"We will not do anything that harms our economy," and there is "broad consensus globally on the need to act aggressively to restore growth to the global economy."
Those quotes display an identical ideology: To "not do anything that harms our economy" means not impeding growth. To "restore growth" means keeping our economy unimpeded from anything that harms growth. This growth ideology is a destructive folly.
Growth is the buzz word justifying the policies that are poisoning democratic, economic and ecological health. All sense of proportion, propriety and value must be made to fit, Procrustean-like, to the measure of growth.
Speed, ease and quantity - the three horsemen of growth - certainly have their utility. Thoughtlessly serving such utility as our ultimate economic goal is madness.
The two quotes above demonstrate the systematic nature of the madness. The first quote is from George W. Bush, the hero of conservatives that liberals ridicule for buffoonery. The second quote is from Bush's successor, Barack Obama, the brilliant, charismatic heartthrob that conservatives brand as a socialist.
Growth - and its profligate waste - are essential to government and corporations and, therefore, the most powerful lender in the world must pay homage to growth.
Waiting for policy change and technological progress is suicidal. We - ordinary people - must reject the lifestyle of heedless production and consumption. We need to make a human economy, based on the reality of finite resources; a new economy founded on community, frugality, conserving and care.
William Hormann
Albany
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I tend to agree with his anti-consumption perspective, as I consume and consume, but not thoughtlessly.
ReplyDeleteTo his credit, Obama is better for endangered species, old-growth forests, and capping carbon emissions.
I saw this letter this morning and thought it was interesting too. I, too, support a move toward what's called Steady State Economics. I keep meaning to read Brian Czech's book on the topic...got to get to that one day.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy. Here's the website:
http://www.steadystate.org/Index.html
"To his credit, Obama is better for endangered species, old-growth forests, and capping carbon emissions."
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you listen to OPB, but Obama is being criticized for his salmon plan. Jane Lubchenko, now head of NOAA, seems to think Obama's plan is sound, though. I have some professional wildlife friends I'd like to get an opinion from on this.
http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/saving-salmon/