The Mother of All Feedback Loops re Human Society

A short while ago, I posted the following as a small part of a new book description---

"the complex feedback loop involving constant economic growth, which requires more energy, which then creates more complexity in society, which then requires more energy, which then creates even more complexity, etc. is ruining our habitat;".

This essay is an expanded view of that concept.

In our past (and ongoing) pursuit of infinite economic growth, we've created a System, a "Superorganism" according to the ecologist, Nate Hagens.  This System is so large, so filled with complexity, and so out-of-control that a) it can't be fully described, and b) it can't be reined-in, and c) it's ruining the ecosphere.  It's the ultimate Rat-Race.  It's a primary cause of our ecological overshoot.  It's a runaway machine with no one at the helm.  It's literally killing us, not only with pollutants, but also with food insecurity, the stress of job insecurity, inadequate health care facilities, wars, inequality and inequity, declining democracy, and the like.  About twenty percent (maybe less) of Earth's human population are managing to stay afloat in the ongoing energy binge; the rest of us are in a slow descent to subsistence living.

[The twenty-six richest people on Earth own as much wealth as HALF the entire world's population combined.  In a civil society, that's an obscenity.  It's most likely also why the Rich and Powerful (perhaps with a few exceptions) want the runaway System to continue.  They appear to not be long-term, comprehensive, holistic thinkers.]

The ever-increasing complexity is causing significant problems in the arenas of:  global supply chains, manufacturing, transportation, consumption, extraction of natural resources, generation and distribution of electricity, health care equity, income inequality, institutional functioning, and more.  As society becomes more complex, the need for more and more energy increases.

Even a High School biology student could tell you with a high degree of certainty that such a scenario is unsustainable on a planet with finite resources.  Unfortunately, it appears most (not all) of the Powers-That-Be are relying on ideology, not science, to navigate through this current Crisis.  They appear to believe the benefits of our 150-year energy binge are the norm, but fail to see the Mother of All Feedback Loops, and the negative externalities of fossil fuel use.  They also don't seem to grasp the looming minerals problem relative to our necessary transition to Green Energy.  Never mind the soil crisis and the impending food supply shortage.

According to the mining engineer and geologist, Simon Michaux, in about only five years there will be serious problems regarding necessary minerals for Green energy.  In about ten years, agriculture also will be having significant problems.  It all revolves around energy.

If we don't voluntarily reduce our energy use, we'll be forced to by lack of cheap, easily available, and abundant fossil fuels AND lack of cheap, easily available and necessary minerals (about 70 of them) for renewables.  Less energy use will lessen eco-overshoot by leaps and bounds.  It also will slow down the Rat-Race by lessening societal complexity.  This all can happen if we phase out of infinite economic GROWTH, and phase into economic development in a steady state economy.  [See https://steadystate.org/ ]

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well, and Be Aware

Approaching the Net Energy Cliff

 https://steadystate.org/approaching-the-energy-cliff/#comments

It's difficult to see how any objective person can deny it, but apparently (from what I've read and watched), many do.  Combine what's at the link above with the narrative at the link below, and any denial becomes nonsensical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0pt3ioQuNc&list=WL&index=70&t=11s

When reality says there's a high probability troubles are coming soon, it's best to plan for them instead of burying our heads in the sand or relying on a vague notion of "human ingenuity" (and the Market) to somehow see us through.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Unseen Costs of Net Zero", Simon Michaux

To be clear:  YES, we do need to GO GREEN.  The Establishment and much of Main Street, however, apparently are not aware of exactly what it will take to do so.  They also seem to be unaware of the scale needed for such a transformation, and of the entire mining-minerals-metals situation.

The current thinking of most people who support a transition to Green energy appears to be as follows.  Here's what we'll do:

a)  get off petroleum and all its products;

b)  build a large number of Green energy gizmos;

c)  electrify all transport vehicles (personal and commercial);

d)  scale up nuclear energy, if necessary;

e)  recycle and reuse materials;

f)   increase energy efficiency;

g)  use carbon offsets and cap & trade to balance things out; and

h)  with all the above in place, we can continue the pursuit of infinite economic and population growth on our finite planet.

Sounds great, eh?!

But there's a massive problem (which The Establishment doesn't want to acknowledge), and here it is---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvTbB38bwA&list=WL&index=68

Infinite growth is not necessary for humans to thrive, and for the sake of all life on Earth, it must cease.  Do a Search for "CASSE top 10 policies for a steady state economy".  Read anything by Herman Daly.  Neoliberal/neoclassical economics is not sacrosanct.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

This is more or less further confirmation of the hypothesis which states:

 the public and private Powers-That-Be have no intention whatsoever of transitioning fully from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgOEGKDVvsg&list=WL&index=83&t=2182s  [Mining alone will make it unworkable in the needed time frame.]

