ard of living and that of the privileged. Eventually, societal structures deteriorate and leave behind a disbanded human race. While this scenario reads like a science fiction novel, these consequences could become a reality if mankind is unable to properly conserve the earth’s resources. Conservation programs need to be implemented and society’s approach to the environment must become proactive in reducing the strain that modern civilization has on the biosphere. Parties Involved “If current levels of consumption and production continue, efficiency in the use of all resources would have to increase by more than 50% in the next four to five decades just to keep pace with the population growth.” (Sustainable America, 1996:143) Technology is already making vast progress towards the goal of a more efficient society, though the general population and manufacturers have not readily accepted the implementation of such technologies. The current U.S. economy "is less than 10 percent as energy-efficient as the laws of physics permit,” (Sustainable America, 1996:143) Many of these technologies have yet to be implemented in modern manufacturing. Much of this is due to the lack of strong support from governments around the world. “We must use as much environmentally friendly technology as we can in our world. Unfortunately, over the course of this century, the U.S. government intervened in the economy to promote ecologically inefficient and destructive economic practices. While giving a pittance to the development of solar and wind power, the government sank about $100 billion of subsidies into nuclear power between 1950 and 1990. Similarly, the government lavished funds upon the Highway Trust Fund and created the interstate highway system while allowing public transit of all types to decay. To this day, over 80% of federal transportation spending supports automobile-related infrastructure, leaving less than 20% ...
