Governance Archives – Page 6 of 8 – Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

Beating Teflon Trump Entails a New Perspective on GDP

March 4, 2020/8 Comments/in Brian Czech, Climate Change, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Environment, Governance, Politics, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

By Brian Czech

In the earlier months of Donald Trump’s presidency, Democrats were stunned by his popularity despite his racist rhetoric, acerbic arrogance, and international insults. Trump himself had meanly boasted that he could “shoot somebody on 5th Avenue” and not lose any votes. He knew the American political system—Dems included—worshiped at the altar of GDP growth. Trump, as the quintessential growthist, had skyrocketed to the throne of Untouchable High Priest, albeit in a sharply divided church of red and blue growthists.

Population and the Outbreak of Peace

February 26, 2020/3 Comments/in Biodiversity, Consumption, Corruption, Governance, Politics, Poverty, Religion, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald /by Brian Czech

By Max Kummerow

Adelyne More’s 1917 feminist pamphlet Fecundity and Civilization stated flatly that population stabilization “is the most effective way of ensuring the cessation of war.”[1] All species’ potential rates of reproduction enable exponential population growth. Population numbers are kept within environmental capacity by rising mortality as populations increase. Ecologists call this process “density-dependent mortality.” Many “group-selected” social species fight territorial wars as populations grow, such as chimpanzees,

“Be Very Alarmed!” Introducing the Global GDP Meter

June 27, 2019/5 Comments/in Brian Czech, Consumption, Corporate Reform, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Endangered Species, Energy, Environment, Food and Agriculture, Governance, Inflation, Jobs and Employment, Politics, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

Backed by an ominous sound clip and a rapidly churning GDP meter that comes out of nowhere, “Be alarmed… Be very alarmed!” are the opening phrases at CASSE’s new landing page. You’ll see what we mean shortly; please allow us an introduction to describe this new approach.

The landing page is actually a 30-second animation prefacing our “regular” website. It is designed to be three things:

Alarming
Crystal clear
Distinctive and memorable

Why Sound the Alarm?

An Act of Congress for the Steady-State Timeline

September 5, 2018/6 Comments/in Brian Czech, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Governance, Politics, Steady State Herald /by Brian Czech

By Brian Czech

Some years down the road—probably decades—we’ll pass the Full and Sustainable Employment Act, calling for a steady state economy in the USA. This is our vision at CASSE. When that day comes, scholars and commentators will construct a timeline demarcating the major steps along the way. On that timeline, August 28, 2018 will be duly noted. This was the day when the Measuring Real Income Growth Act, “MRIGA,” was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

Conflict of Interest at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? A Deal Some Couldn’t Refuse

March 20, 2018/4 Comments/in Climate Change, Corruption, Endangered Species, Energy, Environment, Governance, Money and Investments, Sustainability, Technology, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

By Richard McCorkle, Guest Author

As a fish and wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I’ve been concerned about global warming and climate change for more than a quarter century. In the late 1990s, when I finally had the means to do so, I began privately investing in socially and environmentally screened mutual funds. I felt it was the right thing to do; I was putting my money where my mouth was.

Farewell to FWS – Goodbye to Gag Orders

February 11, 2018/6 Comments/in Brian Czech, Corruption, Economic Growth, Governance, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

An open letter to FWS, sent directly to FWS employees on February 7, 2018.

Friends, colleagues, and past FWS co-workers,

I once considered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be the world leader in conservation, and was proud to sign on! But that was a long time ago: 1999 to be precise. Today, something is awry at FWS headquarters, and that’s what drove me to retire on October 31.

Trump’s National Security Strategy: Making America Greedy Again

December 23, 2017/5 Comments/in Brian Czech, Governance, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

Warning: President Trump’s national security strategy is going to backfire like a shotgun plugged with mud. In one fell swoop, Trump called for:

1) Locking out foreigners;

2) Growing GDP as the key to national security, and;

3) Better terms of trade.

Now many voters, going down the list, will promptly put a checkmark by one or two of the items, and some (especially Trump’s base) will check all three.

What is Wrong with a Zero Interest Rate?

September 16, 2015/6 Comments/in Corporate Reform, Economic Policy, Governance, Inflation, Monetary Policy, Money and Investments, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Herman Daly

The stock market took a dip, so the Fed will likely continue to keep the interest rate at zero, in conformity with its goal of supporting asset prices by quantitative easing. What is wrong with a zero interest rate? Doesn’t it boost investment, growth, and employment?

There are many things wrong with a zero interest rate. Remember that the interest rate is a price paid to savers by borrowing investors.

War and Peace and the Steady State Economy

April 29, 2015/7 Comments/in Consumption, Economic Growth, Governance, Politics, Religion, Steady State Economy, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

Herman Daly discusses the natural alliances between peacemakers and steady staters, and between the growth economy and warfare.

A Population Perspective on the Steady State Economy

January 15, 2015/9 Comments/in Consumption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Energy, Environment, Governance, Population, Steady State Economy, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

The population problem should be considered from the point of view of all populations–populations of both humans and their things–if we are going to achieve a steady state economy.