Comment by jl6
6 days ago
There is likely no single or simple answer. It’s just one example of the general issue of humanity living beyond its means, filling the deficit by drawing down on resources that will not be renewed. Debt and bankruptcy is a good analogy.
In a way, this is quintessential human behavior. Animals faced with shortages tend to die off until their population size matches the available resources. Humans have invented ways to postpone this fate, manipulating our environment in order to sustain a growing population.
So it’s not “just” infrastructure mismanagement. Unsustainable living is practically ingrained into human nature.
The challenge will be whether we can voluntarily reduce our population size or consumption to match the available resources, or whether we’ll have that reduction forced upon us.
Perhaps the housing market is manipulated exactly for the purpose of reducing USA population size.
That’s a claim that would require real evidence, like someone admitting it or a very tight circumstantial case.
Otherwise it’s like saying electricity prices are being driven up to shut down indoor hydroponic pot growers, to make up a random example. High electricity prices might do that but…
Agent Smith called, he wants his speech back.