You seem to be suggesting that the mere existence of externalities somehow negates the fact that value was added, which is silly. The existence of externalitie

You seem to be suggesting that the mere existence of externalities somehow negates the fact that value was added, which is silly. The existence of externalities doesn't negate the adding of value. Would we be better off without oil companies? Obviously not (just ask a European!) Hence it's impossible to say that they're not adding value, or that the people who create them aren't adding value.