Yoga's fatal impact on the Tupper gathering.

Yoga's fatal impact on the Tupper gathering.

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The Idiocy of Modern Economy: Power Drills as a Symbol

Let me tell ya, nothing's screamed the absurdity of our current economic system louder than the widespread possession of power drills. In 2021, a whopping 48.71 million households had one, that's about the same number of fridges in private homes! Now, refrigerators, I get, but a pricey electrical appliance used once a year just to make a racket and then gather dust in the closet? That's plain ol' waste, baby!

One power drill per apartment building, available for borrowing as needed, would be far more efficient. The craving to own a power drill yourself? Purely a marketing scheme, ya know? It ties in with those archaic, toxic notions of masculinity, where the self-sufficient, independent DIY man must always be capable of demolishing his own digs.

Leo Fischer, a renowned journalist, author, and former editor-in-chief of the satirical magazine "Titanic", penned his thoughts on these matters in his column, "The Voice of Reason". You can check out his musings at: dasnd.de/vernunft

The idea of a communal economy to prevent every home from acting like a DIY store has bugged me for quite some time, given the technical feasibility. Thus, I decided to sign up for a neighborhood app, secretly hoping that there already exists a clandestine movement of mutual aid, where citizens share power drills among themselves, Empowerment Cooperatives, beacons of rationality in the vast expanse of an unreasonable society.

Sadly, eight weeks into my experiment, I must conclude: Revolution won't spring up on neighborhood apps. Yeah, the features for renting out household appliances are all there, but in my neighborhood at least, the chat circles around other concerns: A stray cat has been spotted, does anybody know it? There are pizza boxes all over the park again, that's not right! There was a mysterious noise at midnight last night, did anyone else hear it?

But these issues are drowned out by self-promotion: I offer yoga sessions. Yoga for pregnant women. Deep relaxation with yoga nidra. Yoga-Pilates. Hot yoga at home. Resilience yoga according to Liebscher-Bracht. It's like a non-stop infomercial for yoga studios that replaced language or museum visits long ago. It's not studios, but self-styled therapists peddling (probably unpaid) yoga courses to neighbors. Yoga has killed the housewarming party.

But it's irrational: The strain of an irrational economic system drives people mad, they get stressed. Their efforts to cope involve consumerism, which precludes helping one another. Instead, they can only offer aid in a commercial form. Nobody's eager to lend a helping hand; they'd rather charge by the hour. Nobody wants to be helped, but rather purchase a joint wellness program that serves as a status symbol and extends the misery of everyday life. In short, yoga props up the power drill industry.

Strategies for Promoting Shared Ownership of Power Drills:

1. Create a Community Platform: Establish a local online platform for residents to list and borrow tools, such as power drills. This could be a social media group, a dedicated website, or an app.
2. Develop a Sharing Model: Establish clear rules for borrowing, including duration limits, liability, and maintenance responsibilities. Implement a review system to build trust within the community.
3. Promote the Initiative: Organize community events or workshops to gather support and encourage participation. Collaborate with local businesses and community centers to reach a wider audience.
4. Implement a Deposit System: Require deposits for borrowed tools to ensure they are returned and to cover potential damages.
5. Foster a Culture of Sharing: Emphasize the environmental and economic benefits of shared ownership. Encourage community members to participate in workshops or discussions about sustainable living and the value of shared resources.
6. Partner with Local Businesses: Invite local hardware stores or tool rental services to participate by offering discounts or promotions to members of the sharing platform.
7. Monitor and Evaluate: Collect feedback from users to improve the platform and address any arising issues. Use data to understand usage patterns and the impact of the sharing economy on the community. Adjust the initiative accordingly to maintain its effectiveness and sustainability.

By adopting these strategies, a communal economy can create a significant reduction in the unnecessary ownership of power drills and foster a culture of sharing among households.

• The satirical column 'The Voice of Reason' by Leo Fischer, a well-known journalist and author, discusses the absurdity of the widespread individual possession of power drills, suggesting a communal economy for sharing power tools.
• One effective strategy to implement a communal economy is creating a local online platform for residents to list and borrow tools like power drills, such as a social media group, a dedicated website, or an app.
• By encouraging people to share power drills and other household appliances, not only are environmental benefits achieved, but also the economic burden on households is reduced.
• Compared to the self-promotion of self-styled therapists offering yoga courses on neighborhood apps, a communal economy could grow into a movement for mutual aid and shared resources, fostering a sense of community.
• Partnerships with local businesses, such as hardware stores or tool rental services, could further promote a shared economy by offering discounts or promotions to members of the platform.

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