Pope Francis: “Unbridled consumerism” will have destructive consequences for the planet

[freebuddy]

Pope Francis: Unbridled consumerism will have destructive consequences for the planet

Luke Brinker November 13, 2014

Free market fundamentalism poses a grave threat to both economic security and the health of the planet, Pope Francis warns in a letter to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the host of this weekends Group of 20 leaders summit in Brisbane.

The letter touches on such issues as fair taxation, hunger, unemployment, financial regulation, climate change, terrorism and poverty. Francis, leader of the globes 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, urges leaders to remember that many lives are at stake behind these political and technical discussions in Brisbane. t would indeed be regrettable if such discussions were to remain purely on the level of declarations of principle, the pope adds. Francis outlines a turbulent state of global affairs, warning that economic insecurity and social exclusion risk violence and decrying the destructive consequences of unbridled consumerism. Throughout the world, the G20 countries included, there are far too many women and men suffering from severe malnutrition, a rise in the number of the unemployed, an extremely high percentage of young people without work and an increase in social exclusion which can lead to criminal activity and even the recruitment of terrorists, he writes. In addition, there are constant assaults on the natural environment, the result of unbridled consumerism, and this will have serious consequences for the world economy. Drawing attention to human rights challenges like the dire situation confronting religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East, the pope writes that leaders must also acknowledge forms of aggression that are less evident but equally real and serious.

I am referring specifically to abuses in the financial system such as those transactions that led to the 2008 crisis, and more generally, to speculation lacking political or juridical constraints and the mentality that maximization of profits is the final criterion of all economic activity, he continues. Rather than allowing the free market to go unchecked, the pope calls on leaders to place the poor and vulnerable at the heart of their agenda. A mindset in which individuals are ultimately discarded will never achieve peace or justice, he writes. Responsibility for the poor and the marginalized must therefore be an essential element of any political decision, whether on the national or the international level.

http://www.salon.com/2014/11/13/pope_francis_unbridled_consumerism_will_have_destructive_consequences/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[theminister]

'Has'

[Gross-Misconduct]

Unbridled consumerism = Vaporwave

[aGENT]

I agreedz with Pope-guy.

[Kragar]

Before action should be taken to fix anything, the reasons why it happened need to be understood. Massive aid isn't going to fix anything if the foundation of these societies cannot/will not adapt to be successful.

There are some countries where powerful people steal the aid intended for the people.

There are other countries that limit opportunities for women by refusing to let them get educated.

There are some cultures (including Catholic ones) that encourage large families, regardless of the parent's ability to support them.

Is there enough arable land or food sources in these countries to support the people? If not, can anything be done to make it so that there is?

I could go on, as could many of you. My point is, throwing money around without any reasonable thought as to what will be done with it will accomplish nothing beyond PR. If flaws with the culture/country/etc. are insurmountable, what can then be done?

[nucklehead]

I missed where he advocated throwing money at anything.

[Nuxfanabroad]

Classic catch-22.

Fix the economy, trash the environment. Or vice versa.

Hard choices were required decades ago. In chess terms, we're entering end-game.

[freebuddy]

Classic catch-22.

Fix the economy, trash the environment. Or vice versa.

Hard choices were required decades ago. In chess terms, we're entering end-game.

Just set them up with solar and wind power for starters.

[freebuddy]

I missed where he advocated throwing money at anything.

Exactly.

[Guest]

Just set them up with solar and wind power for starters.

Sadly, it's not that easy.

[freebuddy]

Sadly, it's not that easy.

How so?

[theminister]

Banning advertising on anything other than your own property would be a huge step towards righting the wrongs in this world.

[freebuddy]

[CanadianLoonie]

^Posted by a guy who likes governments to use guns to steal from people (taxes).

[Kragar]

I missed where he advocated throwing money at anything.

Maybe the Pope hadn't, but that's where many people here will take it. There are many fans of wealth redistribution, feeling that taking money from those that have it and give it to those that don't will solve the problem. Or, at least it will make it better, more fair, equally miserable. In the OP article, the Pope even talks about fair taxation, which makes me wonder if he is in favor of forced wealth redistribution.

