The world is a wealth of resources. Form the copper mines in United States, to the vast supplies of oil in the Middle-East, there is plenty. However “plenty” does not mean infinite. There is only so much ore in a mountain and only so much natural gas in a well. Unfortunately, many times human wants exceed what is naturally available. This creates the basis of economics and it also raises a lot of questions, the chief of those being “What happens when everything dries up?” Although most would argue that Man must curb his consumption, I would argue that the only solution would be to grow beyond our current, finite capacities.
Critics of pro-growth want to mainly preserve the natural resources found in rivers, mines, and forests, because somethings are clearly not renewable. Once a vein of gold is removed, it is impossible for it to take root and grow back again next year. Thus the popular saying, “money doesn’t grow on trees” is a neat way of illustrating the absolute scarcity of non-renewable resources. Things like butter or apples can be easily renewed, as long as the trees and cows are maintained. They are “renewable resources.” Anti-growth proponents, are usually more lenient towards the use of renewable resources, but they do make a good argument that the world can only support so many cows and so many trees. Perhaps the most scarce resource of all is just plain old real-estate.
As the human population expands, the amount of space, land, ore, and other natural resources diminishes. Humans always want more than can be supplied. Consider how many people live their lives completely on debt! This is a simple example of someone who is trying to consume more than their paycheck can produce. On a grand, global scale this could be catastrophic to both the environment and humanity. However, because of Man’s remarkable ability to change his environment, he can change resources to be more useful to him. For example, there are only so many caves for a primitive man to live in, but he can create a new cave, thereby expanding the available resources, or, even invent new housing options.
Anti-growth proponents are often environmentalists too. They find that the environment suffers when man’s influence grows. They don’t like to see the prairies converted to corn-fields, nor the forests converted into tree-farms. James Michener, a famous novelist, and the author of “Space” and “Tales of the South Pacific” once said about a stream he once loved:
“This marvelous stream in which I used to fish and where as a boy I used to go swimming, this ribbon of cool water which has been a delight to generations of farmers, was now a fetid body of yellowish water with not a living thing in it. Frogs, fish, waterlilies, bullrushes, and ducks’ nests had all vanished… the loss of my stream had occurred under my vary nose., as it were, and with me making no protest. When I finally saw what had happened, I was ashamed of my inattention. What in those years had I been doing that was more important than saving a stream? If we continue to abuse and destroy our resources, many of us will be asking that question years from now, but by then it will be to late, and some of the precious things we have will not be recoverable.”
He makes an excellent point. Wanton destruction and runaway consumption is very bad indeed. Environmental concerns must always be considered for our sake and the environment. However, it can be equally dangerous to over-protect the environment! Everyone condemns the deforestation of the amazon, but few consider the poor, substance farmer being evicted to protect the jungle. Therefore, the environment must be judiciously protected.
Man can both protect the environment and continue to grow. Although the production capacities curve would say it’s either one or the other, Invention is the parent of entrepreneurism. Our ability to produce can be multiplied. Resources and opportunities can be made. Thus instead of either having our cake, or eating it, we can have two cakes.
I believe that man will continue to invent and discover new ways to put finite and non-renewable resources to creative, new uses. The anti-growth camp thinks that this might be naively optimistic, but I say that the belief that man will somehow hit a ceiling in his ability to invent is unwarranted pessimism.
Ultimately, the world is like a wear-house. It has four walls and a roof. Any accountant can go in a and make an exact reckoning of how much merchandise is on the shelves. The successful owner of the warehouse will eventually want more space. He could destroy his success and live within his “container” or he could expand the business and move to a larger ware-house. Perhaps the world is finite, but the universe is not. If man continues to grow, he will be able to make use of resources beyond earth. Maybe earth wont be the only home of Man anymore.
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