Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Environment & Energy

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)

7. Not necessarily.

Reply to DonCoquixote (Reply #6)

Mon Oct 6, 2014, 12:28 PM

Oct 2014

But they are at least politically able to force de-growth on their citizens if they become convinced it's necessary. Democracies have to use tools like education or "market mechanisms", which take a long time, aren't very effective at shifting public opinion, and are open to subversion by corporate interests.

Dictatorships are just as (or even more) open to corporate subversion. The only advantage they would have in this situation is the ability to force such a difficult path on their citizens, but if they have already been captured by corporate interests, even that advantage is moot.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

21 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Is democracy compatible with de-growth? [View all] GliderGuider Oct 2014 OP

Alas. Totally agree with your post Bigmack Oct 2014 #1

The most important aspect of "de-growth" is in reducing the total population. Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #2

Very thought-inducing points. 2naSalit Oct 2014 #3

Universal education of women has led to population declines on point Oct 2014 #4

Dictatorships did address (if not reverse) excessive growth in both Edo Japan and China GliderGuider Oct 2014 #5

would dictatorships really reduce growth? DonCoquixote Oct 2014 #6

Not necessarily. GliderGuider Oct 2014 #7

We have to break our stereotype that a growing economy is good... ffr Oct 2014 #8

Growth is easy. Everyone gets more. Hooray! The2ndWheel Oct 2014 #10

Even an authoritarian government needs to grow to be effective The2ndWheel Oct 2014 #9

That's one of the things that derailed China's OCP. GliderGuider Oct 2014 #11

Communites that successfully implement "degrowth" do not show up in the history books. hunter Oct 2014 #12

I agree that political labels have little relevance. GliderGuider Oct 2014 #13

Interesting question, GliderGuider. I suspect a sufficient number of citizens are right now Hortensis Oct 2014 #14

There were some improvements, in our own power plants for example... hunter Oct 2014 #18

You make a good argument for population control madokie Oct 2014 #15

The arguments are sound, but arguments don't carry the day on this issue. GliderGuider Oct 2014 #16

Like seeking volunteers for the Soylent factory One_Life_To_Give Oct 2014 #17

The only experience we have of actual degrowth pscot Oct 2014 #19

Wealthy elites are less concerned about AGW than the public cprise Oct 2014 #20

What major developed nations are neither oligarchic nor authoritarian? GliderGuider Oct 2014 #21