Complacency vs. Contentment

Recently I heard someone complain that complacency was one of the worst human characteristics one can have. Being complacent suggests smugness, laziness, aloofness and other negative connotations. But whenever I hear the word "complacent" I always think--but isn't that also contentment?? And contentment brings out warm and fuzzy feelings of happiness, love and general well being.
So what's the deal??? I looked both words up in my mini Websters dictionary, and alas, no clarity was achieved. Complacency means smug, which by definition is: self-satisfied. Content is simply defined as "satisfied". Huh? In other words being self-satisfied is bad, but being satisfied is good, yet they technically mean the same thing. (ok, so maybe a smug person brags about it--but when is bragging a bad thing in our society?)

So that's what I was afraid of. These words are so similar that nobody wants to admit that -hey contentment isn't really a good thing either. These two words fascinate me so, because our whole western civilization is driven by the fear of complacency. By being complacent , (i.e. content) one would be satisfied with their small house, older car, outdated jeans and ragged lawn....and that would be bad for the economy and even worse, your neighbors would laugh at you behind your back.
Of course, I can't say I recommend contentment with bad hygiene, deviant behavior and such, but economic contentment would be a relief! Not only to our environment but help curb some stress to boot. But with economic contentment, comes a stagnant economy--which is a shame, that we can't develop a whole new system--based on people actually being satisfied and that being a good thing.

The Big House Can't Be Green

I am getting pretty sick of all the news programs and magazines listing their little "become more green" tips all the time. Those tiny tidbits of feel good eco-nonsense, like replace your light bulbs, turn down the heat, combine errands....yadda, yadda. Sure those ideas are better than "screw it, I'm entitled to idle my hummer all day long". But the big lie is simply that the media is afraid to actually say "it".
What is "it", you ask?
The economy, stupid. We still haven't figured out how to live in the United States without growing the economy. Currently, growing the economy always means: purchasing more and developing more. Just listen to the financial reports talk about the market for new homes as an indicator of economic well-being. And these "new homes" aren't exactly solar powered yurts. They are good-ole American McMansions. Built with toxic particle board, and requiring a small power plant just to keep all the square footage heated, cooled and lit. Not to mention the forest of trees required to furnish the monster.
Nobody tells you: stop purchasing new furniture, shoes, cars and houses- which all require raw materials, chemical emissions and electricity to produce.....no, they keep focusing on those stupid light bulbs!