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Unsustainable

Direct US government spending on climate change was $4.6 billion in 2003. It was $8.8 billion in 2010. That was 9.7% growth per year over this period. If present trends continue, by the year 2100 (typically the scale of climate projections), climate change spending will be $37 trillion, which would represent fully 2/3 of the expected federal budget at that time. This is clearly unsustainable.

And by the way, this is saying nothing about the billions spent each year for technology research, subsidies to green energy development, tax “loopholes” for favored companies, loan guarantees, and all of the “emergency” climate spending that will happen the next time we have a great recession.

3 Responses to “Unsustainable”

  1. jb says:

    Brilliant observation.

  2. Harry says:

    Sure is, jb.

    I bet jb has spent much time perusing the research studies of assorted analysts who predict earnings. I personally welcomed my calculator that eliminated the drudgery of long division, but I have always suspected the value of someone cannot figure in their head without a spreadsheet model to read a a financial statement

    I would settle for the growth we saw from 1982 to 1998, before GHWB did his repudiation of Voodoo economics, and I will give Clinton credit for what he did to stimulate growth. How about a program to get four percent growth or more per year? Real growth, not just eighty billion dollars of buying Treasurys and subprime loans.

  3. Harry says:

    But since in the long run everything is going to a state of entropy, nothing is sustainable. How about in the short run, as in next year, after we print a trillion more or less of money to roll over the big zero percent black American Express card? Are the guys down the hall in Harkness, not counting Steve L., concerned about this at all, and is bottled water a concern over the big questions?

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