Instant Wealth - opportunity or corruption?
Whether we're talking expanded gambling or expanded exploitation of natural resources, there's a strong drive for development first and deal with the consequences second.
Both ultimately would seem to me to be transitory wealth. First any resource/opportunity you "develop" will likely face competition later which cuts into your profits. Secondly for nonrenewable resources once you've depleted your resource it'll be gone forever.
Neither of these risks are great enough to forego development, but they do suggest reason to make wise choices on development. They choice may not be "Should we develop?" but "How fast should we develop?" and "What should we do with the gained profits?"
It seems to me the most important problem with wealth is it's corrupting influence - especially when it is available for a generation or more. Even if the first generation of leaders sees the value of limitations, that position may not be continued.
Is it wise to "build up infrastructure" based on unsustainable wealth? How will it be maintained when the wealth is used up?
"If you built it, they will come." That was a line from the movie "Field of Dreams", but it applies as well to the modern world. Those most successful at exploiting current opportunities will grow and thrive while those opportunies last. What they'll do when opportunities chance, they may be less able to judge.
I accept the view that our modern economy is built upon the bubble of cheap energy. When that bubble bursts, we'll relearn our dependency real quick.
The WISE perhaps are those who get in the game early and get out before the end-game.
We've done well with fossil fuels. We've done things beyond the imagination of 200 years ago.
Is it time to jump ship yet?
Can entire countries jump ship or is unearned power simply too corrupting to imagine escape?
As an individual I can't imagine jumping ship however much I expect it is soon sinking. I can imagine "exploiting advantage" now while preparing for jumping, but it may be nonsense. It may be that riding our high economy simply takes too much time to devote a dual track future. Certainly for individuals, but possibly also for communities as well.
All I know is however difficult it is to plan for something different in the future, I'm sure it won't ever get any easier.
My unwillingness to seriously prepare suggests to me that power is too corrupting and some dark roads of power may be best untraveled.
Both ultimately would seem to me to be transitory wealth. First any resource/opportunity you "develop" will likely face competition later which cuts into your profits. Secondly for nonrenewable resources once you've depleted your resource it'll be gone forever.
Neither of these risks are great enough to forego development, but they do suggest reason to make wise choices on development. They choice may not be "Should we develop?" but "How fast should we develop?" and "What should we do with the gained profits?"
It seems to me the most important problem with wealth is it's corrupting influence - especially when it is available for a generation or more. Even if the first generation of leaders sees the value of limitations, that position may not be continued.
Is it wise to "build up infrastructure" based on unsustainable wealth? How will it be maintained when the wealth is used up?
"If you built it, they will come." That was a line from the movie "Field of Dreams", but it applies as well to the modern world. Those most successful at exploiting current opportunities will grow and thrive while those opportunies last. What they'll do when opportunities chance, they may be less able to judge.
I accept the view that our modern economy is built upon the bubble of cheap energy. When that bubble bursts, we'll relearn our dependency real quick.
The WISE perhaps are those who get in the game early and get out before the end-game.
We've done well with fossil fuels. We've done things beyond the imagination of 200 years ago.
Is it time to jump ship yet?
Can entire countries jump ship or is unearned power simply too corrupting to imagine escape?
As an individual I can't imagine jumping ship however much I expect it is soon sinking. I can imagine "exploiting advantage" now while preparing for jumping, but it may be nonsense. It may be that riding our high economy simply takes too much time to devote a dual track future. Certainly for individuals, but possibly also for communities as well.
All I know is however difficult it is to plan for something different in the future, I'm sure it won't ever get any easier.
My unwillingness to seriously prepare suggests to me that power is too corrupting and some dark roads of power may be best untraveled.
posted by Ares Olympus at 1:55 PM
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