I have a question that begs a real answer.

posted by The Vidiot @ 3:09 PM Permalink

Every time I read a rosy article about the future -- and usually that future has something to do with the messianic Obama -- the catch phrase is always "sustainable development."

One of President Barack Obama's historic contributions will be a grand act of policy jujitsu - turning the crushing economic crisis into the launch of a new age of sustainable development. His macroeconomic stimulus may or may not cushion the recession, and bitter partisan fights over priorities no doubt lie ahead. But Obama is already setting a new historic course by reorienting the economy from private consumption to public investments directed at the great challenges of energy, climate, food production, water and biodiversity.

Now I ask you; who is the development sustainable for? Me? You? Probably not. More than likely it's sustainable in that businesses will continue to make profit, corporations will continue to exploit and resources will be managed for the benefit of the few. THAT'S what sustainable development means. It has nothing to do with you or me. We are nobodies.

"Sustainable development" may sound all warm and fuzzy, but the reality is cold and stark. One always has to ask "growth for whom?" or "sustainable for whom?" I understand that we've been conditioned to think that growth is good and sustainable development will benefit us and generations to come. The truth is our condition of enslavement to the State will continue, indefinitely unless we rise up and change our circumstances.

Labels: capitalism, sustainable development