Title:  "The energy transition delusion:  inescapable mineral realities"

Mark Mills is with the Manhattan Institute and on the faculty at Northwestern U.

https://www.manhattan-institute.org/expert/mark-p-mills

He's a physicist, author, & entrepreneur.

The alternative (not in the video clip above) is to transition away from the paradigm of perpetual, ever-expanding, infinite economic growth on a finite Earth.  https://steadystate.org/  and

https://steadystate.org/discover/definition-of-steady-state-economy/

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

GREAT, innovative article on Gold, Money, & Banking

 The info in the article at the link below is NOT the standard fare found regarding the title above.  I would venture to guess you haven't heard or seen three-fourths of it anywhere.  It's truly ground-breaking.

 https://steadystate.org/money-and-the-steady-state-economy/

The author, Herman E. Daly, died just recently at 84.  He was a giant in Ecological Economics, & pretty much ignored/suppressed by the Establishment.  One of the reasons for that:  he believed "money" is a public utility, & should not be created out of thin air by private banks (which it is, via fractional reserve banking).

R.I.P., Prof. Daly.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Major Flaws in Analyses by Mainstream Talking Heads Regarding Our Ongoing Socio-Eco-Econ Crisis

IIn addition to Alternative News sources (such as Democracy Now!), every day I watch or read at least a couple of Mainstream (corporate) News sources, such as NBC Nightly News or a news magazine article like this one---

https://time.com/6221771/stagflation-crisis-debt-nouriel-roubini/

Using the article above as an example, the following conclusions have become obvious.

It's a brilliant analysis (in terms of reductionism instead of holism) BUT there are two major flaws in it.  Because the author likely is a neoliberal economist (as opposed to an ecological economist such as Herman E. Daly, William E. Rees, Joshua Farley, et al.) he apparently can't see them.

1.  His analysis is strictly within the neoliberal framework of shooting for infinite economic growth (as well as overconsumption) on a finite  planet.  Such is eventually not possible because of the second law of thermodynamics (& other reasons), having to do with energy & entropy.  Without infinite growth - which requires ever more energy each year - mainstream (neoliberal) economics eventually will fail completely, regardless of anything the Fed does & regardless of any changes in monetary & fiscal policy.  The need for more & more energy will kill it.  According to Prof. Nate Hagens, in only the last 30 years we humans have used more energy than in the previous 5,000 years.  If we continue on that path, & with only 2% or so econ growth per year, in 50 years the energy required just to extract and/or capture the amount we'll need will make the whole scenario cost-prohibitive.  

Unknown, future new tech won't be able to help much because getting it always involves using more & more energy.  The solution to all this is adopting some version of a steady-state economy and dumping infinite-growth economics.  Much work is being done toward that end.   https://steadystate.org/ is only one of several non-profits which are dealing with it.  Have a look when you can.

2.  While he gives a slight nod to the Eco-Crisis, he doesn't seem to fully grasp the massive problems with not only climate change, but just as importantly, with soil degradation & erosion, desertification, fresh water availability, deforestation, worldwide toxic pollution, biodiversity loss, nuke contamination, over-harvesting and over-extracting of dwindling natural resources, overpopulation, ocean warming & acidification, the methane "bomb", and more in the eco-realm.  All of those together can collapse a society much more so than stagflation and supply shocks.  Without a sea change in our worldview, our ethics, and our metaphysics, they will...unless we overcome the neoliberal propaganda which has been rampant for the last 40 years.  

People say, "Well, it's deeply complex...it's all relative...it's complicated", etc.  All true, but none of that means we aren't facing multiple threats to our existence, or that Gov't is handling those existential threats well rather than kicking the can down the road, or that Tech will save us and preserve our pursuit of infinite growth.  

Bottom line:  it isn't just about politics, or economics, or climate change.  If we are to survive & thrive, almost everything must change.  People are anxious to "get back to normal".  The trouble with that is:  "normal" was/is the cause of the multifaceted mess we're in now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xr9rIQxwj4&list=WL&index=60

As a species, collectively we appear to be "energy blind" (from the clip immediately above) and wedded to the idea that the temporary "carbon pulse" will continue on for decades & decades more.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

"A Perfect Storm for Inflation...", and What to do About It

 https://steadystate.org/a-perfect-storm-for-inflation-covid-loose-money-and-putin/

and

https://steadystate.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/CASSE_Brief_TrophicStructureOfTheEconomy.pdf

Failure to recognize the importance of the "trophic structure of the economy" is a shortcoming of many policy makers, and it must be overcome if we are to survive & thrive both individually and as a species.  Without healthy, fertile soil, healthy plants, adequate access to fresh water, and clean air, we will be facing more & more economic, ecological, and societal disasters.

