Our problem is over-production both from a mass industrial point of view, but also a capitalist 'surplus-value' economy. I think we are seeing a change in the mode of 'production'. Bureaucratic control of consumption is problematic in that corporations 'capture' the government using it for their own purposes.

This is a very dangerous time as the world is trying to figure out what a postindustrial, postcapitalist, postmodern world looks like.

I agree that local production and minimal energy consumption along with 'sustainable' practices could be a viable future state. But I think the core issue is over-production and how we deal with this problem going forward. The best solution is an 'on-demand' economy that produces just enough, instead of the 'surplus-value' of capitalism.