Growth Is the Problem

This article by Chris Hedges was first published on Truthdig (www.truthdig.com) Pictures were selected from Google Images and added by Ray.

Capitalism isn't workingImage by celesteh via Flickr








If nations were able to respond rationally to the crisis they could forestall social collapse by reconfiguring their economies away from ceaseless growth and exploitation. It remains possible, at least in the industrialized world, to provide to most citizens the basics—food, water, housing, medical care, employment, education and public safety. This, however, as Heinberg points out, would require a radical reversal of the structures of power. It would necessitate a massive cancellation of debt, along with the slashing of bloated militaries, heavy regulation and restraints placed on the financial sector and high taxes imposed on oligarchic elites and corporations in order to reduce unsustainable levels of inequality. While this economic reconfiguration would not mitigate the effects of climate change and the depletion of natural resources it would create the social stability needed to cope with a new post-growth regime. But Heinberg says he doubts a rational policy is forthcoming. He fears that as deterioration accelerates there will be a greater resolve on the part of the power elite to “cannibalize the resources of society in order to prop up megabanks and military establishments.”

Survival will be determined by localities. Communities will have to create collectives to grow their own food and provide for their security, education, financial systems and self-governance, efforts that Heinberg suspects will “be discouraged and perhaps criminalized by those in authority.” This process of decentralization will, he said, become “the signal economic and social trend of the 21st century.” It will be, in effect, a repudiation of classic economic models such as free enterprise versus the planned economy or Keynesian stimulus versus austerity. The reconfiguration will arise not through ideologies, but through the necessities of survival forced on the poor and former members of the working and middle class who have joined the poor. This will inevitably create conflicts as decentralization weakens the power of the elites and the corporate state.

Joseph Tainter, an archeologist, in his book “The Collapse of Complex Societies” provides a useful blueprint for how such societies unravel. All of history’s major 24 civilizations have collapsed and the patterns are strikingly similar, he writes. The difference this time around is that we will unravel as a planet. Tainter notes that as societies become more complex they inevitably invest greater and greater amounts of diminishing resources in expanding systems of complexity. This proves to be fatal.





When people have to run faster and faster to hold on to where they were, it is time to consider some unorthodox solutions.

How about revisiting the Lord’s prayer?  Forgive us our debts as we forgive those indebted to us.

There would be a huge transformation, redeeming Time and Opportunity, if the people decided they would be better off standing up and affirming their own self-interest by implementing this good, old, common sense advice as the Global Biblical Babylonian economic, military, political system has arrived at it’s end as the Bible said it would:


11 thoughts on “QUO VADIS?

  1. Nice post Ray, I like the cartoons. This reminds me of an interesting interview I saw on TVO’s
    “The agenda”, it was talking about the fact the economists are part of a field that’s more related to human sciences, than they are related to hard sciences.Economists are like sociologists and astrologists, people making money trying to predict human behavior, sometimes with disastrous results. And the convenient thing for them, is that they are not held responsible for their outlandish predictions when they turn out to be horribly wrong.


        The same was in the beginning with God.
        John 1:1-5


      1. That One is pictured as having a two edged sword coming out of his mouth. That One will be able to build up and cut down in the Power of the Word.

        As to your earlier comment, “has capitalism not brought good things to the world?”

        I thought I answered that by this, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”


  2. A police state run by bankers..Oh no!!

    The end that Heinburg predicts for mankind seems like a nightmare.. I guess, up to this point, nations who have hard fiscal times can rely on other nations.. But as globilisation approaches, it will be hard to rely on anyone if all the nations are bankrupt at once..

    Oh.. If the world were a better place..

    Its hard to see any fellowship in man these days, when in fact, people are so busy getting their own..The media continuously fuelling the ideal of praisng materialism and “keep up with the joneses”.. Why would anybody want to see a fellow man do better for himself!?..The idea of community almost seems absurd in todays society..

    One can only hope that there is enough love for one another to show solidarity in hard times..

    In my opinion, its inevitable that people will resort to community and helping each other out.. I just think its sad that, time and time again, we have to hit the point where its crucial for our survival to do so..

    People will have to start looking out for the best interest of the human race and less in their own self-interest


    1. And its sad…No one wants to lend a hand.. give a leg up..

      And the thought dread the most is that we always have to hit “situation critical” before we learn the lesson..


  3. I’m not quite sure I understand the reference you made (John 1:1-5).. I was hoping that you could explain more …

    Another thing I can understand is why I can’t reply to your comment?

    I’m trying different ways do post my question, in hopes of it reaching you…

    …Hoping that you haven’t booted me off your blog.. That would be no fun :(…

    Well I’m here posted by the machine in hopes to see if my reply has made it back to you…

    Your friend Brenn


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