Monday, August 6, 2012
John Jopling —A Complexity Approach to Sustainability – Theory and Application: Review (wonkish)
Even if you don't understand all this, jump in. Some will be familiar from what Roger Erickson has been talking about. There is probably a lot you will understand and then you can ask questions in the comments about points that are not clear.
Dealing with fast-increasing complexity is the key issue that humanity is challenged with at present and existing institutional arrangements are ill-designed for the task. Getting this is hugely important.
Read it at FEASTA — Foundation for the Economics of Stability
A Complexity Approach to Sustainability – Theory and Application: Review
John Jopling
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2 comments:
For example, the current dominant aim for economic growth is not due to the way people think but to the bank- created money system’s dependence on economic growth, plus the hold that bankers, who benefit from this system, have over virtually all governments.
I liked this bit. The thing is we've been hearing for the last 25 years at least how we need to be more adaptable: "We're in a service economy now... You must prepare for three or four careers...The two income household is the new norm... high unemployment is now 'structural'." Behind all this talk about adaptability is a basic injustice. They have stolen our birthright and we must therefore "adapt." The Old Testament prophets didn't tell the Israelites they needed to adapt to the corruptions of the worshipers of Ba'al. They gave them an unmistakable definition and demand for justice. The Mosaic law was very clear on what justice was and what the procedures were to restore it. We have the problem that we don't have a clear concept of justice so our demands seem nebulous. In the ancient world economic justice was self-evidently the core of the concept of justice. In modern times it's a special case, something that requires a qualifier. It's almost taboo to even talk about.
For all our modern technology and the complexity involved it seems to me that what is still at the root of many of our social ills are the predations of the usurer and the landlord.
Good comment David.
At the root of this problem lie two misconceptions:
- Money an an exogenous AND neutral item.
- Property and the working social (legal) order as something fair and product of "natural" evolution. (Right wing "libertarians" are specially deceitful with this.)
Both are wrong.
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