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The ultimate resource, argued Julian Simon the
economist and environmental optimist, is human imagination, intelligence and
resourcefulness. This is the source of all human progress. “For the latter half
of the 20th century, natural resources have had little to do with
Then Simons amassed data and graphs to
demonstrate that “the free countries are the rich countries,” whilst those with
repressive regimes become the poorest. He showed that it is difficult, if not
impossible, to tap into the creative energies of these human resources where
government regulations and interference is restrictive, coercive and
oppressive. “Repression by government short-circuits the human spirit and
produces sustained periods of stagnation and even anti-progress…The enduring
lesson of the 20th century is that the only real restraint on
progress is a government that smothers the human spirit.”
Sit back and enjoy Julian Simon’s grand and
inspiring conclusion:
The
major constraint upon the human capacity to enjoy unlimited minerals, energy,
and other raw materials at acceptable prices is knowledge. And the source of
knowledge is the human mind. Ultimately, then, the key constraint is human
imagination acting together with educated skills. This is why an increase of human beings,
along with causing an additional consumption of resources, constitutes a
crucial addition to the stock of natural resources.
We
must remember, however, that human imagination can flourish only if the
economic system gives individuals the freedom to exercise their talents and to
take advantage of opportunities. So
another crucial element in the economics of resources and population is the
extent to which the political-legal-economic system provides personal freedom
from government coercion. Skilled
persons require an appropriate framework that provides incentives for working
hard and taking risks, enabling their talents to flower and come to
fruition. The key elements of such a
framework are economic liberty, respect for property, and fair and sensible
rules of the market that are enforced equally for all.
We – humanity –should be throwing ourselves
the party to outdo all parties, a combination
graduation-wedding-birthday-all-rites-of passage party to mark our emergence
from a death-dominated world of raw-material scarcity. Sing, dance, be merry – and work. But instead we see gloomy faces. They are spoilsports, and they have bad
effects.
The
spoilsports accuse our generations of having a party – at the expense of
generations to come. But it is those who
use the government to their own advantage who are having a party at the expense
of others – the bureaucrats, the grants-grabbers, the subsidy-looters. Don’t
let them spoil our merry day.