farticustheelder t1_j6aikhn wrote
Can we remember that globalization is the result of increased international trade which itself was the search for cheaper wages (higher profits)?
I like the good bits of globalization and I don't like the bad bits. So let's keep the good bits and trash the rest.
First the big trend today is localism. It starts with rooftop solar and doesn't stretch very far out of town. Fairly soon all the power feeding cities will come from about 100 miles from city center. That is 100% generation, storage, and consumption is local. All that money stays in the local economy sparking economic growth.
My city (Toronto) is surrounded by local farming aimed at keeping us feed with good seasonal produce, local dairy, and regional meats, and poultry. Pretty soon vertical farms will start displacing all that produce imported from across the continent. Lab grown protein from stem cells will displace all imported meats except for the high end foodie bits.
When we toss in wide spread 3D printing we run into the 'make it where you use it' meme. You just download the file and print what you want where you want it. Since good atoms are forever you just need good recycling to keep making new stuff and unmaking old stuff.
The end result, as I see it, is a return to something like the Hanseatic League mixed up other city state eras. We have already seen that large cities have more in common with each other than with the countries they find themselves in.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments