A radical new idea could save the world's ecosystems. But what will it do to the economy?

Go to:

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2008...reen-lifeline/

I've never favored a consumer-based economy where continuous growth is expected to maintain stability. However, that's what we have and I doubt people in the first world are going to allow that to change without a fight.

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I still don't buy the argument that we must sacrifice the economy for environmental responsibility.

Anyone who's taken Econ 101 knows that a fundamental caveat to sustained growth (such as feeding the skyrocketing human population), and the basis of the capitalist (adaptive business) argument is that "technology will close the gap". Thus if we implement environmental responsiblity, the capitalists must adapt. Just like evolution of a species - new-better-more sustainable businesses will emerge. Yeah, the economy might be depressed for a while (but it already is, so gives a cr@p), but it is the better long term option for us as a global society.

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"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth"
"Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
-JFK

Knight Errant of the Simian Order
Truth - Justice - Comedy

Well anyone who has taken Econ 101 and believes in the cornucopian ideal is likely to think that...

However, I consider myself more of a Neo-Malthusian so I don't buy into your argument just because its taught in a econ classroom.

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I don't buy it either. It was a rhetorical point to highlight the lassez-faire capitalists being full of cr@p and playing both sides of the coin as it is conventient to support fundamentally conflicting arguments, such as:

1) We don't need to worry about food or water shortages because technology will close the gap

2) Forcing new technology for the environment will ruin the economy.

It's a cake and eat it too issue that drives me bananas

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"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth"
"Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
-JFK

Knight Errant of the Simian Order
Truth - Justice - Comedy

Ahhh, I gotcha, my misunderstanding.

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