The best thing we can do besides innovation is probably to put a brake on overconsumption by killing modern advertising practices.

Right here, officer, this is the terrorist that threatened eternally growing GDP!

Advertising is cancer.

Eternally growing GDP allows for employment, which gives way to a life worth living. That’s pretty popular.

Yeah too bad it actually can't grow eternally right??

It has so far. As things shift digitally and with AI augmenting human capability, there’s less of a physical limit. Perhaps it’s not possible to grow forever but I wouldn’t bet on it stopping anytime soon.

A lack of will by the body politic or the lack of authority to compel behaviours of the electorate against its will?

Almost any law we take for granted goes against the will of at least some part of the electorate.

There are more than enough maniacs who would love nothing better than being allowed to put the pedal to the metal whenever they feel like it, and who don't give a damn about other peoples safety and lives be damned.

There are also people who would like to live in a society where they are allowed to hit (or do worse things to) anyone that annoys them for whatever reason.

There are people who think slavery is a great idea, or who think women should be subservient to men.