I'm more amazed we had the high growth we've had in the past. Why would the steady-state of such a complex worldwide system be at a point where we have good em

I'm more amazed we had the high growth we've had in the past. Why would the steady-state of such a complex worldwide system be at a point where we have good employment, rising standard of living, growing populations, relative peace? There are so many other local minima which we've managed to hit over man kind history... The key word is sustainability. Without it something has to give. It should be obvious that given finite resources on this planet we can't continue expanding our population and the standard of living indefinitely. The reason the trajectory we were on could not continue is that it was not sustainable. We can't have more people in the world, every such person living in a McMansion, with two cars in the garage, buying new gadgets all the time. And really why? Wouldn't it be better to have a contracting population that consumes less? Humanity would be better off trying to reduce the population size, reduce consumption ($ and resources), maximizing the utility/$ of goods rather than the absolute $ of crappy goods sold. Aiming for more equal distribution of wealth. Less conflicts. Social security (so sure, basic income but not as a catalyst of growth). Everyone should work less hours and earn enough to sustain themselves with a reasonable standard of living. So this is all perhaps a deflationary, negative growth, environment.