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Re: Brashears on Hanson



In article <32A8AAAB.7FC0@xmission.com>, Jim <msteitz@xmission.com> wrote:
(BIG CUT)
>I also believe we have become hipersensitive to our own material wants.
>When people support extravagant ecnomic growth, even when it requires
>that our planet face biological meltdown, something is wrong.

Indeed, something is VERY wrong.  In the U.S., there is a continuing drive 
to produce more efficient workers.  High efficiency results in more goods 
and services produced per worker.  If there is not enough demand to consume 
all of these goods and services, people are fired.  Thus, compulsive 
consumerism is built into the free enterprise system.

Just for a moment, assume that each worker is responsible for consuming his 
own "production".  It should be obvious that to keep his job, this worker 
must necessarily find ways to use more resources as he is forced to produce 
more.  And don't think that this worker has the choice of slowing down.  
With competition in the marketplace, and many unemployed people waiting to 
take this worker's job, he has no choice other than to work as hard and 
fast as he can.

I didn't make these rules, but to remain employed, I am more or less forced 
to live by them.  Despite this, I prefer free enterprise to other economic 
systems, because there is more freedom of choice and individual 
accountability.





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