BY SOFO ARCHON
Our economic system is fundamentally based on infinite growth and consumption. But are these possible on a finite planet?
Of course not—and that contradiction reveals the system’s deep irrationality.
To learn more, watch the video below.
Transcript
If you did not know already, our dominant global economic system is absolutely insane. And I’m saying this for many reasons—one of them being that it depends on endless growth and consumption.
In this system, people have to be constantly selling and buying stuff. For how do people earn a living? By selling stuff. And when do they do that? When other people are willing to buy it.
If people were to significantly reduce their consumption, then others would start losing their jobs. As a result, they would have less money to spend back into the economy. Hence, more people would lose their jobs—until, eventually, the entire economic system would collapse.
That’s why you hear economists talking highly of economic growth. And that’s why you see politicians being proud when there is an increase in economic growth. But they don’t tell you about the downsides of economic growth. And they do that intentionally, because they don’t want you to know.
Endless economic growth means the destruction of our planet—the very planet that we live on, depend on, and share with countless other beings. For how can you have endless growth and consumption supported by a planet that is finite and has limited resources? It is impossible.
Our economy requires the over-extraction of the Earth’s resources. That’s why you see so much damage has been caused to it. That’s why you see so many forests have been cut down. That’s why you see the oceans have been overfished. That’s why you see the soil has been depleted.
Our economy is not a true economy. It is an anti-economy.
A true economy is one that is designed intentionally to allow people to use the resources they need without causing damage to the planet.
In a true economy, people would not use more resources than the Earth can replenish, and they would share things so that not everyone has one of everything.
I was reading that the average time a screwdriver is used during the time it is owned by someone is just 15 minutes. And nearly every house has at least one screwdriver. How ridiculous is that? The same holds true for cars. The average time a car is used every day is about two hours. The rest of the time, it just sits somewhere, parked. What a waste of resources!
In a true economy, products would be manufactured from the most eco-friendly materials possible. They would also be upgradable, so they could last as long as possible. People would not throw them away like we do nowadays—mindlessly, without thinking about the effects of our behavior.
In a true economy, people would work with each other to provide what they need. And they would do it for free, for the common good, which is also their own good. They would not be engaged in bullshit jobs like they are today. Most jobs are just bullshit—they don’t provide anything of real value. They exist only to keep the economy moving and to make profit.
And in a true economy, people would not sell others unnecessary stuff just to earn enough money to pay the bills and survive.
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