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Here is an interesting way to put the hard choices back in the people’s hands. Even if it is just an exercise.

If you haven’t already heard, the Complete Streets Act, which is before the House and the Senate right now, would ensure that stimulus funds spent on new transportation projects adhere to “complete streets” guidelines. Streets would have to have sidewalks, raised medians, better bus stop placement, and various traffic-calming features, among other things. The bill was introduced last week by Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Doris Matsui. Click here for more information.

We see it all around us: We see it in the failing banks, auto manufacturers, and newspapers. We see it in our local, state, and federal government. We see it in the talking heads that we can’t seem to escape on the 24-hour news channels. We see it with our neighbors who can no longer afford their mortgage. And (of course!) we all see it in ourselves–a failure to think long-term, to look around the next bend, to sacrifice immediate gratification for a better future.

So, I wonder, do you think we can change? Will we learn from this current crisis and example of our gross short-sightedness? One controversial writer even goes as far as to argue that we may be doomed by our economic system, arguing that “capitalism is not up to the challenge is that it improperly and systemically undervalues the future”. What do you think? Are we doomed to the same missteps? If not, how do you think that we (you) can do to affect that change?

We have done this before but the world was different in 2008 than it is today so I thought it might be worth another round. The game is simple all you need to do is answer the question in the last comment ahead of you and ask another one for the person behind you. The topic for today is – The Economy. Ready?

Ok I will start.

How do you feel the movement towards sustainability is affected by the market turmoil we are experiencing?

Levi