--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to make some things for ourselves…" description: "\"We have to make some things for ourselves because the conveyer belt from China is doomed (this process is known as import replacement). We have to do t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/james-howard-kunstler-2886_aviation_we-have-to-make-some-things-for-ourselve_1701142.jpg" --- # We have to make some things for ourselves because the… ![“We have to make some things for ourselves because the conveyer belt from China is doomed (this process is known as import replacement). We have to do transportation differently, because mass motoring and even commercial aviation will soon be over. We have to inhabit the landscape differently…” quote by James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/james-howard-kunstler-2886_aviation_we-have-to-make-some-things-for-ourselve_1701142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/james-howard-kunstler-2886_aviation_we-have-to-make-some-things-for-ourselve_1701142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/james-howard-kunstler-2886_aviation_we-have-to-make-some-things-for-ourselve_1701142.jpg) > “We have to make some things for ourselves because the conveyer belt from China is doomed (this process is known as import replacement). We have to do transportation differently, because mass motoring and even commercial aviation will soon be over. We have to inhabit the landscape differently because both suburbia and the metroplex mega-city will be obsolete, so we will have to return to a more traditional disposition of things in smaller urbanisms associated with productive agricultural hinterlands.” [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must redesign society as global supply chains collapse and traditional transportation becomes unsustainable. **In simple terms:** Rethink living and moving as resources change. Key Takeaway Adapt to new economic realities. Themes sustainability urban planning self‑reliance Mood urgent thought‑provoking Type manifesto visionary When to use this quote - rural community building - small‑scale agriculture - alternative transit Key Concepts deglobalization transport innovation localism Questions to Reflect On - What local resources can you develop now? - How will you cope with reduced mobility? A Different Perspective Transition may be costly and socially disruptive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Belts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belts/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-obsolete-1151478/) [Differently Suburbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differently-suburbia-1151477/) [Disposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disposition/) [Doomed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doomed/) [Imports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imports/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mega/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Replacements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/replacements/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Smaller Urbanisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smaller-urbanisms-1151480/) [Suburbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suburbia/) [Traditional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional/) [Transportation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transportation/) [Transportation Differently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transportation-differently-1151479/) [Urbanisms Associated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urbanisms-associated-1151481/) ## Related quotes > [The fortunate and successful New Urbanists will be the ones who can find local infill projects in small towns and small cities associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-fortunate-and-successful-new-urbanists-will-be-the-ones-who-can/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Consider how badly-built suburbia is. Many business buildings are not designed to outlast their tax depreciation periods, and the McHouses are made of particle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/consider-how-badly-built-suburbia-is-many-business-buildings-are-not/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Suburbia is not going to run on biodiesel. 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