Brodie's Public Policy and Global Governance Blog

 We all know Bill Clinton's famous words that were a large part in getting him elected to the White House - "It's the economy stupid!." These words have been used over and over by the popular press and given the state of the global economy it is hard to disagree. But is it really all about the economy? What if the economy, as currently constructed, leads to the destruction of people's life savings and the natural systems that sustain life on earth? What if the economic system that has been the basis of modern prosperity ultimately leads to chaos of global proportions. Some, after all, have made fairly convincing cases that the economic depression of the 1930's and discriminatory trade practices were the catalyst for the greatest and most destructive war in all of human history.

If there is one theme that has come up over and over in the press regarding the current financial crisis it is the greedy fat cats on Wall Street who have amassed fortunes at the expense of the regular joe. Moreover, it is evident that economic growth is tied to greenhouse gas emissions that are leading us down a path of irrevocable environmental harm and one only needs to look to the Middle East and Africa to see how Western oil-based economies have lead to considerable conflict and human suffering.

I know you are all asking yourselves, if it isn't the economy, than what is it? I think it is still all about the economy but it is about the stupid economy. Economies based on the unbridled pursuit of growth without consideration for equality, justice and the environment are doomed to collapse under their own pressure. I know you have all just labelled me as a communist but ask yourselves this. Would you rather live in a world of constant economic growth that is also a world of immense suffering, inequality, conflict and disease - or - can we sacrifice some of this growth to ensure that future generations have a healthy planet where we don't kill each other over natural resources and the pursuit of wealth? It's not the economy stupid, its the stupid economy! We can and should do things better and there is no excuse for accepting anything less.