IPFS Frosty Wooldridge

CONNECTING THE DOTS

More About: Economy - Economics USA

STEADY STATE ECONOMIC MODEL LONG OVERDUE

The United States and most of the world’s trading nations find themselves in a self-imposed, suicidal feedback loop. The economic model relied upon throughout the 20th century cannot and will not survive in the 21st century.

 

“What model?” you ask. Answer: capitalism’s unending growth, production, consumption and pollution without-end-model!

 

Today we discover water shortages, energy scarcity, climate change, bio-diversity in peril and a Pandora’s Box of accelerating reactions to humanity’s ‘overshoot’ upon this finite planet.

 

At the same time, humans keep pounding this planet with ever greater demands via hyper-population growth.  In the 21st century, that growth cannot continue.

 

Writer George E. Plumb, March 9, 2009, presented a sobering reality check: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009903090308 , “My Turn: new economic model helps Earth”.

 

Plumb said, “There is a very close relationship between the economic crisis we are facing, the many environmental problems stressing the Earth and population growth. It is time for a new economic model, one that better serves both the needs of people and the Earth.”

 

Plumb correctly exposed the root cause of our economic crisis stems from our myth that the economy can grow forever.  That myth becomes more critically unfeasible with cheap oil no longer cheap and/or available.

 

 

“The problem with the growth economy as an economic model is that it conflicts with the principles of physics and ecology,” said Plumb.  “There is a limit to economic growth, and there is mounting evidence that global economic growth is having negative effects on the long-term health of the environment, resulting in climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution of our air and water.”

 

Plumb took the words out of every environmentalist’s mouth.  We live on a finite planet with finite resources.  Oil, that incredible energy source, quickly fades in our rearview mirrors.

 

“Fortunately there is an alternative economic system: the steady state economy as first envisioned by economist Herman Daly,” said Plumb.  “The key features of a steady state economy are: (1) sustainable scale, in which economic activities fit within the capacity provided by ecosystems; (2) fair distribution of wealth; and (3) efficient allocation of resources. A steady state economy can be compared to a mature and healthy Vermont forest ecosystem where a wide variety of fauna and flora living in

healthy balance, but the volume is not growing.

 

“Leading the movement to transition to a different economy is the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (www.steadystate.org). CASSE states that "Environmental protection, economic sustainability, national security, and international stability are all threatened by perpetually increasing populations and per-capita production and consumption."

 

Joshua Farley, Ph.D., co-authored with Herman Daly in 2003 the book, Ecological Economics: Principles and Applications. It’s worth every page reading it.

 

“How do we transition from our present growth economy to a steady state economy? Like any major change, this will require a paradigm shift,” said Plumb.  “The same fiscal policy tools that have been used to promote an economic

growth policy will need to be used to promote a steady state economy. We will have to gradually readjust the current spending, tax, interest rate, banking, regulation and trade policies that are set for growth.”

 

What can we do as individuals?  You may begin with www.transitionus.ning.com and become part of a worldwide effort at the grassroots level as you engage in steady state economic activities: buy local, buy organic, vacation near home, limit consumption, grow your own food and can it and move toward green/conservation energy. In Colorado: www.transitioncolorado.ning.org.

 

Plumb said, “According to an analysis of the Global Footprint Network's ecological footprint data, U.S. bio-capacity -- domestic surface area available to produce resources and assimilate waste -- provides only 48 percent of our annual subsistence. Fifty-two percent is gained by importing bio-capacity, drawing down resource reserves and degrading habitat. It also calculates that to align population with actual domestic bio-capacity the United States could support only 147 million – 158 million less than today!”

 

George Plumb of Washington is a co-founder and president of Vermonters for a Sustainable Population and the author of the Disappearing Vermont report which documents with 50 indicators how Vermont's environment is changing.

www.vermonterssustainablepopulation.com

 

I applaud other writers for their work in raising steady state economics into the main stream.  Mike Folkerth, author of The Biggest Lie Ever Believed.  Additionally, Dr. Brian Czech wrote Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train. Both promote a sustainable future for humans and fellow travelers.

 

In the coming decade, year by year, we face ever growing environmental confrontations.  The only way our civilization might survive stems from a paradigm shift which encompasses steady-state economics, along with “National Sustainable Population Policy”; “National Water Usage Policy”; “National Environmental Impact Policy.” 

 

That includes a balance of human activity via conservation, and economic stasis.

 

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To take action:  First and foremost, join www.numbersusa.com and become one of nearly a million Americans making impact with pre-written faxes and phone calls to change immigration policies toward a stable future. Bi-partisan and highly effective!

 

Second, join www.thesocialcontract.com for up to date information via the Social Contract Quarterly. Exceptional publication to keep you informed.

