Ashwani-- Population growth need not be directly correlated with growth of an economy if the distribution of wealth is altered. Right now, even within the U.S. alone, the concentration of wealth into fewer and fewer hands is a travesty of justice in many ways, including in a literal sense -- those with money to pay attorneys get away with criminal acts far more frequently than the poor. Social justice, environmental justice are also heavily impacted by disproportionate holding of wealth by class.
This was discussed by Herman Daly, former chief economist of the World Bank and author of "Beyond Growth" who pointed out (in an appendix to that book, I believe) that we have an example of how this could (in theory) be accomplished in a religious book accepted by a large proportion of the U.S. population; none other than The Holy Bible. Daly reminded us of the Biblical concept of the Jubilee Year, the fiftieth year and subsequent year after the seventh "sabbath year". Each sabbath year (7th year) the land was to be rested and each Jubilee Year (50th year) slaves were to be returned to freedom and the land of Israel was to be redivided equally among the entire population, essentially redistributing wealth on an equal basis among the entire nation. Among other things, this would prevent the emergence of permanent classes of wealthy and priviliged amongst that society. Would George W. Bush have ever received a college education if our society was like that, much less moving on to high "appointive" office? Daly points out that there is no evidence that the Israelites of Biblical times faithfully adhered to this program of wealth distribution that their god instructed them to enact. But we do know that the plan was discussed in scripture and provides a general philosophical thought to how mankind could distribute wealth so as to provide for justice. Of course, we cannot retrieve our planetary endowment of petroleum, approximately half of which is gone forever. We cannot reverse global climage change. There is no choice but to face scarcity of many essentials moving forward, no matter what we do now. But we can significantly lower impacts moving forward and we can stretch our remaining resources if we altered our world financial system and distribution of wealth in such a way that the masses are not forced to subsist on the "trickling down" of wealth and assets after the super-wealthy elite take and set aside huge wealth for themselves. Perhaps above all, we need a societal attitude adjustment, in which, among other things, the masses (and the currently wealthy) do not yearn for great wealth, but learn to be satisfied, deeply satisfied with life that attains pleasure from things other than materialistic pursuits. Americans seek entertainment that promotes the pursuit of consumerism and attaining of wealth, including telivision shows highlighting the giveaway of free merchandise, which literally throws the audience into a frenzy. How sick! Television audiences are encouraged to watch and participate in marriage decisions based on using marriage to attain wealth, as if that was all that mattered. More sickness! Merchanidisers bring in crowds to automobile dealerships and all sorts of other businesses promising free gifts, free food, etc., as if the shoppers actually believe that they are getting something for nothing. We need to rid ourselves of this pathogenic lust for possessions. This is possible and is a part of some cultures. I urge interested people to read a simple little book, called "The Soul of the Indian" by Dr. Charles Eastman, a Lakota Indian living around the turn of the 20th century who recounted the spiritual attitudes of his people prior to European takeover, and how his people actively despised the accumulation of material possessions based on cultural and spiritual values. We need fundamental societal change on so many levels that it is difficult to see such a transition, particularly in the context of likely upheavals and resulting confllict. Already we are at war for oil to keep our lifestyles intact, as if that were possible. The U.S. government openly declares intent to develop additional nuclear weapons to fight future and current "enemies" which is a buzzword for economic competitors. Imagine if we completely diverted our resources from war-making to peace-making and sharing resources, rather than killing for them... Stan Moore San Geronimo, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] >I just heard Bill McKibben talk about his new book, Deep Economy. So >I'm thinking about growth and growth-related issues. Just wanted to >say, apropos the earlier exchanges, that I know very well that >growth--or, rather, a certain kind of growth--is likely the key >source of a complex of problems we face. > >But then I came home and reread a news story I'd flagged for one of >my news groups, about how the number of people with cancer on the >planet will, inevitably, double over the next 25 years. Simply >because the population will have grown to 8 billion plus. > >Its like watching the Titanic in the long period of time after they >spot the iceberg, realize they're going to hit it, and then are >helpless to do anything about changing course--for all the ringing of >the bells and the spinning of wheels. There's an inertia in the >system. The moment of that inertia makes some portion of the future >effectively inevitable. Nothing that we can do, nothing short of >massacre and mayhem, is going to change the population increase over >the next couple of decades. Now what is to be done? What price zero >growth then? > >We've got one more doubling coming up. No maybes about it. The only >question is, can we lighten our tread enough to accommodate that >coming increase? Or do we take the Garrett Hardin way, and advocate >for his infamous lifeboat ethic...lets save ourselves and let the >rest of the world drown? Again, remember the Titanic. There's a >horror on that path too. > >Regards, >- > Ashwani > Vasishth [EMAIL PROTECTED] (818) 677-6137 > http://www.csun.edu/~vasishth/ > http://www.myspace.com/ashwanivasishth _________________________________________________________________ Mortgage refinance is Hot. *Terms. Get a 5.375%* fix rate. Check savings https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search=mortgage_text_links_88_h2bbb&disc=y&vers=925&s=4056&p=5117
