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We're at an the point where we shouldn't ever discuss that without explicitly adding "... minimizing the environmental damage and consumption of natural resourc

by gota 8y ago

We're at an the point where we shouldn't ever discuss that without explicitly adding "... minimizing the environmental damage and consumption of natural resources". "I'll provide X" needs to be immediately though about on the terms that it will cost the planet (and everyone living in it) Y. This is not exactly what you posted, but related: I'm not an environmental nut, I just think that this 'we create wealth' discourse more often than not ignores the fact that we're actually just borrowing quality of life from people in the future. They get to deal with bad water, worse weather, natural disasters, droughts, terrible air quality, etc. while we 'provide valuable insights to customer relations', 'maintain a pseudonymous decentralized currency' or some other obviously-not-worth-it bullshit

tomhoward 8y ago
So, my comment was adding to the parent's suggested reasons that "enlightened" (i.e. not scrooge) people would want to be rich. I pointed out that one that was overlooked (but that IHMO is the most important), is to re-invest it in making the world better. Making the world better for the future is implied in that, and I think that's what you see in, for example, Elon Musk's efforts to make electric transportation viable and ubiquitous, along with the some of the philanthropic efforts of Gates, Buffet, etc. Sure there are some bad actors who believe it's fine to plunder and trash the earth for short-term benefit, but the trend is in the opposite direction, and it's becoming far more commonplace, even among traditionally very destructive companies like petrochemical companies, to invest substantially in innovations and projects that reverse the damage and create benefits for the future. That's happening because more and more people are demanding it. Don't forget also, that just as people who were inventing technologies and making medical discoveries 100 years ago were making improvements that benefit most of us living today, inventions of today will benefit future generations. None of this is black and white; there are benefits and costs in everything, and it's important to be mindful of both as we progress and ensure things stack up positive in the end.

by gota 8y ago

tomhoward 8y ago

So, my comment was adding to the parent's suggested reasons that "enlightened" (i.e. not scrooge) people would want to be rich. I pointed out that one that was overlooked (but that IHMO is the most important), is to re-invest it in making the world better. Making the world better for the future is implied in that, and I think that's what you see in, for example, Elon Musk's efforts to make electric transportation viable and ubiquitous, along with the some of the philanthropic efforts of Gates, Buffet, etc. Sure there are some bad actors who believe it's fine to plunder and trash the earth for short-term benefit, but the trend is in the opposite direction, and it's becoming far more commonplace, even among traditionally very destructive companies like petrochemical companies, to invest substantially in innovations and projects that reverse the damage and create benefits for the future. That's happening because more and more people are demanding it. Don't forget also, that just as people who were inventing technologies and making medical discoveries 100 years ago were making improvements that benefit most of us living today, inventions of today will benefit future generations. None of this is black and white; there are benefits and costs in everything, and it's important to be mindful of both as we progress and ensure things stack up positive in the end.