Comments on: Against Being Positive!

By: Russell Nelson

Russell Nelson — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 07:03:23 +0000

Sigh. John, products that truly help people usually require them to change their habits (e.g. switching from buying water in bottles to buying a bottle for their water) and thus NEED to have a demand created for them. People don’t WANT to change their habits.

Perhaps you’ll be able think more clearly about economics if you take the time to study economics? It’s a lot more subtle than you think.

By: John Hopkins

John Hopkins — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:08:49 +0000

Corrected website

By: John Hopkins

John Hopkins — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:58:31 +0000

Zero economic growth is a hard pill to swallow but we better look forward to it as far better than uncontrollable suicide. We must stop buying things we do not need. We must stop assuming we need vacations. We must stop creating demand for products. We must educate people to think trice and not buying. The developing world is looking at us for leadership. They outnumber us. We better show then be more efficient than us.

By: jeanne gimblett

jeanne gimblett — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:47:09 +0000

Zero growth may not be the answer, but it is a starting point for ideas and work towards a more equal and fairer society. Such a society would not need to exploit the planet’s limited resources and we would be working towards balance. So lets say we cut out the ‘middle man’ and drink water thus saving the aluminum for the can of soda and reducing the waste?

By: Tony Weekes

Tony Weekes — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:47 +0000

My friends in West Yorkshire – with whom I stayed after the weekend at Woodbrooke – have succeeded (with much help from many others) in making a difference. They have persuaded the local council to drop a plan to demolish the central library in order to make space for a shopping mall. It took months of careful hard work: lobbying of councillors; letters to, and an alliance with the press; coalitions with other citizens’ groups; the provision of well-researched briefings.

Can we do it? Yes, we can! But the fruit doesn’t easily drop off the tree. It requires much determined effort – and need us to be well informed both about what we want … as well as what we don’t want

By: Nick Matthews

Nick Matthews — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:21:43 +0000

Thanks John.
Moral.
Don’t rely on spell checker!

By: John Stephens

John Stephens — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:23:19 +0000

Hands can be wrung, but not rung.

By: Russell Nelson

Russell Nelson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:30:50 +0000

Oh, and another thing: it’s completely absurd to talk about a zero growth economy. Let’s say there’s a pile of pollution over there, and I get paid to clean it up. I’ve grown the economy and saved the environment … how is that bad?

Let’s say that somebody is making something and producing some waste. I figure out how to use that waste. I’ve grown the economy and saved the environment … how is that bad?

Let’s say that I figure out how to make a soda can using less aluminum. I’ve grown the economy and saved the environment … how is that bad?

You can be ignorant of economics, but economics isn’t going to be ignorant of you.

By: Russell Nelson

Russell Nelson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:27:24 +0000

The biggest risk to peace and justice is government overlegislation. Our economy is highly legislated now, and the actions being taken in Washington are only aimed at legislating it more. We’re now at a point in the world’s history where we need more freedom to adapt to changes … not more restrictions making it harder to adapt.

Yes, I’m sad and depressed, but it’s only because of nonsense like global warming and free markets collapsing. What ridiculous ideas!