Exposing The Disconnects

Chris Martenson does an excellent job of explaining exactly why “The next 20 years are going to be completely unlike the last 20 years.”

He is a an economic researcher and author of The Crash Course, a video presentation that is offered online for free.

This series of videos clearly explains how our economy, energy systems and environment face increasing challenges, and explores likely implications for the future.

In the Crash Course, he makes the point that we have never before in history faced such exponential growth in three key areas: debt (as related to GDP), energy consumption and environmental resource depletion.

The idea of exponential growth is a profound topic unto itself. When you have doubling upon doubling of say, interest on the national debt – you eventually have a situation that is mathematically catastrophic. You cannot have a continuously rising level of demand – for anything – in a finite sphere.

Our use of natural resources, energy and the our collective debt have all been growing exponentially, and there’s a very sharp corner to be turned soon on these levels. It’s coming to a head.

In this condensed version of The Crash Course, he spotlights the economic aspect of the converging challenges.

The US is insolvent at the federal level. We can only keep the show running by “opening the credit markets” which means everybody’s able to borrow a bit more right now — but it’s a wicked sugar fix. He explains why this time, we have no way of paying for it later. It is mathematically impossible.

“How is it possible for an insolvent nation to borrow money from an insolvent financial system to bail out insolvent financial institutions?” he asks.

There is rich wisdom and practical advice to be found in the work of Chris Martenson. At the core, his message speaks to the urgency of a change of collective lifestyle and mindset.

He declares in this video, subtitled The End Of Money: “Money is not a comprehensive descriptor of wealth. Your deepest wealth lies in the strength and resiliency of your community.”

Amen.