[T]he power of each [Roman water mill's] wheel did not exceed that of a 250 cc motorcycle. This mordant observation highlights how technologically uncivilized we ourselves are, in destroying the environment by wasting on a few motorcycles enough energy to produce food for a whole town. But after all is said and done, our current system, based on the exploitation of nonrenewable energy sources, will last but a moment on a historical scale.
I think this is a fascinating point. You can map out the explosion in growth in the production of commodities under capitalism against the exploitation of non-renewable resources, and those two lines will move in lockstep. Essentially, all the amazing growth and human development due to capitalism was “purchased” by mortgaging the future. There isn’t anything “magical” about capitalism, it’s secret is that it just utilizes the ability to exploit resources that at best are never replenishing and at worst will kill the planet. I suppose a counter would be that those resources need to be exploited in order to develop technologies that allow humanity to have an advanced, developed future that can provide for everyone while being in harmony with nature. And I think that’s true, except that socialism is the only way to get there.
-Lucio Russo, The Forgotten Revolution
I think this is a fascinating point. You can map out the explosion in growth in the production of commodities under capitalism against the exploitation of non-renewable resources, and those two lines will move in lockstep. Essentially, all the amazing growth and human development due to capitalism was “purchased” by mortgaging the future. There isn’t anything “magical” about capitalism, it’s secret is that it just utilizes the ability to exploit resources that at best are never replenishing and at worst will kill the planet. I suppose a counter would be that those resources need to be exploited in order to develop technologies that allow humanity to have an advanced, developed future that can provide for everyone while being in harmony with nature. And I think that’s true, except that socialism is the only way to get there.
Socialism or barbarism, baby!