Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Green vs. Classic Economics

Green Economics is based on three axioms:
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- It is impossible to expand forever into a finite space.
- It is impossible to take forever from a finite resource.
- Everything on the surface of the Earth is interconnected.
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Green Economics is seen to be encroaching into Classic Economics turf, and currently is being resisted somewhat successfully by classic economists who counter that Eco Economics is a fad and controversial at best. However, there is a climate of erosion to that resistance. That is because environmental science has pointed out that the three primary axioms of Green Economics places limits on classic economics which cannot be rationally disputed by classic economic theorists or practitioners; their Achilles Heel is in fact, that Classic Economics is based on a premise of scarcity of resources which sets the price point of resources in the free marketplace (or abundance, which depresses a particular resource price).
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Green Economics melds quality and the sustainability of the environment into the Classic Economic mix. As examples, with Green Economics, the here-to-fore never regarded impact on the air that all plant, animal and human life breathes on earth becomes a function of the energy and goods we consume in our daily lives. For consumers, the energy for these things is supplied for the most part by carbon dioxide emitting generation facilities and forged in factories from the same kind of energy. With Green Economics, it is recognized that the political unrest that can be fomented in terrorist sympathizer countries with funding from automobile oil for fuel that is purchased for export, becomes a function of negative capital risk in the open market place when factoring in terrorist acts funded by oil revenue profits. Sweet Crude is the commodity which becomes carbon emissions, which has the affect, much the same as the economic effects of drugs, by causing suppression of the lives of those that "benefit" from being high consumers. Both examples are tied together by Green Economics Axiom 3.
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While amoral global business interests pay millions for ads that lie about their environmental sensitivity the air we breath and our water and food and homes and cities are being poisoned in ever increasing increments.
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While the dollar cost for fossil energy that drives economic engines is relatively cheap, its eco cost is enormous. As it happens, in the face of emergent technology the cost, in terms of carbon footprint growth, is no longer necessary. Tidal generators, stream and riverbed mounted generators; PhotoVoltaic and Focused Solar tracking steam generation as well as solar water heaters and Wind Turbine power generation and Geothermal Energy are all clean, zero carbon footprint technologies which are just waiting for universal acceptance as energy generators of preference.
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It is only the profits underwritten and guaranteed by state legislators and the state appointed regulatory bodies of utility organizations in so-called unregulated utility industries that impede the phase-over to alternative energy in this country and other nations that foolishly follow our lead. Once zero carbon footprint sources of energy production become mainstream, the cost/benefit ratio affected by economies of scale will improve at a rapid clip.
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For vehicles, current Lithium Ion leading edge battery packs, some with 16 minute recharge capability, that can convert already high mileage hybrid cars, trucks and busses with mileage in the 30 to 55 mile range into plug-in capable cars (called PHEV's), trucks and busses that are able to deliver 100+ miles of range, after conversion to newer, lighter, higher capacity than stock, battery packs. While they are charged from the net-grid, the energy is domestic and therefore are not being used to make profits for foreign governments that fund terrorism under the table.
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We have had the means to wean off of fossil burning energy, we just apparently did not have the will to affect a major change toward Green Economics. That time is now.
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It should be clear by now that no social being on earth can avoid their responsibility to our common environment. It is time for individuals like you and I and organizations to evolve our thinking and actions to accept Green Economic axioms. We must forever make them an integral part of our decision making. It is incumbent on each one of us to supplant and set aside elected officials and organizations upon which we overly depend that cannot or will not adapt or adopt active green initiatives. We must make changes ourselves and make our representatives adopt Green Economics. It is time to step up or find and appoint, vote for and support those individuals and businesses that are evolving toward a green, sustainable non-poluting future.
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Old fossils and fossil energy are on their way to extinction. I for one choose to evolve, adapt, survive and create an environment now, that future generations can survive well in, as well.
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Warren Richardson green.metroplex@yahoo.com

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