[morgancmartin]

You're looking at it from a zero-sum perspective when in actuality the ever steady march of science and technology means our situation is anything but zero-sum.

It never hurts to be cautious, but total pessimism isn't warranted either.

[dyeje]

It doesn't matter what advances science makes. We have the technology right now to stop global warming, feed everyone, etc. But we aren't doing it, and this hand wavey attitude is part of that problem. I'm not pessimistic about the situation, I'm just treating it seriously like it deserves.

[leesec]

>We have the technology right now to stop global warming,

Not sure what you're referring too.

[ionised]

It is zero-sum if you are talking about the proportions of overall wealth that go to different demographics at any given time.

People like to trot this 'not a zero-sum game' line out all the time as if it is somehow meant to make us feel better about the grave imbalance of wealth we have currently on this planet.

We already have the resources to feed and cloth everybody to a good standard, but it would require some sacrifices on the part of many wasteful developed nations, which they simply will never do.

Plus, if you want everybody to have a modern quality of life even within the confines of a developed nation, some greedy people are going to have to start paying more in wages and taxes and accept that the social contract and safety nets are the only thing between themselves and an angry mob.