We are living in an age of abundance, we have lots of no-fee services online, we have clothes that can be bought at a lower price, some countries are able to get products at lower cost, and something basic like some places having such abundant rain and sunshine (material for a future post).
But we humans, or the organizations formed by humans, or the people who were chosen to represent these organizations, are a funny lot. We seem to need to complain or try to fix something that we can otherwise be thankful about. In the case of a search provider providing very useful services and being one of the best in class in the products it offers, a lot of it fully functional at at no cost to users, an organization comprising of many nations tries to penalize it for providing services without charge to its users by default on smartphones. Of course this would be an easy fix, just don't install the services there by default, the users can then install or bring it up themselves, and they probably would, considering the products are pretty well made and quite easy to use. The multi-nation-organization could at least have given the company a chance to rectify their complaints instead of immediately levying a huge fine on them. If the multi-nation-organization needs money, the generous company would probably have gladly given them a grant for a worthy project if they asked nicely.
Speaking about grants, the multi-nation-organization offers it's own grants to developing countries, some of which were refused by the president of one such developing country. Another case of abundance being refused for one reason or another, reasons that are not representative of the developing-country's constituents.
The multi-nation-organization does one thing right though, they put importance on the security/privacy of user data.
Then there are the companies that are destroying their own products because they have too much, which is such a waste. Think of all the time and effort that went into designing, making, coloring, sowing, cutting, manufacturing, testing, tagging, promoting that went into the item, that are all just burned up. There's a valid reason to destroy or recycle an item that is defective or bad, but not one that can be of beneficial use and valued by someone. It would have been better to let someone get a good deal on a product from their prestigious brand, use it, promote it and enjoy using it. It would be like spending money on marketing and advertisements. They could learn a thing or two from those companies offering no-fee services, and doing them efficiently.
Another instance of abundance met with discontent is the case of the world superpower leader that is complaining that other countries are exporting products to their countries at a lower price. It is understandable, as the leader of that country wants to bring back manufacturing jobs to its citizens. Thing is, as a consequence of sin, we humans have had to work to keep things working, keep existing assets from evaporating or to put food on the table. There is actually a lot of tasks out there that need to be done, many problems that need to be solved, many things that can be learned, much wisdom to be acquired, many things to be planted and harvested, much livestock to be raised, many processes to be made healthy and non-toxic, such that there is little reason to want jobs (or votes) so badly at the risk of alienating trade partners and making things more expensive for people at home. Even before the first sin of disobedience, Adam in the Bible already had a job, of naming animals and exploring his surroundings. Going back to lower-cost products, the superpower nation's citizens are already so lucky to be able to get products at a good price. Many of these products are much more expensive in other countries. We do not realize what we have until we lose it. We should be thanking these countries that sell at lower prices, if the reason they could do this is because they could do things more efficiently or because they have a larger workforce, we should be thanking those who sell grain even when prices are low and do not hoard them until the prices go up.
Another example of a useful job that can help solve the issue above, is being able to manage supply lines and manufacturing quantities, and getting sought-for items to where they are needed, so that the producer of the product would not be accused of dumping, but instead be lauded as someone who provides a needed item at a good price. It is not an easy job, to exactly determine where and how many of an item is needed at a certain time as well as keeping the right amount of stock on hand.
The one good thing about higher prices for non-necessity goods is that it would be more sustainable and less damaging to the environment. Another important note is to keep food and shelter at a lower cost so that people are not too hard up
Many of these decisions are made by persons assigned to represent the populace. But are they really making choices that the majority agree with? Or are they just making things more difficult for the people they represent?
It is hard to be a leader, and we need to support our leaders and pray for them, that they would make the right decisions, and lead organizations towards a better, healthier, friendlier, God-approved future.
But we humans, or the organizations formed by humans, or the people who were chosen to represent these organizations, are a funny lot. We seem to need to complain or try to fix something that we can otherwise be thankful about. In the case of a search provider providing very useful services and being one of the best in class in the products it offers, a lot of it fully functional at at no cost to users, an organization comprising of many nations tries to penalize it for providing services without charge to its users by default on smartphones. Of course this would be an easy fix, just don't install the services there by default, the users can then install or bring it up themselves, and they probably would, considering the products are pretty well made and quite easy to use. The multi-nation-organization could at least have given the company a chance to rectify their complaints instead of immediately levying a huge fine on them. If the multi-nation-organization needs money, the generous company would probably have gladly given them a grant for a worthy project if they asked nicely.
Speaking about grants, the multi-nation-organization offers it's own grants to developing countries, some of which were refused by the president of one such developing country. Another case of abundance being refused for one reason or another, reasons that are not representative of the developing-country's constituents.
The multi-nation-organization does one thing right though, they put importance on the security/privacy of user data.
Then there are the companies that are destroying their own products because they have too much, which is such a waste. Think of all the time and effort that went into designing, making, coloring, sowing, cutting, manufacturing, testing, tagging, promoting that went into the item, that are all just burned up. There's a valid reason to destroy or recycle an item that is defective or bad, but not one that can be of beneficial use and valued by someone. It would have been better to let someone get a good deal on a product from their prestigious brand, use it, promote it and enjoy using it. It would be like spending money on marketing and advertisements. They could learn a thing or two from those companies offering no-fee services, and doing them efficiently.
Another instance of abundance met with discontent is the case of the world superpower leader that is complaining that other countries are exporting products to their countries at a lower price. It is understandable, as the leader of that country wants to bring back manufacturing jobs to its citizens. Thing is, as a consequence of sin, we humans have had to work to keep things working, keep existing assets from evaporating or to put food on the table. There is actually a lot of tasks out there that need to be done, many problems that need to be solved, many things that can be learned, much wisdom to be acquired, many things to be planted and harvested, much livestock to be raised, many processes to be made healthy and non-toxic, such that there is little reason to want jobs (or votes) so badly at the risk of alienating trade partners and making things more expensive for people at home. Even before the first sin of disobedience, Adam in the Bible already had a job, of naming animals and exploring his surroundings. Going back to lower-cost products, the superpower nation's citizens are already so lucky to be able to get products at a good price. Many of these products are much more expensive in other countries. We do not realize what we have until we lose it. We should be thanking these countries that sell at lower prices, if the reason they could do this is because they could do things more efficiently or because they have a larger workforce, we should be thanking those who sell grain even when prices are low and do not hoard them until the prices go up.
Another example of a useful job that can help solve the issue above, is being able to manage supply lines and manufacturing quantities, and getting sought-for items to where they are needed, so that the producer of the product would not be accused of dumping, but instead be lauded as someone who provides a needed item at a good price. It is not an easy job, to exactly determine where and how many of an item is needed at a certain time as well as keeping the right amount of stock on hand.
The one good thing about higher prices for non-necessity goods is that it would be more sustainable and less damaging to the environment. Another important note is to keep food and shelter at a lower cost so that people are not too hard up
Many of these decisions are made by persons assigned to represent the populace. But are they really making choices that the majority agree with? Or are they just making things more difficult for the people they represent?
It is hard to be a leader, and we need to support our leaders and pray for them, that they would make the right decisions, and lead organizations towards a better, healthier, friendlier, God-approved future.
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