This remark from Cameron Smith, reviewing the updated version of "Limits to Growth" is the one that most needs emphasis, I believe:
Besides pushing our demands beyond the limits of the natural world, the authors say it widens the gap between rich and poor, because only the rich have pools of capital to invest. So their wealth grows exponentially and the poor lag increasingly behind."
Social democratic governments just don't understand this. They believe that "a rising tide (of economic growth) will float all boats". Besides, growing the pie is a lot less painful politically than confronting the ruling class and slicing it up more equitably, that it is, re-distributing income through capital gains taxes where it really hurts. Even the delegates at the Bali conference swallowed this nonsense, the nonsense that we must help the developed countries through economic growth.
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There is an analogue to this in environmental stewardship. Those who would say that economic growth is necessary to solve poverty are often the same people who say that it is necessary before the fertility rate drops. " So lets stop worrying about runaway population growth in Africa, pump development money in there and ruin the environment until they prosper and decide not to have babies". "The demographic transition"---a myth that never dies. Then there is our cherished belief that the environment is something external to us, something extra, an extravagance, that we can only "afford" once we have attained a healthy and robust economy, which of course exists quite apart from this "environment". So lets keep growing this economy so that we are wealthy enough to pay for a "clean" environment. Ruin it with growth, then clean it up. Sorry folks, it doesn't work that way. Don't have to go into the tedious details.
Unless you are a Socialist. Or a Liberal, or a Conservative, or a Growthist of any description.
Trying to catch up with poverty by growing the economy is like being a dog and trying to catch up with your tail. Better to stop and give it a rest.
Tim Murray
Quadra Island, BC
July 23/08
See also: Why is the UN so complacent in the face of over-population peril? of 3 Jul 08.
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