"Most human beings can't extrapolate a mathematical chart farther than a year or two into the future...That's why we have no 5 or ten year plans...when we need a 100 year plan!"

First of all, Gildage, I agree with this statement. This is the key problem that we face this century.

However, where I don't agree is when you dismiss Governments as the solution to this problem. The markets cannot look forward 100 years, even if the markets weren't ruled by corporate interests or (as I see it) the financial mafia.

IMO the first step will be to get Governments back in the hands of the people. That does not necessarily mean a big Government and not at all a socialist government, as the republicans like to call it (to gain votes). The (small but effective) Government is needed to regulate and supervise markets, so we get free markets again, not markets controled by a few crony capitalist cartels that own the market, media, and government (read regulators/supervisors).

The next step is to have those democratically, controled Governments to do that long term planning through what the "free" market thinkers don't like either: UN forums. Whether we like it or not, we will need the markets (free markets) to create wealth, but also Governments to do the long term planning.