You make excellent points, in a very well-written way.
Two minor objections- "we" don't have the socio-political power to determine anything about collapse, contrary to the starry-eyed Joanna Macy.
And we shouldn't use terms that are completely antithetical to reality.
There is no "democracy," that is, the socio-political rule of the common people. Voting occurs in a a process dominated by dark corporate money in the US, given full autonomy in the Citizens United ruling. Business and industry rule that process. from top to bottom.
I recently came across news about America's 250th anniversary and was surprised to learn that the average lifespan of an empire is also around 250 years. It certainly feels like we are in the late stages of capitalism, especially with the recent election results and ongoing issues. Each day seems to bring us closer to that average empire's end.
Yep. Another framing I’ve seen (and agree with) views the empire-in-question not as the USA but as the Enligtenment-onward, globalized, industrialized, resource-sucking superorganism. The clock started in the 1600s and the whole thing that’s going into decline is planetary-scale.
I’m just reading Overshoot now and getting my head around it all. Your article sums up nicely a terrible thing. Thank you for writing this piece.
Thank you, and yes, Overshoot is a pivotal book (although I don’t agree with Catton’s remarks at the end about industrial energy possibilities)
No spoilers please : ) I’m on chapter 10.
You make excellent points, in a very well-written way.
Two minor objections- "we" don't have the socio-political power to determine anything about collapse, contrary to the starry-eyed Joanna Macy.
And we shouldn't use terms that are completely antithetical to reality.
There is no "democracy," that is, the socio-political rule of the common people. Voting occurs in a a process dominated by dark corporate money in the US, given full autonomy in the Citizens United ruling. Business and industry rule that process. from top to bottom.
Otherwise, great piece.
Agreed on both points. I'll think about rewriting the ending. :)
I recently came across news about America's 250th anniversary and was surprised to learn that the average lifespan of an empire is also around 250 years. It certainly feels like we are in the late stages of capitalism, especially with the recent election results and ongoing issues. Each day seems to bring us closer to that average empire's end.
Yep. Another framing I’ve seen (and agree with) views the empire-in-question not as the USA but as the Enligtenment-onward, globalized, industrialized, resource-sucking superorganism. The clock started in the 1600s and the whole thing that’s going into decline is planetary-scale.
I see what your saying. I was thinking locally about the USA, but you are correct. The empire is our globalized superorganism.