The GDP index is a dangerous thing; we should consider banning it. It does more damage than drugs, or guns, or hurricanes combined.
Neo-cons are particularly enamored of the GDP. "The GDP is up; great; now we can cut taxes for corporations and the rich" or "the GDP is down; darn; we'd better cut taxes on corporations and the rich to stimulate growth." And they use the GDP as measures of national success.
GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is the total value of final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a year. That's a stupid way to judge how a country is doing. It's not even a particularly good way to measure the strength of an economy.
Using this broad economic indicator as the main measure of national well-being results in a ridiculous and harmful distortion of priorities. It results in bankruptcy legislation that aims to help credit card companies, energy bills to aid big oil, prescription aid for the benefit of drug companies, conservation legislation for timber companies, and environmental bills for the sake of big industry.
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