The current capitalist system allows theft of natural resources, (fresh air and water, fish in the sea, biodiversity, etc.), and generally those with capital are the ones most actively involved in exploiting this system of legalized theft. I call this taking of natural resources 'theft' because I do not consider the air and water and biodiversity to be owned by those who are making the decisions that result in the degredation and loss of these resources, but rather, if it can be said that the air and water and biodiversity are 'owned' by anyone, they are owned by everyone. But as of yet, the economic system does not recognize this fact.
If those who use the air and water to take their pollution, and take fish from the sea, and destroy forests were made to pay a fee in some proportion to how much damage they do to these natural resources that belong to all, then they would have an incentive to reduce the amount of damage they do to the earth.
If all the people of the earth received payments that were equal to their share of the fees collected for use of natural resources, and if they had the first and last word on what levels of pollution and of taking of other resources they would consider acceptible, then we would have a system of ownership and management of natural resources, the ULTIMATE means of production, in the hands of the people.
If we preserve that part of the present system that allows free movement of capital, and introduce this scheme for managing the use of natural resources within sustainable limits through attaching fees, with fee proceeds distributed to, (and levels set by), all the people, we would have a synthesis of capitalism and communism, with the best of both worlds, and a real prospect that natural resources and biodiversity can be preserved for future generations.
Check the Gaia Brain Page for more.Imagine it is a free country...
Ask ANYONE to be President... Who would you choose?
Walter Cronkite would do it if we ask... (I borrowed this question from him, (and changed it a bit).