the recent downturn in the economy has got me thinking that our economy (and way of life) depends almost entirely on constant growth and expansion, be it constant growth of companies, or cities or populations, everything only works well when there is constant growth. But how long can that really last? of course there are booms and busts in the economy which is some-what natural. but in the long run is this a sustainable system? population growth leads to housing booms which decrease farmlands which decrease the amount of food able to be grown in that area. less food for more people?
And what about energy, minerals, fresh water, pollution, etc.? eventually something has got to give. already we see decreases in fish populations in certain parts of the oceans (the gulf of mexico for example) where pollutants from growing cities along the mississippi get dumped in the ocean.
In the old days when a growing population and increased consumption depleted the local natural resources they moved on and settled new areas or conquered other peoples and cities. But today with the advent of globalization this is not as easy because the places we look to move to or conquere are already depleting their natural resources as well. Most people are familiar with the term peak oil, what im talking about is kind of a peak everything.. where are we gonna go, Mars?
eh, maybe im just rambling, maybe mother earth has a way of equalizing everything? i dont know but i do know that infinite expansion on a finite planet can only last so long.
thoughts?
-------------------- "Gentleman, you have come sixty days too late. The depression is over." Herbert Hoover 1930
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quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: utilities need to be decentralized instead of having one or a few massive power plants running the whole show.
I wish homes were self sufficient with energy.
Solar is much more efficient nowadays than just a few years ago... Fuel cells could make homes more less independent. Think the elite want that, though?
-------------------- Nashoba Holba Chepulechi Adventures in microcapitalism...
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