Marcus Cake

I have recently written articles on Peak Oil and Peak Food. In both cases, the law of diminishing returns has resulted in a peak in production, consumption grows strongly with population growth and ultimately exceeds supply. Market forces do not operate efficiently to promote longer term changes that increase supply, reduce demand, encourage greater efficiency and improve resource allocation on the demand and supply side.

The primary function of our political leadership is to safeguard the essentials of our community - our global community. There is action that can be taken on key issues of oil, food, water, climate change, national insolvency and retirement of the baby boomers. There is just enough time for action. The resources are available for most of the pressing issues. However, precious public funds are spent on more interesting ambitions, rather than the fundamentals. If questioned, more complex issues are introduced to defer the need to make difficult, but simple, decisions. The world confronts key challenges. Action on fundamental issues seem to be perpetually deferred until after the next election. Ambitions receive priority. The demand for leadership is growing rapidly. The supply of leadership is in declining. Perhaps, the law of diminishing returns applies to our political leadership.

How do we increase the supply of leadership? How do we get our leadership to focus on the essential?