Well said. I agree with you, but with one caveat. A big caveat.
Capitalism does not seem to be compatible with our ecological substrate. By now everyone should be familiar with the basic facts of what humans are doing to the natural world. All of those negative indicators are strongly correlated with economic growth. The only times the warning lights flicker off - momentarily - is in the aftermath of economic crashes. Then the graphs resume their downward trajectories.
Unlike doctrinaire leftists, I am ready to accept that capitalism has been generally good for humans as a species. But the evidence is clear: it’s been an absolute disaster for the environment. The very nature of capitalism is that it’s unsustainable. We’re running up a bill and one day soon it’s going to have to be paid.
The very nature of capitalism is that it’s unsustainable
Again, this is a feature of (almost) all economic systems. With appropriate regulation and government incentives, it’s not a problem.
We have probably hit peak fossil fuels this year. Every year henceforth, fossil fuel use will go down. Why? Capitalism. Competition in solar panel and wind turbine manufacture and installation, prompted by government incentives and private charitable action, has made renewable energy cheaper than fossil fuels.
Capitalism is a tool that we can use, and when it’s under control it works.
Also, credit where credit is due, China’s autocratic version of capitalism has done better than America’s laissez faire or Europe’s social democratic capitalism in this regard. But it’s still capitalism.
Well said. I agree with you, but with one caveat. A big caveat.
Capitalism does not seem to be compatible with our ecological substrate. By now everyone should be familiar with the basic facts of what humans are doing to the natural world. All of those negative indicators are strongly correlated with economic growth. The only times the warning lights flicker off - momentarily - is in the aftermath of economic crashes. Then the graphs resume their downward trajectories.
Unlike doctrinaire leftists, I am ready to accept that capitalism has been generally good for humans as a species. But the evidence is clear: it’s been an absolute disaster for the environment. The very nature of capitalism is that it’s unsustainable. We’re running up a bill and one day soon it’s going to have to be paid.
Again, this is a feature of (almost) all economic systems. With appropriate regulation and government incentives, it’s not a problem.
We have probably hit peak fossil fuels this year. Every year henceforth, fossil fuel use will go down. Why? Capitalism. Competition in solar panel and wind turbine manufacture and installation, prompted by government incentives and private charitable action, has made renewable energy cheaper than fossil fuels.
Capitalism is a tool that we can use, and when it’s under control it works.
Also, credit where credit is due, China’s autocratic version of capitalism has done better than America’s laissez faire or Europe’s social democratic capitalism in this regard. But it’s still capitalism.