My point was that to fix the problem, the causes behind the problem need to be understood. And, it will be different in every area, so it won't be a one-solution-fits-all situation. Money/resources will be needed to fix things, but so will cultural and political changes.

Also, people will need to agree on what the problem and causes are. Before this happens, many "solutions" are bound to fail.

[freebuddy]

^Posted by a guy who likes governments to use guns to steal from people (taxes).

Eisenhower didn't tell anyone to use guns to collect taxes.

[freebuddy]

Maybe the Pope hadn't, but that's where many people here will take it. There are many fans of wealth redistribution, feeling that taking money from those that have it and give it to those that don't will solve the problem. Or, at least it will make it better, more fair, equally miserable. In the OP article, the Pope even talks about fair taxation, which makes me wonder if he is in favor of forced wealth redistribution.

My point was that to fix the problem, the causes behind the problem need to be understood. And, it will be different in every area, so it won't be a one-solution-fits-all situation. Money/resources will be needed to fix things, but so will cultural and political changes.

Also, people will need to agree on what the problem and causes are. Before this happens, many "solutions" are bound to fail.

Yeah, when you have people like conservative s who only care about how much money they have, it distorts their worldview for sure.

[aGENT]

Maybe the Pope hadn't, but that's where many people here will take it. There are many fans of wealth redistribution, feeling that taking money from those that have it and give it to those that don't will solve the problem. Or, at least it will make it better, more fair, equally miserable. In the OP article, the Pope even talks about fair taxation, which makes me wonder if he is in favor of forced wealth redistribution.

My point was that to fix the problem, the causes behind the problem need to be understood. And, it will be different in every area, so it won't be a one-solution-fits-all situation. Money/resources will be needed to fix things, but so will cultural and political changes.

Also, people will need to agree on what the problem and causes are. Before this happens, many "solutions" are bound to fail.

Capitalism and the concept of wealth (and the related power) would have to disappear to fix most of what's wrong with the world. Don't see that happening anytime soon. That would require a massive evolutionary change in our way of thinking.

We're basically still just hoards of warring tribes fighting over resources. We just have fancier toys, weapons etc and better dressed "tribe leaders".

[Kragar]

Capitalism and the concept of wealth (and the related power) would have to disappear to fix most of what's wrong with the world. Don't see that happening anytime soon. That would require a massive evolutionary change in our way of thinking.

We're basically still just hoards of warring tribes fighting over resources. We just have fancier toys, weapons etc and better dressed "tribe leaders".

See... it depends on agreeing on what the problem is. Are Capitalism and the concept of wealth the problem, or the cause? Or the solution?

The concept of wealth, and its related power, can never disappear. The definition can change, and vary by area/culture, but it a universal concept. Food, land, water, natural resources, etc.... anything that people need or want, and can be controlled, can be considered wealth. And whether it is an individual, a corporation, or government, or society that controls it, has wealth, and thereby has power.

Then it comes down to the best use of wealth. You may choose to blame capitalism, but I feel it is the best use of wealth. The problem today is the cronyism involved in capitalism, with governments making unfair policy to support those that provide them wealth. The market needs to be free, and the government should work to ensure its freedom, and not direct the freedom to their special interests.

[Mr. Ambien]

See... it depends on agreeing on what the problem is. Are Capitalism and the concept of wealth the problem, or the cause? Or the solution?

The concept of wealth, and its related power, can never disappear. The definition can change, and vary by area/culture, but it a universal concept. Food, land, water, natural resources, etc.... anything that people need or want, and can be controlled, can be considered wealth. And whether it is an individual, a corporation, or government, or society that controls it, has wealth, and thereby has power.

Then it comes down to the best use of wealth. You may choose to blame capitalism, but I feel it is the best use of wealth. The problem today is the cronyism involved in capitalism, with governments making unfair policy to support those that provide them wealth. The market needs to be free, and the government should work to ensure its freedom, and not direct the freedom to their special interests.

Capitalism is often the scapegoat of people who make stupid choices and don't have the humility to own up to it.

Not so coincidentally, they also tend to be the same people who never learn from mistakes. They obviously never learned from history of how well economic authoritarianism works out for the have-not's.