5/13: Reflection

The problem with this area of sustainability, involving race, gender, age, etc. segregation, is a difficult one and is comparable to quick sand. After seeing many of the graphs and comparisons during the class lecture, my hypothesis was mostly confirmed in that the worst sustainable design areas of our nation are strongly related with income, race, and other demographic factors. I would compare these problem areas to quick sand, because from personal experience and statistics support, people of similar race, age, etc. tend to gather and flock together. Poverished, low income regions then, continue in their habits and spiral out of control. This effect is magnified when government funding and decisions ignore and neglect these regions, due to the power money plays in government decision making.

The conflicts and tensions then, are really a reflection of the problems themselves. The way our tax system works, and is likely changing to, taxes the wealthy more than the poor. Therefore, and I can't blame them, they don't necessarily want a larger portion of their tax money going towards helping the slums and povershed areas of cities especially when they pay significantly less and therefore aren't really helping themselves. Sustainability though, is a collective effort and the decisions and implications will overall help everyone. We have to see past the immediate costs of sustainable decisions and trust in them that they will benefit the entire nation over time.

My thoughts on this topic have changed in that, unfortunately, my thoughts on helping out those who don't seem to be helping themselves are similar to the high bracket tax payers. I didn't want my hard earned money helping drug dealers and other stereotypes typical of low income, poversh regions. I see now, that it is a collective effort and many sacrifices must be made in order to make this nation sustainable. These decisions will affect everyone, but must be trusted by everyone.

The questions I would ask the authors then, would be how can we convince everyone that sustainability will affect everyone differently, but must be accepted by everyone in order to be successful. Short of this class lecture, I would probably still be slightly bitter when I see my tax money cleaning up slums that I didn't create. How can we convince the wealthy and thos not in slums to contribute to the common good? And when we do start altering slums, will those that live in the regions, buy into our goals and start living better, more sustainable, productve lives, and overall, start helping themselves?