I'm afraid I can't agree more...
(Economics may be considered the balance of values). I suppose Tolkien did have ideals of regenerative technology. This is instanced by the presence of the
elesser, the green elf-stone of Celebrimbor/Feanor wielded by Galadriel which made things grew beautifully in the Lorien. At the end of the Scouring, Samwise also used the soil of Lorien to restore the Shire.
I guess if there's a
restorative technology in modern days, it would be Botox, though I won't really want to know what goes into its making...
"Like butter spread on too much bread..." - Bilbo, on the effects of plastic surgery
On another note, something had really gone wrong with arts for arts sake. Maybe a scouring of US academia should be in order...