What satiates the demand for profit? (debt, economy, economics, exam)

[RememberMee]

I was pondering about the question "Where do profits come from", we all know that a business and USPS must be profitable. I'm little bit shaky on the basics of this economics cornerstone. For example, let's say the world economics shrinks to 2 people having two basic needs - apples and oranges, I grow apples and you grow oranges. We trade apples for oranges. 20 apples for 10 oranges this year. In the profit driven system all exchanges must be made at a profit. Therefore, I should be able to exchange 10 oranges (I got from you) for let's say 21 of my apples (let's assume an orange grower is a primitive tribesman not seeking profitable exchange), but you have only 20 of my apples. Unless, I find a way to "convince" you to accept 1 lacking apple as your debt to me the scheme can't lift off. Once concept of debt is introduced for it to last the "economy" of apples & oranges must experience endless growth to postpone the reckoning day, because as my primitive example shows at any given day there is more "debt" apples than there are real apples to pay off that debt with. Thus, the point of profit driven apple-oranges economy is to keep on piling up the debt to keep the system running since discharge of the debt is impossible without revolution and/or collapse.

I don't think that global multi-billion economy is much different than my primitive example, it derives "stability" from growth and nothing but growth. As most know, we live in the finite world and there are great suspicions that growth is hitting the wall as we speak. What's next? It's ironic that primitive "apple for oranges" exchange scheme could last forever.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by RememberMee

I was pondering about the question "Where do profits come from", we all know that a business and USPS must be profitable.

sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip

whachu talkin bout willis?

$3.00 letters and once a week delivery will suit me just fine...
but even that has nothing to do with "profit".