the huge reasons capitalism became intrinsic to the vast growth of planetary wealth and wellbeing that is the only thing most of us have ever known. And apparently can't imagine being without.
VASTLY UN/UNDER-REGULATED, UNCONTROLLED capitalism is indisputably part of the huge problems we've brought ourselves to. However, it is NOT going to collapse and come to an end of itself, leading naturally to something better. That's wishful thinking, but serious, very knowledgeable people are studying what will work.
A first consideration is energy production. The 7.8 BILLION people on earth need current levels of energy maintained to avoid massive die-off, under ANY economic system. Capitalism, like any alternative imagined, needs adequate sustainable energy. Capitalism does not require fossil fuel energy. Replacement with sustainable energy from various sources is the future we already see because we must go there. Under ANY economic system.
As for the economic system, if there was something to replace capitalism that could enable a relatively quick and untraumatic transition for the support of 7.8 BILLION people, we would be seeing it happen in various nations. (Advanced European nations all have capitalist economies; it's not happening there.)
Again, remember, that our current populations and levels of wellbeing were made possible BY the engine of capitalism and energy development. Can't be eliminated without replacement in place.
The "collapse" being imagined could lead to by far the largest human disaster in the history of our planet.
Sustained failures of economic systems that currently support those over 7.8 BILLION people, assisted by huge problems like global warming, could lead to the deaths of billions, not just hundreds of millions. Those could also foreseeably include people blessed by being born into advanced nations; our privileged lives are interdependent with the rest of humanity. Infant formula isn't the only thing that can suddenly disappear from the shelves of markets across the U.S. Everything in supermarkets, big box stores and pharmacies can. And food's not like gravity -- it can disappear quickly -- and it can stay gone.
Gotta first protect what we have in order to survive. And we have to plan for everyone to survive, not just assume our privileged location will protect us and stop thinking with that.
(But, btw, GOT WATER?)
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