6: It’s the Economy, Stupid…But It’s Not What You Think
It’s the economy, stupid. But what’s stupid is the persistent belief that economic growth can continue forever on a finite planet. Gag-orders silenced one scientist in an attempt to bury the truth that economic growth will give us a dead planet. It’s just one more obstacle that’s prevented the needed shift from a culture of “more” to a culture of “enough.” In this episode, Brian Czech discusses his experiences at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as recounted in his new book, Gag-Ordered No More: The 800-Pound Gorilla In The U.S. Government.
The conversation includes, of course, society’s obsession with economic growth, and why that is in conflict with environmental integrity.
Brian Czech is founder and executive director of the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy. He also authored:
- Supply Shock: Economic Growth at the Crossroads and the Steady State Solution
- Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train: Errant Economists, Shameful Spenders, and a Plan to Stop them All
- The Endangered Species Act: History, Conservation, Biology, and Public Policy
Host Dave Gardner is – to the best of our knowledge – the ONLY candidate running for any office in the U.S., promising to shrink the economy. This is necessary in order get out of ecological overshoot.
View video of this episode at https://youtu.be/2KyM_0dr4eE?si=ymM9rgT9qr86bWAJ
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy
Books by Brian Czech (including Gag-Ordered No More)
https://steadystate.org/membership/
Sign the CASSE Position Statement Calling for a Steady State Economy
https://steadystate.org/act/sign-the-position/
More about Dave’s economy platform, including links to learn more about the unsustainability of continued economic growth
https://davetheplanet2024.com/economy
Notable Interviews with Brian Czech:
The Silver Lining of Covid Induced Recession - Episode 42 of the GrowthBusters podcast
https://www.growthbusters.org/silver-lining-covid-recession/
Pulling the Rug Out From Under Our Kids - Episode 204 of the Conversation Earth radio series and podcast
http://www.conversationearth.org/pulling-rug-kids-brian-czech-204/
Follow this podcast for a ringside seat to Dave Gardner’s adventures running for U.S. President. If elected, Dave will declare an ecological overshoot emergency and launch a national project to get the nation out of overshoot. We’ve got a planet to save, and the U.S. should do its part. Learn more, subscribe to campaign updates, volunteer, or donate to the campaign at https://davetheplanet2024.com
