Monday, March 21, 2011

Partners in Economic Development


Partners in Economic Development

Bob Komives


Where is the evidence
          that scarcity models work?
Where is the evidence     
          that doing the right thing costs too much
          that doing the wrong thing is affordable
          that nations who follow these models become rich?

Wealth is our preoccupation
          --not our invention.
We do not create economic development
          --we are its partner.
Economic development is an organized invasion
          --life invades the universe.
Let us strive to be knowledgeable partner
          --practice stewardship and equity
          --learn
          --share what we learn
          --organize ourselves to foster the biosphere.

Yes,
we must know that wealth can disappear
          --species, ecosystems, languages and cultures become extinct.
We must guard against the disappearance of life itself
          --for only in life does this sphere know to be wealthy.
Prevent the destruction of our species
          --for we can learn as we survive our poor judgment.
Stop exploiting one another
          --together we partake of more wealth more quickly.
Guard against the natural and man-brought disaster
          --that destroys knowledge
          --leaving machines that no one can use
          --books no one can read
          --science no one can remember.

Yes,
we must know that within abundance there is scarcity,
yet within simplistic, dogmatic models of scarcity lie falsehoods.
Within these falsehoods lie too many lessons in fiscal irresponsibility:
          Do not provide for the welfare of the many
          --because resources for the few are scarce.
          Do not clean and protect scarce resources
          --because, well, our resources are scarce.

Yes,
we must know that between the cataclysms
          (brought by meteor, plate, and super volcano)
          life prospers
          abundance patiently overwhelms scarcities
          abundant biosphere enables civilization.
Within biosphere and civilization lie truths.
Within these truths lie our lessons in fiscal responsibility:
          Well-being requires investment.
          Good investment nourishes and improves life.
          Poor investment risks disaster.

There is no evidence
          that doing the right thing costs too much,
          that doing the wrong thing is affordable?

Evident, indeed, is knowledge of abundance
embedded by life into biosphere and civilization.

As better we know this
as better we become
          partners in economic development.





Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 2011 :: Partners In Economic Development :: 1102

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