General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Pope Francis ignites a revolt that will overthrow American capitalism [View all]Koinos
(2,792 posts)The usual view is that we have to reduce the population among the very poor who consume very little.
The United States has 5% of the world's population, and it consumes 25% of the world's fossil fuels.
The United States wastes more food each day than the poor around the world have to eat.
In some parts of Africa, each person consumes the equivalent of less than one barrel of oil per year.
Worldwide, the wealthy have too much (manufacturing uses fossil fuels -- materials and power), consume too much, waste too much, pollute too much.
Unfortunately, capitalism requires continual economic growth, which in turn requires increased use of fossil fuels and increased production of mostly plastic crap (made from petroleum) we don't need.
In order to save the planet, we need negative economic growth and a simpler way of life. That would spell the end of capitalism.
I once read that, in order for everyone on earth to have the "standard of living" of average Americans, we would need the equivalent of five planets with the resources of earth.
The earth and capitalism are on a collision course.
ETA: Another interesting statistic: Half of the fossil fuels used by an automobile in its "lifetime" are used in manufacturing it (energy and materials).