03-15-2009, 08:46 AM
In any 100 level physics class one will learn that expansion in any physical system is ultimately limited and degrades to disorder.
In any 100 level biology class one will learn dozens if not hundreds of examples in how unmitigated growth ultimately leads to systemic collapse and extinction events.
Growth will cease, at some point, if due to nothing other than the Malthusian nightmare. We have a choice of choosing to discourage growth now, while some of what Hawaii offers is still intact, or we can be compelled to do so once we've made it wholly unlivable. We can do it with foresight or we can do it in desperation.
I too am very tired of the doom and gloom talk--especially because little of it is any more informed than the "DOW AT 35000" crowd was yammering about just over 2 years ago. There is a real place for meaningful and informed discourse about the difficulties we fact in an non-sensational manner. We face real issues. We need real solutions. We need a lot less noise.
Reality can be insistent.
Personally, I see sustainability and growth as mutually exclusive. I believe most at this point do. While I understand some feel more "comfortable" straddling that line, I observe that they often have vested financial interests that may confuse the issue. Or at least would enjoy postponing meaningful change until they've earned their piece of the pie.
I'd be interested in hearing a sensible idea in how any one can reconcile this issue.
In any 100 level biology class one will learn dozens if not hundreds of examples in how unmitigated growth ultimately leads to systemic collapse and extinction events.
Growth will cease, at some point, if due to nothing other than the Malthusian nightmare. We have a choice of choosing to discourage growth now, while some of what Hawaii offers is still intact, or we can be compelled to do so once we've made it wholly unlivable. We can do it with foresight or we can do it in desperation.
I too am very tired of the doom and gloom talk--especially because little of it is any more informed than the "DOW AT 35000" crowd was yammering about just over 2 years ago. There is a real place for meaningful and informed discourse about the difficulties we fact in an non-sensational manner. We face real issues. We need real solutions. We need a lot less noise.
Reality can be insistent.
Personally, I see sustainability and growth as mutually exclusive. I believe most at this point do. While I understand some feel more "comfortable" straddling that line, I observe that they often have vested financial interests that may confuse the issue. Or at least would enjoy postponing meaningful change until they've earned their piece of the pie.
I'd be interested in hearing a sensible idea in how any one can reconcile this issue.