Reply #12: I actually think the Power Elite is utterly clueless about the consequences of their actions.

[GliderGuider]

They see everything in terms of short-term economic and geopolitical advantage. They are reacting to the first two sets of factors as though they are political/economic when they're not, and they think they understand the third financial one when they don't.

They don't have clue one about the ecological interactions of the global system, but they are determined not to let anyone else push the levers in case they lose control. They also have no clue that it's already too late - certainly for them - control has already been lost.

They are dinosaurs watching the glaciers approach and thinking if they bellow louder everything will go back to the way it was...