It’s the Economy, Stupid!

The following is a slightly revised version of my presentation at the annual Faith, Reason, and World Affairs Symposium held at Concordia College, Moorhead, on the topic of “Sustainability” (September 16 & 17, 2014). I still think that capitalism is incompatible with sustainability, but I don’t believe that it is the final root cause.

Some people believe that we can solve our environmental sustainability problem by such measures as technological innovations, energy efficiency, carbon taxes, recycling, regulations, and green lifestyles. Others believe that these measures are necessary but insufficient, and that we won’t be able truly address our environmental sustainability problem unless we bring about fundamental and far-reaching transformations in our political economy.

I am here to tell you why this latter viewpoint is the correct one.