ABSTRACT
Ecological living is intended to be a solution to two specific problems facing the world and the United States in particular. The first is resource extraction and pollution leading to climate disruption and eventual depletion of resources. The second is extreme and increasing inequality, and its harmful effects on people. The only path toward ecological living – or any durable solution to predicament – is to use democracy to make productive system work properly. However difficult ecological living may be to achieve, it does seem the least arrogant course, and the most consistent with science. In ecological living, decoupling incentives should be a major source of government revenue. In the steady state or in ecological living, the richest people will contribute the most to their society. A more equal society would tend to punish crimes that do similar harm in similar ways, regardless of the economic or social class of the criminal.
