a small "berry" of wisdom

I have been thinking and reading a lot lately about our present economic, political,environtmental and cultural situation as well as reading about alternative "econimic systems" or if there is, in truth, such a thing. For a while now i have been hearing a lot of buzz about Distributism, and althought I still have a lot to learn about it, I have found that there are some intellegent Catholics that seem to have reservations or outright disdain for that system, check this article out for example http://www.mises.org/story/1062. From what I understand, the proponents of all out capitalism in its present form hold to the notion that it is a natural system and can be mathematically quantified, in the same way that the motion of the planets is a natural phenomenon and can be studies and known through math. The argument is that because it acts according to set laws outside of itself that it is therefore part of the natural order and as such, we cannot by shear force of will, political or otherwise, impose a new arbitrary system any more than we could stop the world from turning, at least not without dire consequences. That is an oversimplification to some degree but I think it illustrates the very basic idea behind the defense of Capitalism.

However, does this take into account the notion of free will? Do the laws that the system seem to operate by apply always and in every society throughout time? And the biggest question to me is why can't we affect our economic system simply through this idea of returning to self disciplined living on a personal level? Seems to me that the whole system now is based on unadultered consumption of junk. Can that go on forever? Seems pretty reasonable that it can't.

I went back to a Flatlander blog that was posted a few months ago and started looking into this Wendell Berry fellow. i have only read a tiny bit of what he has written so i can't say for sure to what degree i agree with all that he has to say but this quote sums up basically my thoughts on what is wrong with our system as it exists:"If we believed that the existence of the world is rooted in mystery and in sanctity, then we would have a different economy. It would still be an economy of use, necessarily, but it would be an economy also of return. The economy would have to accommodate the need to be worthy of the gifts we receive and use, and this would involve a return of propitiation, praise, gratitude, responsibility, good use, good care, and a proper regard for the unborn. What is most conspicuously absent from the industrial economy and industrial culture is this idea of return. Industrial humans relate themselves to the world and its creatures by fairly direct acts of violence. Mostly we take without asking, use without respect or gratitude, and give nothing in return."

Damn Elightenment killed mystery. Now were left to pick up the peices.