[NeedMoreTea]

Quite.

For most of time, up to the 20th century, growth was not an expected part of economic activity. Neither expected or required. GDP didn't even get dreamed up until the 1930s, and its inventor warned against it being used as a measure of the success of a nation.

Of course it was soon used as a measure of success, comparison and an easy concept for headlines and politicians. So the irrational belief that infinite growth on a finite planet was not only possible but desirable and necessary became the modern religion. :)

[JoeSamoa]

This... We need to optimize efficiency against known negative externalities better. We need to stop optimizing finance and start optimizing how our business affects all life cycles on the planet.