I liked that bit, too.

The thing is, with the energy resources at the base of the economy flat or declining, it is a zero sum game. Or worse.

Ahh, "Zero-sum game" a phrase I remember from 1970s writings, from Buckminster Fuller to those whacky space colony people. And that's what it is, too. The North Sea oil discoveries saved us from that, for 20 years. Now it's back to normal - a zero-sum game.