The End of Growth by Richard Heinberg: This video says it all so very clearly:

[rainy]

http://youtu.be/EQqDS9wGsxQ


Economists insist that recovery is at hand. Yet, unemployment remains high, real estate values continue to sink, and governments stagger under record deficits. The End of Growth proposes a startling diagnosis: humanity has reached a fundamental turning point in our economic history. The expansionary trajectory of industrial civilization is colliding with non-negotiable natural limits.

Richard Heinberg’s latest landmark work goes to the heart of the ongoing financial crisis, explaining how and why it occurred, and what we must do to avert the worst potential outcomes. Written in an engaging, highly readable style, it shows why growth is being blocked by three factors:

Resource depletion,
Environmental impacts, and
Crushing levels of debt.
These converging limits will force us to re-evaluate cherished economic theories and to reinvent money and commerce.

The End of Growth describes what policymakers, communities, and families can do to build a new economy that operates within Earth’s budget of energy and resources. We can thrive during the transition if we set goals that promote human and environmental well-being, rather than continuing to pursue the now-unattainable prize of ever-expanding GDP.

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View exclusive supplemental materials from Richard on adjusting to The End of Growth.

[Wilms]

1. ^

[rainy]

2. this is a great video! Where is everyone? Watch this.

It explains so clearly where we are headed and why.

[Exilednight]

3. It's obvious that Heinberg doesn't understand economic theory. He's arguing for zero

growth, which is the same thing that Ron Paul is arguing for with a return to the gold standard.

[rainy]

5. He is saying that an economy based on growth can't be sustained at the rate we are going.

Natural resources are finite so constant growth is not doable. I'd like to read the book and really hear his thoughts. Have u heard of true cost economics?

[Exilednight]

6. First, not all resources that used for growth are finite.

Renewable energy is not a dream, it's a very doable reality. Food (agriculture and animals) are another non-finite resource, and also produces economic growth.

Are certain resources finite? Certainly. But there are also plenty of non-finite resources. Not to mention, we will also find many new natural resources, or for that matter man-made natural resources to replace our current platform of resources.

Churchill use to say that Americans will do the right thing after they've exhausted all other options. He was partially right. In reality, the human race will do what's right after all other options have been exhausted.

Even if you apply true cost economics, it still allows for economic growth.

[CleanGreenFuture]

8. You speak as if you haven't spent a single moment researching our resource situation.

[Exilednight]

18. Economics is not completely tied to natural resources. n/t

[Odin2005]

7. Anyone who thinks infinite exponential growrh is possible is either insane or an economist.

[Exilednight]

19. It will not always be expoenential growth. We will go through periods of

contraction. Inflation, also, plays into the equation. What costs a dollar today may cost fifty dollars in 20 years.

[Strelnikov_]

4. ..

[CleanGreenFuture]

9. Anyone who wants to know what's truly at the root of the economic chaos we're seeing today is,

just watch this video. And anything else by Richard Heinberg.

[rainy]

10. To wilms and strelnikov, I'm out of the loop. what do your

symbols mean?

[SpiralHawk]

11. The k

...and the r.

[CleanGreenFuture]

13. Considering this is the most important issue of all time, why do you suppose no one

wants to discuss it?

I'd like to see a rebuttal or two, even. Is there no one who will attempt to counter what Heinberg is saying?

If you are reading this (yes, YOU! - except you SpiralHawk), is Heinberg right? And if you think so, why not make this a priority issue?

We don't have any time to waste.

[The2ndWheel]

14. Nobody discusses it because no growth goes against

every institution we've built. There isn't an organized effort that doesn't require more. Governments need more tax money. Business needs more customers. Unions need more members. Schools need more kids. We need to circulate more money through the economy. We need to get more for less, but we don't use less energy over time, because we find ways to use energy. We'll force ourselves to use more energy. Even green organizations need more people involved, more money, more this, more that, etc.

[Recursion]

16. The usual argument is "we've always muddled through"

eg, Malthus didn't foresee agricultural innovations, Engels didn't foresee modern advertising, etc.

I personally agree with him but I don't put it past humanity to innovate yet another way to crowd more people and commerce onto this miserable rock; I like talking about no-growth because it forces people to talk about distribution.

[deutsey]

12. Kick so I'll remember to watch this later

[Recursion]

15. I love Heinberg

Malthus II, sure, but this time he's right...

[deutsey]

17. That was interesting and very well done. n/t