Severe inflation is a symptom, and it's not even the most damaging one.  The underlying cause is the disease (or, one could say, dis-ease) of ignorance of thermodynamic, biophysical, and trophic principles.  In plain language, it's the disease of the pursuit of unlimited growth in a finite habitat and overconsumption of energy & goods.  Negative/destructive results of such a pursuit are multi-faceted.  The damage caused by this disease is multi-pronged, and persistent.  Evidence of that can be seen by examining the current state of the world, a state which is the direct result of "growthism".

The way off our destructive path is to begin a gradual transition to a steady state economy.  Open your mind, and find out all you can about that option.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Stock Market 101, the Steady State Economy, & the Trophic Theory of Money

 The U.S. Stock Market appears to be on the cusp of a serious decline, perhaps even an outright Crash.  Here's an ecological economics view of the situation---

https://steadystate.org/sell-your-stocks-and-enjoy-the-slide/

Brian Czech is a long-time ecologist in the realms of both wildlife and humans.  He's the Executive Director of the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.

Here's everything you need to know about the trophic theory of money---

https://royalsoc.org.au/images/pdf/journal/152-1-Czech.pdf

This journal article will make it clear to you why ecological economics is the most reasonable option for attaining a sustainable society, one which is fair, just, and environmentally friendly.  It's a brilliant piece.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

From Researchers: How to Have Resilient Communities, a Good Economy, and a Sustainable World

It has taken about forty to fifty years for neoliberalism and corporate globalization to bring us to what might be the beginning of the path to human extinction.  If not that, it is at the very least, the path to the end of organized human existence.  In other words, the beginning of the end of civil society.

Yes, bold statements.  I write them as an environmental geographer (a human ecologist) who has been involved in various aspects of the ongoing Crisis for almost fifty years.  I started studying human impact on the environment in 1972 at Arizona State U.  After many years as an ecology teacher, an independent consulting ecologist, and a hazmat specialist with the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department, I came to the conclusion stated in the first paragraph above.

I've also concluded that unfortunately too many people on Main Street in the USA don't seem to grasp the severity of the ongoing socio-eco-econ-ethical Crisis.  Nor do they appear to fully understand the cause of it.  And finally, they also don't seem to be aware of the massive paradigm shift in values required to survive and thrive in the future.

In a way, I don't blame them too much.  The neoliberal propaganda is so thick in this country that it's a wonder anyone fully understands the dire consequences of overloading (with pollutants) the waste sink known as our atmosphere.  Or understands the egregious damage to soil and crops from the overuse of synthetic pesticides.  Or understands how biodiverse, healthy, natural ecosystems prevent the spread of disease.  Or understands how the petrochemical industry literally is poisoning our habitat and the natural systems upon which our survival depends.  Or grasps the severity of the nuclear waste problem.  And on & on.

Below are only a few suggestions/needs/actions which can help to take us out of the mess we've created.  I placed one of those articles in all three bold-faced categories.  That's how important I believe it is.  Both videos are in two of the categories.  The Crisis is multi-faceted.  There is no one silver bullet to solve it all.  Keep that in mind.

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Resilience -

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/04/06/The-Earth-Is-Telling-Us-We-Must-Rethink-Our-Growth-Society/

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7563/htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suHCiRlT-oc&list=WL&index=68&t=6s

Economics -

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/04/06/The-Earth-Is-Telling-Us-We-Must-Rethink-Our-Growth-Society/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxfGcwfYlAg

https://steadystate.org/top-10-policies-for-a-steady-state-economy/

https://steadystateeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Degrowth-ISEE-2021-A-Practical-Steady-State-Economy-LK-1.pdf

https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/the-case-for-cooperative-business-ownership-a-mahb-dialogue-with-professor-anu-puusa-university-of-eastern-finland/

Sustainability -

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/04/06/The-Earth-Is-Telling-Us-We-Must-Rethink-Our-Growth-Society/

https://futureu.education/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Richardson_Neoliberalism-environmental-policy_FutureU.pdf

https://stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries/the-nine-planetary-boundaries.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378019314116?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suHCiRlT-oc&list=WL&index=68&t=6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxfGcwfYlAg

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

p.s.  Yes, there's a lot to digest here, but you can't learn much in just a few minutes.  Solutions to the Crisis are many, and complicated.  We humans have become accustomed to "sound-bite" size pieces of information, but solving these problems will require much more than those tiny bits.