of oil furnaces. 

I won't deny that it is nice to be able to come home and simply flip a switch and have light and heat. But there is much to be said for heating with wood, for the process of getting the wood warms you more than once and provides you with exercise unlike any that you can ever get in a gym. The fresh air and connection to nature can't be matched by half an hour on a tread mill.   

Sure if we feed ourselves and cloth our selves and warm ourselves with the labor of our backs and arms we will spend more time engaged in the process of taking care of ourselves. But we will also love ourselves more, be closer to nature, and more considerate of her needs and the needs of our own bodies and the needs of our families. And I'll bet you we'll be happier. We'll find more time for making music than for just listening to it. We'll find more time for telling stories than just being entertained by whatever crap is being broadcast over the airwaves. 

It is time to remember that we are men and women and that when we turn over the processes of making our food and clothing, shelter and warmth to machines we take something away from what it means to be human.
And when we treat other people like they are machines, and exploit them and don't give the fair exchange for their labor we take even more away from our humanity. It is time to regain our humanity by recovering our connection with the earth and with one another, by treating both mother nature and one another with respect and honor.  

It's time to remember that the power of man lies in manpower and that that power comes from the earth, therefore it is in our best interest to travel lightly.