Financial Times columnist Martin Wolf, an economist, poses the question, "Will CO2 emissions limits lead to a zero-sum global economy?" – an economy characterized by stagnant (or declining) incomes, and armed conflict among nations?

Wolf argues that increased energy consumption per capita, primarily oil from fossil fuel, has been a key causal factor in creating the plus-sum economic world we live in, which he calls the positive-sum economy. Or in other words, rising energy consumption has helped produce rising productivity / real incomes / wealth, and the expanding global economy that we know today.

In addition, Wolf further argues that rising energy consumption transformed politics -- assisting both the birth of democratic politics at home and more-consensual foreign relations among states -- by increasing the size of the economic pie. Elites in a country, Wolf argues, became more willing to tolerate the enfranchisement of the masses because it was in the elites' economic interest to do so: i.e. that energy consumption created a more-productive (and more-valuable) citizenry with higher incomes.

Internationally, a nation's gains from the increased trade that characterizes the high-energy consumption era far exceed its gains from making war with another nation: the plus-sum global economy that trade produces supports today's norm of trade as opposed to the limited-sum world's norm of conflict and war.

As I was considering what to blog about, it occurred to me that we haven't heard from General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) lately. I usually consider that a good sign because it most often means that things are progressing as they should. I hopped over to the G.E. website to see what those good folks have been up to. I found some interesting things over there and yes, some boring things too. Boring things can be just as important as exciting things. I have brought back some of both for you.

This past Monday, GE named Michael E. Chen President and CEO of its Global Media and Communications operations. Chen's move to this position is in recognition of his prowess in specialized customer relations and an overall leadership style which has earned him high regard at GE. Michael Chen has been referred to as one of the top customer relations experts in the country. Congratulations and good luck Michael!

General Electric has received Popular Mechanics 2006 Breakthrough Award for technology which brings hydrogen electrolysis into the realm of economic reality. What this means to us regular folks is that they are now able to extract hydrogen from water in a way that should make it economical to use as fuel. GE undertook the project with the goal of cutting the costs associated with hydrogen production. Guess what folks, they did it! OPEC will be green with envy.

GE and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) have teamed up to replace conventional fluorescent lighting in Wal-Mart's refrigerated display units. This will reduce the power draw of those displays by up to 78%. This move is part of Walmart's environmental sustainability directive. Wal-Mart estimates this change of lighting in 500 stores will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35 million pounds yearly. The press release is really very amazing to read! The future is upon you folks!

There's a lot more information on their website that is worth reading. It's definitely worth the trip over there. The funny thing is that this is headline stuff. Why isn't it making it into the press? You won't hear about these breakthroughs on CNN or Fox News. I wonder why not -- who's in charge over there? They yell and scream about supposed global warming, but when the solutions come around they clam up! Go figure.