It's an interesting idea, but it doesn't address the reality that the world is dominated by psychopaths - the very reason for artificial scarcity and planned obsolescence. Personally, I'd prefer stability over growth, but I don't get to have a say in the matter.
Right now, we have a system of laissez faire capitalism, created by and for psychopathic Robber Barron Oligarchs who believe they have a right to grab everything there is to grab simply because they are in a position to grab it. Their "bibles" are written by Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand. They engage in anti-competitive practices in the name of "healthy competition". They will crush anything or anyone who gets in their way. Profiteering is the name of the game.
This is true of the Big Oil Robber Barrons, for whom global warming is profitable, as it is for the tech Robber Barrons for whom eliminating jobs and increasing mass poverty is profitable.
Because they're psychopaths, they don't even concern themselves with the well being of their own descendants, not even their immediate progeny. Future extinction is profitable!
I can't see a way to design or engineer our way out of that.
You are not wrong in that, I partly agree, I party want to find ways to prefigure, or show alternatives being possible. A big example, is that post growth has been brought as a subject in the European Parliament, there's even a bank called Triodos Bank that now advocates for a post growth economy. Weak signals? Maybe, but signals nevertheless.
I suppose it's a start, and it's a good sign that the EU is taking notice. It will take incredible political will to pull it off. I'm none too sanguine that the political will is there, or will be anytime in the near future, especially not here in Trumpty-Dumpty land.
Degrowth or Post Growth is a totally different economic model, maybe abit more than a model. I’d suggest looking to people like @Jason Hickel who talks extensively on the subject and is on substack too (has a book on the subject called Less is More)
It's an interesting idea, but it doesn't address the reality that the world is dominated by psychopaths - the very reason for artificial scarcity and planned obsolescence. Personally, I'd prefer stability over growth, but I don't get to have a say in the matter.
Right now, we have a system of laissez faire capitalism, created by and for psychopathic Robber Barron Oligarchs who believe they have a right to grab everything there is to grab simply because they are in a position to grab it. Their "bibles" are written by Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand. They engage in anti-competitive practices in the name of "healthy competition". They will crush anything or anyone who gets in their way. Profiteering is the name of the game.
This is true of the Big Oil Robber Barrons, for whom global warming is profitable, as it is for the tech Robber Barrons for whom eliminating jobs and increasing mass poverty is profitable.
Because they're psychopaths, they don't even concern themselves with the well being of their own descendants, not even their immediate progeny. Future extinction is profitable!
I can't see a way to design or engineer our way out of that.
You are not wrong in that, I partly agree, I party want to find ways to prefigure, or show alternatives being possible. A big example, is that post growth has been brought as a subject in the European Parliament, there's even a bank called Triodos Bank that now advocates for a post growth economy. Weak signals? Maybe, but signals nevertheless.
I suppose it's a start, and it's a good sign that the EU is taking notice. It will take incredible political will to pull it off. I'm none too sanguine that the political will is there, or will be anytime in the near future, especially not here in Trumpty-Dumpty land.
Is this similar to revenue-based financing? My husband has been trying to promote that.
Degrowth or Post Growth is a totally different economic model, maybe abit more than a model. I’d suggest looking to people like @Jason Hickel who talks extensively on the subject and is on substack too (has a book on the subject called Less is More)
Thank you! I'm getting the Jason Hickel Less is More from my library!