Global Economic Collapse Revisited
In response to my fairly pessimistic piece on global economic collapse, human nature, and its impact on sustainability, Cameron Atwood writes:
Excellent observations, Craig,
However, let me play the angel’s advocate by pointing out that we emerged from our wild hunter-gatherer state through tribal cooperation in agrarian and civic pursuits. Even the chartered corporation could be argued as a variety of cooperation (though fiercely and stridently imperfect).
Despite the potent and persistent efforts of ‘moneyed status quo interests’ to dissuade, discourage and disinform, millions of humans continue to purposefully restrict consumption below levels that might otherwise be surpassed, and to channel waste streams into recycling.
Millions are actively aware of a great many sustainability issues and are acting locally to modify behavior and to demand action of our leadership – acts and demands that are not entirely fruitless. Many municipalities and legislatures have done far more than simply nod in that direction.
Other nations, such as Germany and China, have already moved substantially in the direction of sustainability.
This progress seems slow and halting, and the opposition is powerful and ruthless, but humanity has the interesting quality of perseverance that often wins out over our lesser impulses – this is why we have child labor laws, and workplace safety and food safety regulations, and why both genders and all ethnicities have the right to vote and to receive equal opportunity for employment and housing and ownership of property. This is why slavery is no longer sanctioned in law.
Whether we can turn the tide we’ve collectively allowed to be constructed against us, in time to avoid catastrophe, is an open question – but it is just that: an open question. It has not been decided, except perhaps in the rearview mirror of the future. We can change what that mirror shows. That’s one of the many miracles of human existence – free choice.
Freedom always begins in the mind and heart, and our choices show freedom in action.
Don’t give up.
Truth – Nonviolence – Cooperation – Direct Action – Perseverance
I respond:
There is no doubt that we’ve made great progress in the last few hundred years in terms of decency and interpersonal cooperation. Do you know that when the early abolitionists began delivering their anti-slavery message in the 1780s, they were laughed at? “You have to be kidding,” people scoffed, “We’ve ALWAYS had slaves. Our economy couldn’t function for 10 minutes without them.”
And, from an historic perspective, this was an easy case to make; through the previous 5000 years of mankind’s history, more than 75% of the people on Earth had been either slaves or indentured servants.
It’s only been 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, and the idea of legal slavery in civilized society seems like it was a million years ago. So you’re right; I need to focus on what’s possible. Thanks.
