> where ~5% of the world's population has gotten used to a standard of living far in excess of their productive capacity I'm not quite sure what you mean. We

> where ~5% of the world's population has gotten used to a standard of living far in excess of their productive capacity I'm not quite sure what you mean. We have an incredible excess of production capability. Housing is cheaper and faster to build than ever. So is most infrastructure. American factories are so labor efficient these days that if there was demand they could easily double or triple output over the next 5-10 years. The real loss would be long term as there would be fewer great minds and innovators.