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Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
I think a lot of the problems we face in the future (overpopulation, water privatization, climate change) are, unfortunately, overly complicated by capitalism.
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China underwent massive surges in population when they were a hardcore centralized government. Russia also had population surges before the wall fell. I think that child birth increases have more to do with having no consumer goods and poor quality state supplied condoms then free enterprise. Canada the U.S. Great Britian and other developed capitalist nations seem to have neutral or very small population growths. If anything I think that population growths could be mapped based on the success of a countries economy. It seems to me that most people in a first world economy want to limit family sizes for economic reasons, and family planning is better as oppossed to those in the third world where a bigger family means more hands to help out the family.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
In these countries where overpopulation is going to be a real problem, India and China being the main two, their economic growth is a huge part of the motivation to grow the population. They desire things (personal wealth, luxuries) that are, on a scale that large, completely unattainable.
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I don't know if I really agree that the two large families and economic prosperity are linked. I think its more along the line of tradition and family growth are linked. If someone desires personal wealth and luxuries then you're really not going to have a big family, you're going to limit the mouths to feed. Whereas in developing nations where traditions dictate that the woman is soley a baby incubator you're going to have a large family and you're priorites aren't as focused around big screen T.V.'s.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
It's been said 100 times, but water is the oil of the next century. It's scary to think the single most required aspect of life on this planet is going to become a tradable commodity. The most amazing part right now is how quietly the corporate world is preparing itself to take over the watersheds of North America and elsewhere.
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I agree markets are set by demand, and water will be in demand. It would be irresponsible of a company not to look at water and thing $3.00 a half litre. At some point we're either going to see a boost in exploration of more water on this planet, or mass de'salination of ocean water, or we're going to invade the peacefull neutralions of omicron perci 6 and take their water.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
As for climate change, I'm sure the greed of business will find some way to benefit from it.
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And that hasn't started happening already? Wait until the carbon credit trading market really starts in full force in Europe, it'll be worse then Enron who manufactured blackouts to boost profits.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
This isn't to say ending capitalism would end these problems, more just that the rapid pace we've lived at for the past 100 years simply cannot continue.
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I doubt that ending capitalism would solve anything. Mankinds greatest leaps forward in terms of sciences, engineering, electronics etc usually happen in a Capalism system.
The biggest drag on a capitalistic system is the very people that serve the system.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
It also seems pretty obvious that we have to stop eating beef and quit growing corn.
Who knows.
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Or start eating people, hey its an obvious solution, the average person is 98% water, we need to start breeding human stock who can be effectively butchered for their fresh tasty water and beef jerky.