Modern manipulation
We are fortunate the 26.3% gaff by peddlers of the economic growth myth has blown up in their faces and shown the absurdity of believing growth continues in our new technological world. Despite herculean attempt by the political/ economic establishment aided and abetted by a pliant media to convince people otherwise, the truth is breaking through. What is portrayed as growth is nothing other than manipulation of vast quantities of money to avoid tax. Economic growth as experienced through history is over. It came to prominence during the Industrial revolution and reached a crescendo in the last half of the 20th century. Growth was a very potent driver of economic activity and present economic ideology holds it as a core principle. It is now history; no longer necessary or possible in a world which can consistently produces more than it can consume. Assuming sufficiency of production can continually increase when increase is no longer necessary is utterly absurd. Some will argue growth never ceases but this refers to “transfer of ” from one area to another or displacement of goods/ services by improved invention and innovation which will always happen. Is not overall growth however; the overall envelope of production needed and used by humanity on an ongoing basis has reached sufficiency. In other words enough is enough and no stimulation or inducement will entice world population into consuming more than it actually can. Instead of policies which encourage greater consumption we must devise methods of restraining overproduction to a safe margin greater than what actual consumption can consume. The end of economic growth has enormous implications and consequences. A great driver of economic activity will have to be done without and business depending on growth for viability will have to be entirely rethought and structured. Production itself, marketing, trade, commerce, Interest rates, inflation, investment, pension funds and all economic variants need other methods of quantification if related businesses are to survive and prosper. Being able to consistently produce enough or even more than enough is not a bad place to be. It is where the genius of modern technology has taken us but to benefit from it we must find different methods of managing and administering it. The first step is recognition of what has happened and not being paralyzed by blind denial. All the wishing and stimulation in the world will not restore growth when it is no longer needed. The first steps towards recognition are discussion, analysis of evidence and understanding while appropriate action can only then begin. Sadly none of these processes have yet even started. Yours Sincerely, Dear Madam, I was amazed to hear that Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas Healy did not check first with Sligo County Council about the problems with the sewage at Bushy Park Ballisodare. The Irish Water spokesman who went on the radio last Monday made it very clear that the delay in sorting out the problem is not with Irish Water but with Sligo County Council. Thomas Healy should first check the facts before going on the radio bashing Irish water. Residents in Ballisodare want action on this problem not someone who only wants to make sound bites and try to get publicity,