If A Good Economy Requires Growth and Growth Requires Consumption and Resources Are Finite, Aren't We Doomed?

Question

A "good" economy has the same future as an agressive tumor.

Answer 1

A Neocons idea of a great economy is WalMart and you spending most of your paycheck at the gas pump.

Answer 2

Not really. First, our resources are not going to be exhausted in the forseeable future (say a billion years or so). In some cases we will have to shift our technology to alternatives.

Second, the myth that economic well-being requires quantitative growth (just getting bigger) is just that --a myth. Unfortunately, our culture has an obsession with this. But a dynamicallly stable system--or one that relies on qualitative, rather than quantitative expansion--is possiblle, though it would require a good bit of restructuring.

And here's a nice irony for you--the idea that prosperity requires continous economic growth at any cost didn't originate with Adam Smith or other capitalist theorists. It comes from Karl Marx! :)

Answer 3

Eventually yes. But maybe we can change the consumables and the resources needed to produce them to something a bit more renewable. We'll need a smooth transition to keep the economy healthy and stable in the transition. Market forces can help but we'll need a visible hand too.

Answer 4

basically a fool could prefer forfeiting their freedoms for a pretend experience of protection. Capitalism is in simple terms an economic equipment that emphasizes deepest possession..a Privately controlled economic equipment. in case you like a nanny government working each little thing then pass to Cuba and stand in line to your rations. Our usa, the u . s . a . with our shape that ranks the rights of the guy Citizen above the State isn't the situation for you. Corruption is the issue, no longer Capitalism.

Answer 5

Actually a good economy requires 'control' of its growth. If we are doomed its because of too much unchecked growth.

Answer 6

That's why Bush wants the Mars Program.

Answer 7

Yes...Mankind must be the dumbest animal on the planet. However I would have to agree with the answer above me by ... ArgelBar. Good assessment.

Answer 8

This planet is doomed. It's time to look for another one.

Answer 9

In the future we will recycle everything! including you're hair.
Like in futurama.

Answer 10

thanks to bush spending all the tazes in IRAQ
and WAL fart taking all ouir jobs