Quote:
Originally Posted by jimjamuser
Everything said here is probably mostly true. And the post was informative. My post only used the buffalo as an example - a starting point for a larger conversation about the value, the pros of GROWTH, and the cons, the negatives. In general, most people believe that GROWTH and the increased population that parallels that GROWTH are inherently GOOD. I say that if you imagine a graph with Growth or GNP on the Y, vertical axis and you put population growth on the X-axis - you would see a straight line from left to right. But, at some point, the curve would start to bend over to less increase of GROWTH on the Y-axis per given X=axis increase. Like a saturation effect.
If we try it again instead with "QUALITY OF LIFE" on the Y-axis we may get a curve shaped like a mountain where some point is the maximization of Quality and then downward sloping for the increasing population. This makes certain assumptions, of course. Like square mile area of the country or of TV Land or any somewhat self-contained state or country. It also assumes that raw materials and resources are held fairly constant.
So far as I know this is just a theoretical concept. But, it could all be calculated for a city, state, or the whole US with the available, powerful computers. Portland, Or. years ago drew a line around their city to keep quality of life high by limiting high rises and other methods. The city finally relented and went away from the idea due to, I imagine, PROFIT-making interests and lobbies. I do not know if anyone ever wrote a book about that Portland, Or. attempt? Or if any summaries or conclusions were ever drawn. But, it was a HISTORIC attempt at maximizing Quality of Life - over PROFITS.
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I do not see where quality of life and profits do not co-exist. Profit is not a dirty word. Profit is the goal of hard work and planning and is represented by cash, but it is the goal that when met, supports the business and the livelihood of people who depend on it for their jobs.
"Profit is necessary for the survival and growth of business enterprise. If the business does not make enough profit it will not survive in the growing competitive world. Profit means survival.
It enables the business to grow, helps employee motivation, eases negotiations with banks, attracts investors, and gives clients and customers a confidence in business. All that adds up to success.
Profit is a yardstick that tests the efficiency of the business firm. The success of the business can be judged by the extent of profit earning capacity."
Above snipped from article. Not original.
People who have long worked for the government sometimes use the word profit as a bad word. Profit is not the result of greed or of bad motives. Profit is when you have strawberries left over from your field that you didn't need to sell to get groceries. Profit is canning the leftovers or giving them to a neighbor.