[Ekaros]

Line MUST go up. If it doesn't you get replaced by someone who will make it go up. There is very deep belief in infinite exponential growth. And not following that belief gets you replaced by someone who shows that belief. And then you stop being paid...

[kannanvijayan]

I think it's wrong to characterize this in terms of belief. This is the behavioural outcome of the influential pressure of a systemic structure.

Infinite exponential growth is something we ALL "believe" in when we put a dollar into savings and expect to get a dollar and 5c out the next year.

The problem to me seems more that we tie all sorts of OTHER structural societal constructs to this one. To the degree that if we want to feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, and ensure shelter and security for ourselves and our loved ones - those basic _biological_ needs shared by most moderately sophisticated mammals - we are forced to plug into this system and ensure it delivers on its promise.

I've incorporated that infinite growth expectation into my kid's education plans, into our family retirement plans.

This is not a they issue, this is a we issue. The systemic structure is some parts organic but many parts choice and belief driven by general people on the street.

[mejutoco]

> Infinite exponential growth is something we ALL "believe" in when we put a dollar into savings and expect to get a dollar and 5c out the next year.

Isnt that linear growth?

[tavavex]

No, because you're not expecting to get 5c every year regardless of your investment. In this example, they want 5% of their initial investment. So, $100 becomes $105 the next year, the $105 becomes $110.25 the year after that, and so on. 1.05^years. The fact that economic growth is measured as a percentage implies an exponential.

[throwaway27448]

You say this, but oracle, ibm, microsoft, google, facebook, intel, etc etc are obvious counterexamples. Nobody got fired for hiring whatever brand it is the phrase says people are supposed to hire.