I don't agree about not essential. If we go there, sooner or later, someone will show up and say Music is not essential, and why can't everyone dress like Zuck etc.
In my country garlands for hindu ceremonies are big business. I guess that is as essential as it gets for cut flowers. However, these largely depend on local suppliers.
> someone will show up and say Music is not essential
Depends on your definition of essential, I'd argue 100% of the world population would survive just fine without music or flowers. Food is essential, water is essential, medicine is essential, shelter is essential. Some tulips imported for 2000km away aren't. I mean, do we really have to debate this ?
If we go there, sooner or later, someone will show up and say Ketchup is essential.
100% of the world population would survive just fine without music or flowers
No they wouldn't, they'd get depressed and eventually become either withdrawn or violent. I'm not arguing for a wasteful and environmentally destructive flower trade, but against your notion that mere maintenance of the biological organism is sufficient. Universals like music and flowers serve an important role in social cohesion.
Can I decide what is essential to me and you decide what is essential to you? And then if there are not enough of me, maybe I have to pay more? And maybe if there are not enough of you, you pay more for those that provide those essentialities? Hm... This reminds me of something.
Up until someone decides that food is also not essential for the majority of the population and we will just need to drink some sort of universal soy and lentil based smoothie. :)
To be fair, even though it rings of a dystopian oppressive society, there might be a day where, due to impact of climate change, a lot of pleasures that we take for granted will be ultra regulated.
I just hope society gradually moves to a state where everything but the most essential of essential stuff is produced and consumed.
I think the problem is who gets to determine what is essential. One man's essential activity is another man's superfluous activity.
Music is a great example. Sure we could do without it, but life is for the living. Experiences are not essential to the physical functions of life but without them life would quickly become depressing, at which point, what are we protecting?
But I do agree about local. I mean who doesn't want to walk by something like this everyday - https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t50.2886-16/93565...