Right, but isn't that the problem then, not "growth" per se? If fulfilling the interests of the rich needs growth, surely fulfilling the interests of everyone will need even more growth.
No it's driven by the desire for yachts and mansions - otherwise why the need for infinite growth? Nobody needs billions or even millions of dollars to live a good life.
For those at the top, yes the system is absolutely working as intended, and they do their level best to keep it that way. The problem is that the system itself has some serious drawbacks and that's what the original article is about. Most of the 'created value' you mention is created as a side effect of the quest for wealth (and on a very related note, power) but for most people on Earth doesn't come close to compensating for the created costs (which can largely be avoided by the wealthy). Did you actually read the article? It's all explained there much more eloquently than I could do it.
