George Gilder, a famous conservative economist writes, “we must get over the illusion that resources are essentially things, which can run out, rather than products of the human will and imagination which in freedom are inexhaustible…. Because economies are governed by thoughts, they reflect not the laws of matter but the laws of mind."  (“Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”)

In response to George Gilder's view - that resources won’t run out because the human mind is inexhaustible - ecological economist, Herman Daly, says, “denying any limits to economic growth imposed by the laws of nature, seems to reflect incompetent use of the very organ alleged to have such inexhaustible powers – the human mind."

Why do we pollute, why are we destroying species and harming ecosystems?  Of course, it’s complicated, but one key reason is because we are free to do it.  We have put limits on that freedom in the past: Conservation Movement 1840-1920, and 1970's Environmental Protection Laws.  I think the climate crisis is saying we are still too free.

A short quiz: What kind of economy do you think produces the most stuff (GDP)?  What kind of economy shares its stuff most equitably?  What economy is most efficient - produces stuff with the least environmental impact?  What economy is most sustainable (shares the earth with future generations for the longest time)?  Naming economies is less helpful than learning how to create the ones we need.