1. The UK government’s pursuit of GDP growth at all costs is an assault on our natural wealth, which will impoverish us all. It might be able to massage the headline figures by converting the living world into money, but it does not improve our lives.🧵
Comments
The fallacy is to not that the natural world into account. It’s probably why a Physicist in @doynefarmer.bsky.social is doing the most cutting edge work.
Honestly, how can we have our economies run by people who think they’re an end in themselves rather than a tool? The economy that doesn’t support the society it arises from is not serving its purpose. And not fit for purpose.
Economic law?
Well, no, it is just greed. By choice 🤷♀️
Growth and economic size is not the problem. Especially at the cost of a future habitable world.
I have even felt so angry, that even as a left ideologue, I have even considered voting Reform. It terrifies me that was even a thought
I know people who are choosing Reform as part of Freedom rhetoric that got Trump in the White House. Include far left, George Galloway in that too.
I'm however not arguing in favour of the Labour growth solution. Any approach that wants to increase consumption and needs more people is a literal dead end.
Labour need some thinking and presenting of vision that will escape that "established economics mindset".
My post Labour election hope has been fading despite my efforts to see hope.
The latest move toward evading judicial review for planning is just Conservative continuation.
Cancer
Their new system is very efficient. Bribe ONE high court judge and the non-reviewable decision comes down that Adani can open a coal pit in the middle of Greater London.
Starmer is not passing laws to destroy democracy, keep an eye open for Rabbit Holes, George.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AgQgrfGPQP0
They are doubling down on a discredited & dated model, still popular in boardrooms, of economic growth as they lack the creativity & courage to pursue sustainable growth
You have and are learning nothing about why working people are moving right
I suggest you pay attention to how elections work & votes are counted
You are totally out of touch with the real world
Whats the alternative?
Whatever it is we need it fast!
Not the Tories or Reform. Not the ultra rich.
The main enemy that the Labour party is focussed on destroying is their own left wing.
One of the reasons I fell out with my economics department at Uni is that I called GDP growth a meaningless measure. I couldn't understand why everyone built models and frameworks on a foundation of sand
https://northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politics/the-multiple-failures-that-led-to-teesworks-scandal/
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/lucy-barnes.bsky.social/post/3lgd6mgbwm22i
"The planning system does not secure our carbon budgets .. or stabilise the climate for our grandchildren"
@drandrewboswell.bsky.social on his legal challenges to high carbon roads & carbon capture projects
WATCH: https://youtu.be/MiY7vFYlULA?si=YDKdJtgsYhTr_Bnv
UK land is 8% urban, 92% rural.
Living standards would be dire at 0% urban, but what's the appropriate upper limit of development?
70% of UK land is farming and 85% of that is for ecologically barren livestock farming.
We can build and have better ecology.
We can also consider livestock farming net ecological and economic benefits compared to X% of that vast area converting to forests, rewilding and infrastructure.
Arguably, much of the livestock land is grass fields owned simply as a passive investment asset.
Arguing without facts is futile.
The problem isn't over grazing. It's how much land and water are required per 1000 KCalories produced from that food source. For example
https://ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets
but sources are abundant.
My understanding (limited) is that much of the UK is no good for growing arable crops?
#diet #LandUse
The money exists. Just the obsession with wealth over a good life and world is dominant.
https://join.greenparty.org.uk
It's not necessarily the case that wanting to preserve the planet equates to fairness. Look up "eco fascism".
@globalgreens.bsky.social
The Labour Party was set up to advance the economic interests of the working class not to be self indulgent in policies that the people they represent have little interest in
But it’s worth pointing out that this government is talking about economic growth, rather than actively stimulating growth through its policies.
Exhibit A - the Budget.
Exhibit B - official and other growth forecasts.
along with Monetary policy,IR inflation control & trickledown economics.
All to distract you from wealth redistribution.
GDP has grown continually over the last 50yrs, yet young people have far less opps now. Most need help from their parents or they're screwed.
#Democide
The Economy = jobs, prosperity etc
- and
The Economy = GDP
- therefore
GDP = jobs, prosperity etc.
The trick is to use 'The Economy' to mean two different things, and then conflate them to give a false conclusion.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is notorious for his three word slogans.
Mark Carney, now running for the leadership of the Liberals, is saying that Justin Trudeau fell victim to the "far left," and that the free markets are the solution to everything.
If there is fallout from this, it'll be the poorest who end up paying for it - again.
"What is your job description?"
Because it's *not* "make as much money as possible", not even if the money is for the whole country, not one person.
It was the duty of the government to make sure everyone...
https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2023/06/rishi-sunak-silicon-valley-sovereign-individual
There’s one thing that is strangely not being done: TAX THE RICH. The rich own our assets. Tax the assets.
More from https://youtu.be/YeH5UXYEzPE?si=Croz3ab6yDnERxfZ
1. Any potential growth wouldn't be felt for decades;
2. Overall national growth bumps are rarely seen after airport expansions. Higher passenger numbers equate to increased hub connection passers through.
How?
https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanpienews.bsky.social/post/3lgdqkmpwgk2s
Working people have little to no interest in Green policies
Even in that niche area I'd hazard figures tell us service wage costs are the factor
"*I* shouldn't *have* to care."
Meanwhile, you may not be interested in climate change, but it's not going to get any less interested in you.
As Pie says you have abandoned the working class
History seems to have repeated itself, only from a lower baseline.
In these bleak times there is a dire need for a vision of what good looks like.
Economics should no longer be conducted without understanding and encompassing Environment and Energy: The Three 'E's.
So I assume it's a good idea?