Chilean economist, Manfred Max-Neef, spoke candidly with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now regarding a coming economic-biospheric catastrophe. His astute ability to directly connect these two concepts was a refreshing reprieve from the same old status quo narratives of political pundits, corporate media outlets, and Democrat and GOP maneuverings. He firmly established the thesis that our economic woes are rooted in a toxic sludge of personal and corporate greed, a drive to develop infinite growth on a planet of only finite resources, and an inability to humanize economics so that, paradoxically, in emphasizing humanity we are inevitably forced to value biodiversity and nature for its own intrinsic worth.
For those critical thinkers that would listen, please check out the following link for a gist of his work:
http://www.activistpost.com/2010/09/dramatically-poisonous-economy-heading.html
Ultimately, what Max-Neef calls "Barefoot Economics" promises hope for a "new beginning" after a coming cataclysmic economic collapse. His model devises an economy serving life and humanity. In other words, his scathing critique carries with it a message of hope.
Honestly, the "hope" and "change" that Obama's campaign promised can only really take root if we are able to peer into the maelstrom that is our currently crowded, interdependent, and corrupt world economy. Health care reform cannot alone reform a system designed to placate the debt addled middle-class with diversions while banks enroll the Government in their sometimes naive, sometimes well-meaning, and sometimes vile and cynical schemes.
Somehow Anti-Corporate has become "Anti-Business", and concern for the environment still remains a kind of naive game for "bleeding hearts" and rancorous idealists rather than a serious and primary concern in public policy and economic and business models.
There is nothing "fringe" about concern for the very basis of any tangible economics---it's the Biosphere Stupid!
Perri M.
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