Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
Coffee Mug Guy: “Data Dan. You say that the data shows that in the long run, the markets are likely to go through a large correction when people realize how bad the environmental damage to come is going to be from overshoot.”
Data Dan: “Correct. If demand outpaces regeneration for long enough, a system will collapse.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “So why don’t we just invest a bit of our profits in disinformation and media that tell people things aren’t that bad, or better yet - ignore the problem.”
Data Dan: “That’s already being done. It’s not working well anymore. You can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “But if we told everyone how bad things are, they would want to change things quickly. That is disruptive and bad for profits. We can’t do that.”
Data Dan: “I think you’d be surprised. Most people realize things aren’t right and want to invest more in solutions. Most people would rather have a well-being-based economy, than one based on growth that only serves a small fraction of the population.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “There’s no money in that. There has to be another option.”
Data Dan: “You could build a time machine. It is theoretically possible. If successful you could go back in time and fix the overshoot crisis, but also make a killing in the market with your knowledge of the future.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “Ooh. I like that one. Let’s work the time machine angle.”
Data Dan: “You fired me last week, remember.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “That was before I knew that you could build a time machine.”
Data Dan: “I can’t. No one can.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “Wait, if you could build a time machine, wouldn’t I have already changed the future and be filthy rich right now.”
Data Dan: “You are already filthy rich. Time travel isn’t possible. I was messing with you. You have to live in this reality.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “Ooh. A bunker. I could build a doomsday bunker. I’d be fine.”
Data Dan: “Am I invited.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “No, you’re still fired.”
Data Dan: “Good.”
Coffee Mug Guy: “Kyle. Let’s get cracking on this time machine.”
Kyle: “Still playing Galaga over here.”
Stay tuned. I'll be writing about that soon.
Ha, ha. Pretty sure the real conversations around this are an incredibly ugly calculus complete with body count estimates.