>stop growing crops in excess of what is needed to feed themselves and sit on productive land like stone toads.

I see some of the same problems in housing. It seems every homeowner wants the value of their house to increase, and many times will lobby in such a manner that causes their home prices to increase significantly by limiting development. I've had people argue with me on Reddit that home values must continually increase or people will stop making homes?! The insanity required to believe that has become endemic in our society.