I just got done watching this documentary. Collapse (part 1) Video Collapse (part 2) Video Capitalism is based off the assumption there will be infinite economic growth, is it not? If we live on a finite planet, with finite resources, isn't it inevitable there is going to be a MAJOR collapse in the near future? What happens when we run out of oil? It's already estimated that Saudi Arabia has passed its peak oil. We can't continue on this path we are on. Don't get me wrong, RP will help more than any one else right now, but eventually we will need to get on a system like a resource-based economy highlighted in the Venus Project if we want to ensure the survival of our species. Thoughts? Comments?
Key word is eventually. My vision is that capitalism births innovations and inventions that will eventually render capitalism itself useless because the means of production will be available to all people. I base this off my own personal belief that one day 4 criteria will be met, that we have not yet met. Hence the word eventually. 1: A machine will be invented that can change the molecular structure of all matter and change it into anything we want. We could transform rocks into a basic form of matter that we could then transform into for instance gold (see number 3). 2: A machine will be invented that can scan objects so that it knows the exact molecular structure of for instance a car. 3: A machine will be invented that can "print" objects layer by layer, using the known molecular structure of that object. Criteria number 1 and 2 are crucial for this one. This machine could reproduce itself so that it will eventually be available to all. 4: We find some kind of (practically) endless supply of energy. Call me a dreamer and unrealistic, but I'm talking about a timeframe that could potentially be thousands of years. I think this is the beginning of the future: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ-aWFYT_SU]ZCorp's 3D Printer replicates a wrench - YouTube[/ame]
As opposed to stopping at some point and saying, "That's enough. We'll stop progressing now"? What alternative are you suggesting? Your conclusion is correct in that there will be a 'collapse' of sorts, but your reasoning is unsound. Scarcity doesn't necessarily involve a collapse. Peak oil is a myth. It's been debunked on this site several times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil#Criticisms The Venus project has also been discussed several times on here. Stefan Molyneux provides a good critique of the Venus Project and why a resource-based economy is inferior. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxjwBZjADiM]Freedomain Radio Debates The Venus Project/Zeitgeist Moving Forward (Peter Joseph) - YouTube[/ame] https://www.google.com/search?q=Stefan+Molyneux+Venus+Project G. Edwards Griffin on the subject (the man who wrote 'A Creature from Jekyll Island').
there will always be problems... i think RP will help people learn exactly what they are instead if ignoring or sugar coating them... then it's up to us to put pressure on and get the problems fixed.
Empire or Ron Paul. What will it be? What will the American people decide? Do we even have a choice? But then again. If we do choose empire and they erode our civil liberties away brick by brick and our dollar inevitably clashes what will we be left with? We'll be an insignificant piece of land that's engulfed in totalitarianism...by the rate we're going.
The only way any of that is possible is if we develope free energy first. That is absolutely crucial. And I know it's possible, it's just a huge step though to transition and I'm not sure we have enough time transition the way things are going.
If oil were to run out people would invent new ways to produce energy. There would be a huge demand and a huge profit to be made. That's the nice thing about greedy people, they'll figure it out.
Diebold!!!!! lol what a fascinating company name for electronic voting machines. We're dying boldly alright.
I'm on my iPhone so I'm not gonna write a long response but I will address the criticism of peak oil. It seems that the people calling it bs are oil companies and the government...
in a true capitalist state, it makes the inherent assumption that monetary expansion and wealth amounts to societal happiness.
Here's why I support libertarianism over socialism. You're not required to participate in the "communal effort" or whatever you folks call it, or the "social contract". See I aim high, if I ever decided to live in the woods I'd be freer under a freedom philosophy. So it's like, force me to buy things and I'll kill you.
What happens when we run out of water and food? I hate to say it but the movie is right when it says our society isn't exempt from the laws of physics. Population used to be steady at roughly 1 billion I believe it was until we started inventing and industrializing. Resources are required to keep this production and evolution going. Once we start peaking on many different resources, the collapse WILL begin. There is no question about whether this collapse will happen its when. If the population is growing at an unnatural rate that's energy being put out, it's a fact that the energy must be recycled and the population will decrease dramatically. Lack of resources will cause that depopulation.
i'm sure you can pitch up a tent in the middle of the woods and live off nature in both societies, no matter if it's libertarian or socialist, as long as the government allows to lease that property to you.