While I don't necessarily disagree with the conclusion, I think it's worth questioning the unspoken premise here:

Is there no other way to support human life than these accelerating grinding gears of money-shuffling?

Or those losses the only thing preventing the creation of even greater things

Well, of course. Problem is that, apparently, we're doing the best we can.

Could you expand that a little for us slowpokes?

Aside, I assume you mean "to sustain the [USA] economy"? Perhaps you mean World economy, or EU, or ...?