"However, I believe that in the past few decades, modern nations have had no guiding principles other than economic growth. This begets a huge host of problems, mainly resulting from parasitic and wasteful economic practices which tend to be zero or negative sum when all externalities are accounted for."
This book discusses this problem in depth and suggests some possible solutions:
They explore how the focus on unlimited growth and acquisition as an unquestioned good is a recent phenomenon in human history, and how almost all major philosophical and religious lines of thought throughout history have placed limits on the optimal amount of wealth and possessions to accumulate. They cover the same ground on Marx as this article, but include many other thinkers and systems of thought as well.
This book discusses this problem in depth and suggests some possible solutions:
How Much is Enough?: Money and the Good Life
http://www.amazon.com/How-Much-Enough-Money-Good/dp/15905150...
They explore how the focus on unlimited growth and acquisition as an unquestioned good is a recent phenomenon in human history, and how almost all major philosophical and religious lines of thought throughout history have placed limits on the optimal amount of wealth and possessions to accumulate. They cover the same ground on Marx as this article, but include many other thinkers and systems of thought as well.