Jim,
What of this as an argument.
a. Capitalism, as a system, requires constant expansion --
"Accumulate, Accumulate, that is Moses and the Prophets" -- but
this accumulation requires expansion of the system geographically
particularly as overaccumulation takes place in the centre --
therefore, globalism.
b. Expansion of the system (globalization of capitalism) requires
increased trade and the movement of goods -- Canada, for
instance, is approaching 40% of its GDP in Exports. All these
exports require transportation. (Huge growth here particularly in
long-distance truck transport.) All transportation at the moment
requires fossile fuels.
c. Therefore, the capitalist system (at least as it currently
operates) is dependent on fossil fuels. But, unless it can come up
with an alternative fuel, it can not continue to increase its
geographic scope and thus can not continue as a system.
Paul Phillips,
Economics,
University of Manitoba
On 17 Nov 00, at 7:29, Jim Devine wrote:
> actually-existing capitalism depends heavily on fossil fuels, but does
> capitalism in general? though capitalism is amazingly inflexible on issues
> of preserving class privilege and dictatorship, it is also amazingly
> flexible when it comes to adapting to disaster (like that of the 1930s).
>
> Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] & http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~JDevine
>
