We
live in a
capitalist world (no I am not knocking capitalism or suggesting there is a better alternative)
in which the
economy depends on making us feel dissatisfied with everything
in our
lives so that we'll buy stuff to try and fix it.
The aim of a progressive political
economy ought to be forging a resilient and balanced
economy where people and businesses can plan ahead; delivering more egalitarian outcomes that narrow the inequalities of wealth and ownership which characterise modern
capitalist economies; and sustaining growth that is necessary both for rising
living standards and improvements
in public services.
The problems are: Lack of a constructive, earth nurturing moral outlook, ideology that encourages expanding
capitalist economies that do not factor ecological capital or its destruction into their bottom line, greed as a way of
life, corporate imperatives and power, intentionally misinformed or ignorant public (especially
in the United States and China), inertia, rampant bad design
in energy generation, housing, transportation, community planning, consumer products and packaging and materials cycling, etc..