this is precisely true on so many levels, the ultimate trick is to do what you can... its all about supply and demand and filling the void the "hipsters" are filling a cultural void at this time, it has happened before for numerous reasons, only this time there seems to be no sense to it, it is consumerism gone wrong, brand new clothes that look like thrift store claothes, embarrassed to go to the thrift store, have a need to spend 20x's as much to look like parent's closet was raided? spending a grand for the simplest of bikes, with the "best"=most expensive components? i'm embarrassed that i've got 500 into mine just to make sure i have the correct parts...

thats the social side of the economic situation, which is why this interconected thread seems to drift alot, on the other side, we have the energy and employment swing...

the auto industry, which we all agree is flawed, has passed up the opportunity to progress and change with the times, anyone who remembers the bicentenial will remember how carter pushed for better mpg, safety, etc., now 30yrs later they admit that they had it wrong and now they want us to give them more money to catch up, just as soon as you give me one of those electric cars you took back http://http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489037/

solar power has been very successfully used in seatle, and geothermal can have nothing to do with volcanic activity since water can be pumped into the earth to provide heating and cooling while remaining in a closed environment and be used in ga, wide turbines are global and can be used in conjuction with any of the others... it is now possible to be off grid and make money from your energy production...

that being said, there is little need for an expensive infrastructure, give credits, deductions, incentives of any nature to anyone who starts to create and market and service and utilize these products instead of rewarding those who have reaped the benefits of the others who were just trying to live a little better and many of which have been the victims of corporate greed

to get out of the depression the gov't created jobs because no one else could http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ervation_Corps, today they need to sell these jobs like war bonds or stock, we should be able to grow, manufacture, bulid everything without have to rely on other countries, i might be wrong, but i thought that trade meant to share

in the mean time i keep on keepin' on... i wear what i wear because thats what i've grown accustumed to wearing (according to employment and domestic situations), its what i need and thats what i can afford, it can look hipster like, but i've been wearing it longer... i don't shop at stores that i know rely on foriegn labor for their products (walmart), unless they give greatly to the local community (target), some thing ya' can't do much about, phone/internet, but you can buy locally grown produce, grow your own, even, as mentioned on off the grid electrically, i've been with out a car for over two years, i do have access to a vehicle for the trips that can't be done by bike, but i have no car, i ride most places, to work and for exercise, heck i'v lost almost 2 ins in last 2 months, and i finally have a fixie like i wanted when i watched and rode with messengers in cleveland during college...

i feel that i'm doing what i can, what are you doing?

...oh and i love to ride