Self-sufficiency in basic needs is necessary for a sustainable economy. If the US or EU are importing either our food needs from elsewhere, or our energy needs from elsewhere, then intrinsically we have a technological system that cannot be replicated around the world, because there is no "elsewhere" for the whole world to import from.

At least, not in this century ... maybe we can get an elsewhere to import some high value things from down the track, if we don't screw the pooch too badly in this coming century.


I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.