On Nov 2, 2008, at 8:32 AM, Jim Devine wrote:
ravi wrote:
I have made reference, in the past, to the First Law of
Thermodynamics or the law of conservation of energy. As we
continue to grow our consumption, our material wealth, our
populations, etc, we will (and have) cross(ed) a point where we
destroy the things that sustain us.<<<
me:
The first law only works for closed systems. The Earth is not one
of these.<<
<snip>
In theory, capitalist growth -- which indeed is measured using real
GDP[*] -- can reduce poverty. In fact, the rGDP surges at the ends of
the 1960s and 1990s temporarily lowered official poverty rates and
likely other measures based on the absolute definitions of poverty and
even those based on relative definitions. Of course, the nature of the
business cycle upsurge is that it's temporary, so that poverty rates
fall again. My definition suggests that a permanent fall in poverty
requires redistribution of power. This might abolish capitalist
growth, if done right.
Yes, Jim, and one way of redistributing power is cutting the work week
to four days, with no loss of pay. "If done right." Are you then in
favor of the four day week?
In addition, I assert again that sharply cutting working time in the
USA is the only feasible way of dealing with global warming and a
necessary component of dealing with the current economic crisis.
Gene Coyle
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