> On 27 Dec 2014, at 12:05 pm, John Clark <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I recently became aware of a book written by William Stanley Jevons that may
> strike a responsive cord with some members of this list, here are some quotes:
>
> "Are we wise in allowing the commerce of this country to rise beyond the
> point at which we can long maintain it?” We are growing rich and numerous
> upon a source of wealth of which the fertility does not yet apparently
> decrease with our demands upon it. [...] But long-continued progress in such
> a manner is altogether impossible ― it must outstrip all physical conditions
> and bounds; and the longer it continues, the more severely must the ultimate
> check be felt. I do not hesitate to say, therefore, that the rapid growth of
> our great towns, gratifying as it is in the present, is a matter of very
> serious concern as regards the future."
>
> Suppose our progress to be checked within half a century, yet by that time
> our consumption will probably be three or four times what it now is; there is
> nothing impossible or improbable in this; it is a moderate supposition,
> considering that our consumption has increased eight-fold in the last sixty
> years. But how shortened and darkened will the prospects of the country
> appear, with mines already deep, fuel dear, and yet a high rate of
> consumption to keep up if we are not to retrograde.”
>
> The book was written in 1865 and is titled " The Coal Question; An Inquiry
> Concerning the Progress of the Nation, and the Probable Exhaustion of Our
> Coal Mines"
>
> John K Clark
>
Clearly the guy was right. He was right in his day and he will be right at
least 50 years hence when the oil really does start to run out.
There is a need to be concerned about unfettered growth, yes.
Cancer is growth. I'm sure that were I a cancer, I would feel pretty good
growing ever larger inside my host.
Kim
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Everything List" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
