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By Guy Page
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amanda Janoo has advocated for “degrowth,” an economic approach that calls for reducing production and consumption in some sectors rather than pursuing economic growth as a primary goal.
Janoo, a Burlington resident, is the Democrat nominee for governor, running against incumbent Republican Phil Scott in the November 3 general election. One September poll (UNH) shows her leading Phil Scott, another (Vermont Public) shows her trailing him. Scott, by contrast, has supported legislation and policies creating more housing, population, and economic growth.
In a June 22, 2023 interview with the Overpopulation Podcast, published on YouTube, Janoo, then economics and policy lead for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, described degrowth as part of a broader movement seeking to replace economic growth with social and environmental wellbeing as the chief measure of progress.
Janoo criticized the current economic system, saying its primary goal is to increase production, consumption and profits through the “systematic exploitation of people and planet.”
She said the Wellbeing Economy movement includes degrowth, post-growth economics, circular economics and other approaches that challenge traditional capitalism.
“We have to stop treating people and planet like they’re here to serve the economy and start treating the economy like it’s here to serve us,” Janoo said.
Discussing a European conference where degrowth advocates debated ‘green growth’ supporters of environmentally sustainable economic expansion, Janoo explained the difference between the competing approaches.
“The degrowth perspective was quite clear,” she said. “We need to stop growing, right? Like we actually need to decline in a lot of the areas.”
She contrasted that position with “green growth,” which maintains that technological advances and renewable energy investments can allow economic expansion to continue.
Janoo also supported reducing working hours, expanding worker cooperatives and social enterprises, and distributing wealth more equally.
She advocated using government taxes to discourage industries and business practices considered harmful to people or the environment, while providing subsidies and grants to activities deemed beneficial.
Janoo said governments should identify which parts of the economy deserve support and which “we need to also hospice or sunset because they’re very damaging.”
She praised Wales for adopting wellbeing goals that influenced government spending, including a decision to shift transportation funding away from additional highway construction toward public transportation and other alternatives.
Janoo also questioned the influence of corporations and wealthy interests on government policy.
“I’m from the United States, which is probably the most corrupt country in the world. We call it lobbying,” she said. [1:03 mark in YouTube video]
Her proposed economic model would measure success less by gross domestic product and more by health, environmental protection, fairness, community connections and quality of life.
Janoo argued that economic policy should be shaped by public participation rather than conventional assumptions about growth and profitability.
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Categories: politics
Waiting for the comments. Comment from Richard Day.
“I’m from the United States, which is probably the most corrupt country in the world. We call it lobbying,” [Janoo] said.
I think this specific quote was taken out of context. She was referring to our federal government, corporate kickbacks, payoffs, in the form of lobbying (all evident under our current Trump administration). Janoo wasn’t saying the U.S. is a corrupt nation, but the system is. And I agree with her 100% on this.
Regarding the “degrowth’ economic theory, I think that’s perfect for a state like Vermont that is a state rich in rural resources. You let the corporations come in and the entire state will look like a strip mall, (like Williston off I-89), filled with parking lots and warehouses.
Also remember, this is a video from 3 years ago. I would hope we have all evolved from the people we three years ago. Our ideas and perspectives mature.
But thanks for sharing the video.
Not really. India, as one example, is worse.
Bob, you weren’t around when there was Precision Valley being Springfield & Windsor, most patents (going back into the 1700’s), high employment (Many from Rutland), 8 major industries, The best Machine Cooperative Journeyman’s rating high school program (I was one), best teachers. The course was 4 years ahead of any school in the US, Robert LaBonte was the best instructor by far, great imagination and an administration that allowed him to perform for the students, god rest his soul. No unions, no NEA (fed or state), no lobbyists, but dedicated instructors (I use that term, not “teacher”) that it was)
VT had a great economy and people. It’s all been destroyed, and Janoo seeks to maintain that status given her rhetoric and make it worse.. She’s not from Venus, but another galaxy very far distant. She should hope back on her UFO and depart.
I give thanks to Mr. Labonte many times and visited his grave in deep appreciation who gave me a true meaning of life and to achieve. REALLY. Janoo will never get that respect.
“”She advocated using government taxes to discourage industries and business practices considered harmful to people or the environment, while providing subsidies and grants to activities deemed beneficial.””
So, us lowly proletarians are supposed to acquiesce to whatever “government” decides is harmful or beneficial? NOT A CHANCE!
Really, is she having that time in life when she’s having a menopause attack? And she’s not alone under the golden dome. Totally out of reality. Has to be some reason.
Scientists studied 1 million women before menopause—one pattern stood out
https://www.yahoo.com/health/your-body/womens-health/menopause/articles/scientists-studied-1-million-women-180555439.html
““We have to stop treating people and planet like they’re here to serve the economy and start treating the economy like it’s here to serve us,” Janoo said.”
Word salad.
Janoo is a dreamer with no relevance to reality. Ever notice that when the economy declines (the one that serves us), people no longer give two craps about the ecosystem or climate change? It’s called reality — people want to feed and house themselves. It is as old as humanity: Marxism, however, is not — it is a uniquely modern failure.
Ooh boy; would LOVE to see her list of industries that her government would protect, and which industries her government would strangle with an exercise band. Now THAT is socialist Central Planning!! Sorry toots, the USSR died for a reason!!