I'd add that a huge assumption that needs to be let go is the necessity of never-ending population growth that the people who run shit seem to learn in business school as gospel writ.

I can't believe it these days when people talk about falling populations as a bad thing. You know, like we haven't fucked up the planet beyond repair already? Like it's not obvious there aren't just a FEW damn too many of us crowded together, but a whole GAWD DAMN too many of us?

But to acknowledge that would be to acknowledge the necessity that people can't just keep getting richer and richer and richer off of ever growing economies based on ever growing populations.

It would mean not sticking fingers in ears and covering eyes with hands. It would mean thinking about real solutions to real problems and fundamentally changing the way things work because we fucking well have to.

But I guess that would get in the way of buying McMansions and accumulating baubles, toys, and status symbols.

Can't have that now, can we? We'll let the grandkids worry about it.