Jevon's Paradox and Veteran's Day

Jevon's Paradox states that an increase in resource efficiency coupled with widely deployed renewable energy technology will actually increase the use of that resource rather than prolong its use. This would be caused, theoretically, by the lowering cost of a given resource and the subsequent increase in demand for that resource. It is a strangely cyclic pattern given the reason for its creation. By trying to slow consumption rates of a specific resource, the use of energy saving technology actually increases demand and drains the resource just as quickly as if there was no energy saving technology at all.

This concept can be applied to the consumer spending concept that has been created around what was once a holiday meant to remember those who give everything and demand almost nothing in return, which to me is rather ironic. Veteran's Day was originally implemented to honor the Armistice that ended the "War to End All Wars" which was of course, World War One. So horrific was the Great War that people in the beginning of the twentieth century truly believed it would stop all wars from being waged, because they had become so industrialized and fought on a massive scale. Today it has transformed to encompass all Veterans of all conflicts, and to some even those of us who have simply served the country and may have not been deployed overseas into a combat theater. Yes, I served as a United States Army Military Police Officer up until early 2009. I have witnessed first hand the ways in which my fellow soldiers have sacrificied becuase of what they believe in and the strength they are willing to offer to a cause in no way directly affectign them. We are fortunate to have men and women like this in a culture such as today's, where the vast majority of people are simply looking out for themselves, in no way interested in possibly being in harm's way to help preserve the rights and values they take for granted every day. This self centered sentiment hs been recently referred to as a "Sea of Selves" which I feel is incredibly appropriate for the way in which people feel today, which I also believe has led to the increased consumer view of Veteran's Day.

While men and women are in cramped barracks stateside preparing to go to war, with posters on the wall, which I myself have seen and read while enlisted that say "Someone, somewhere, is training to kill you.", and still others are overseas, away from family and friends and in danger constantly, everyday citizens are running around enormous shopping centers taking full advantage of the sales being held "in honor" of the men and women who truly give it all and get almost nothing in return. Soldiers and Sailors around the world, and not just in the United States, are aware of their "civic" duties, a feeling of priority in their lives where they realize that someone needs to preserve the lifestyle that they and their familes and friends enjoy every day. There is actually a poem that shows the sentiment that I feel, and many other Americans feel towards the men and women who take up arms to defend their nation and their passions from both internal and external forces that simply disagree in totality with their way of life. Here is a link to the poem, which actually is highly appropriate given the time of the year:

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/soldier.asp