That's the problem of reasoning on timescales of civilizations, yeah? You can't really pay attention to transient effects and still make meaningful policies.
For example, consider how many people died mining coal in the past couple of centuries, or how many natives died when colonizing forces spread them diseases or outright committed genocide.
Sure, it's awful, but would the world really be a better place if America were limited to some traders on the East coast? Or if England had never really gotten the Industrial Revolution thing figured out?
We can't really reason in human terms when talking about the species writ large.
> how many natives died when colonizing forces spread them diseases or outright committed genocide.
Are there really people thinking the Native American Genocide was somehow worth it? That's despicable. Tell me because I'm not sure, you classify the genocide as "transient effect" or "meaningful policy"?
> [...] would the world really be a better place if America were limited to some traders on the East coast?
Irak war anyone? That's how USA makes world a better place.
For example, consider how many people died mining coal in the past couple of centuries, or how many natives died when colonizing forces spread them diseases or outright committed genocide.
Sure, it's awful, but would the world really be a better place if America were limited to some traders on the East coast? Or if England had never really gotten the Industrial Revolution thing figured out?
We can't really reason in human terms when talking about the species writ large.