The Freedom to Assert that 2+2=4

The Freedom to Assert that 2+2=4 Does Not Mean Much if No One is Paying Any Attention

Participating in discussions about the implications of peak oil and other resource limitations on the future of human economic development is quite depressing. Either the reality of limits to growth is denied outright; or these limits are relegated to a future so distant that no living person need be concerned about them; or near term limits to growth are acknowledged to be real but any practical discussion of alternatives to a growth oriented economy is rejected as useless, since human nature is such that greed and material acquisitiveness will predominate at the individual and familial level for all eternity.

The situation is as if you had discovered the helio-centric theory of the solar system, and at the same time you realized that the consequences of that theory had very serious negative implications for future human welfare unless appropriate actions were taken.

Naturally you would wish to discuss the consequences of the theory and the and the actions required to stave off disaster.

Instead of finding eager co-participants for this discussion you meet with three different reactions:

A. The helio-centric theory of the solar system is false. Only a deluded moron could believe such nonsense. Quit wasting my time with useless diatribes.

B. The helio-centric theory of the solar system might conceivably be true, but the negative consequences which you are predicting are in the distant future. We can continue to party down for the rest of our lives and leave the responsibility saving the race to our great grandchildren. Quit wasting my time with useless diatribes.

C. The helio-centric theory of the solar system is correct and bad times are coming. However, human nature requires that we believe ourselves to be at the center of the universe. No practical action will ever be taken based on the helio-centric theory. All we can do is wait for the hammer to fall. Quit wasting my time with useless diatribes.

My diatribes may indeed be useless, but I cannot forgo delivering them anyway. Our current economic system defines economic 'health' as manufacturing and selling more stuff this year than we did last year. If people are in the shopping malls buying Blackberries, home theater systems, and the latest and greatest kitchen gadgets then our pension funds and 401K funds are happy. The faster we consume resources the richer and securer we all become. Not! Our economic system is functionally insane, and yet to suggest any serious alternative to competitive accumulation as our fundamental economic paradigm is to be labeled as a socialist idiot who is completely out of touch with 'reality'. Private finance capitalism is undoubtedly a reality, but not all things that are real are good for us. Clinging to the paradigm of everlasting growth will have serious, real world consequences for humanity. Refusing to think about these consequences will not make them less harmful.

November 23, 2008