 

www.fairus.org ; www.vdare.com ; www.alipac.us ; www.firecoalition.com ; www.cairco.org ; www.limitstogrowth.com ; www.capsweb.org ;  www.populationmedia.org ; www.worldpopulationbalance.org ; LimitsToGrowth.org

 

Visit this site for a rendition of Colorado Governor Lamm’s speech: “How to Destroy America”

http://usawakeup.org/HowToDestroyAmerica.htm

Must see DVD:  “Blind Spot”

This movie illustrates America’s future without oil, water and other resources to keep this civilization functioning.

 

In Canada: Tim Murray,

Director Immigration Watch Canadawww.immigrationwatch.org

Vice President Biodiversity First http://biodiversityfirst.googlepages.com/index.htm

Blog http://sinkinglifeboat.blogspot.com  


Watch the DVD movie: “Blind Spot”—Exceptional movie with top scientists candidly discussion what we face as a civilization if we continue on our hyper-population growth path.

Please visit Annie Leonard at www.storyofstuff.com for a compelling and highly interesting 20 minute video concerning our high consumption, highly wasteful and unsustainable society.  She educates and provides avenues for you to make a difference.

Visit this web site by Chris Martenson: http://www.chrismartenson.com/environmental_data 

In Colorado: visit www.soprisfoundation.org for information how you can network with like-minded folks to create a more sustainable future for Colorado and other states. 

 

View CNN’s “Planet in Peril” with Anderson Cooper and Lisa Ling:

 

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/planet.in.peril/

Ghost of Thomas Paine—compelling video of common sense

http://www.lawatchdog.com/index.html#anchor_2296

 

 

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA:  D.C.:  (202)224-2854 comment@whitehouse.gov

Books to read:  “The Long Emergency” by James Howard Kunstler

                         “Peak Everything” by Richard Heinberg

                         “Too Many People” by Lindsey Grant

Become a member of “Frosty’s Press Agent Corps” whereby you volunteer a few hours to send out emails to top TV and radio hosts to offer top speakers on America’s overpopulation crisis driven by unending immigration.  Email
frostyw@juno.com and receive two informational letters showing you exactly what to do.

 

Roy Beck's "IMMIGRATION BY THE NUMBERS" is the single best educational appreciation of America's future if we allow ourselves to add another 100 million people. Just click on this site for the most sobering experience of your children's future.

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4094926727128068265&q=roy+beck&hl=en

 

Roy Beck gives a graphic presentation of our fate if we continue to allow legal and illegal immigration to swamp this country. If you have children, you will be particular unnerved at their fate. I know Roy Beck personally and his integrity and knowledge stand at the top. Pass this web site 14 minute video far and wide across America to educate everyone you know. We either stop this human tsunami or the future of this country will be much like Rome's. We must, as a nation and a civilization, move to secure our country from this massive, unrelenting population overload from a line that never ends. This will be the most compelling 14 minute video of your life.

 

Once you see it, go to my web site for action items www.frostywooldridge.com and join www.numbersusa.com to become a weekly faxer of pre written letters and join the phone calling teams.

 

 Bob Woodruff of ABC asked input from all citizens concerning the future of our planet.  Go to www.earth2100.tv for a sobering reality check as to what we face and to what I have been writing about for the past 20 years.  Our ‘window’ to change to a balanced population and non-polluting energy diminishes every day we listen to irresponsible media and thus ignore the blatant symptoms manifesting all over America and the planet.

 

From: Frosty Wooldridge 

 

This three minute interview with Adam Schrager on “Your Show” May 4, 2008, NBC Channel 9 News, addresses the ramifications of adding 120 million people to USA in 35 years and six million people to Colorado as to water shortages, air pollution, loss of farmland, energy costs and degradation of quality of life.  In the interview, Frosty Wooldridge explains the ramifications of adding 120 million people to the USA in 35 years. He advances new concepts such as a “Colorado Carrying Capacity Policy”; “Colorado Environmental Impact Policy”; “Colorado Water Usage Policy”; “Colorado Sustainable Population Policy”.  Nationally, the USA needs a "National Sustainable Population Policy" to determine the carrying capacity of this nation for the short and long term.  Wooldridge is available for interviews on radio and TV having interviewed on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and FOX.

 

Go to:  www.frostywooldridge.com  and click on “Audio/Video” tab

 

Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents – from the Arctic to the South Pole – as well as six times across the USA, coast to coast and border to border.  In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece.  He presents “The Coming Population Crisis in America: and what you can do about it” to civic clubs, church groups, high schools and colleges.  He works to bring about sensible world population balance at www.frostywooldridge.com

 

 

 

 

 
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