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What if societies desire to have and consume more is ultimately stronger than our desire to ensure the world lasts 50,000 more years instead of 2,000 more years?
Could me and my family be safer in a 7 mpg 7,000 lb SUV? Why not?
There are billions of people out here that want what Americans have...
It is not just a simple issue of greed that can be checked. Take a look at the world population growth. It is scary. Trying to cut back on the carbon footprint of each individual is not going to offset the growing number of footprints.
I think its more selective perception and willful ignorance than any deliberate commitment to ruin the earth for future generations.
True. I understand the wealthy ignoring and lying about their damaging practices but I can't wrap my mind around the indifference of the other 99%. A good half of Americans think being concerned about environmental issues means you're a lunatic socialist and probably in favor of confiscating guns and making everyone eat Impossible burgers.
First, define "greed". Humans are by their very nature motivated by self-interest, but that motivation resulted in an economic system that has created untold prosperity and continues to do so.
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages”
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What if societies desire to have and consume more is ultimately stronger than our desire to ensure the world lasts 50,000 more years instead of 2,000 more years?
This is a meaningless question. There is nothing we can do to "ensure the world lasts" any amount of time. Just as the Greeks and Romans could have no idea what the world would be like 2000 years later (and that, of course, included the Dark Ages - hundreds of pears of lost progress); we can't have any idea of what the world will be like 200 years from now, let alone 2000 or 50,000.
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Could me and my family be safer in a 7 mpg 7,000 lb SUV? Why not?
Define "safer". Physically safer? Sure. Safer from economic downturns with a massive car payment? Probably not.
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There are billions of people out here that want what Americans have...
And people in Hell want ice water. What's your point?
Global poverty is declining. Hunger, disease, lack of good water, lack of educational opportunities, all of that is going down. People are getting more. But all of these moans about the world ending never suggests that we should cast billions backwards... it's always that I should give up what I have. Those who are making all of these bleating arguments about "saving the world" don't know or care about anything of the sort... they're just opportunists looking to fill their own pockets at my expense. Raise my taxes, so they can have a secure government union job or monthly stipend, FOR THE PLANET!
True. I understand the wealthy ignoring and lying about their damaging practices but I can't wrap my mind around the indifference of the other 99%.
What about the 99% burning tires and throwing all of their garbage in rivers and building the dirtiest possible power sources and billowing pollutants out into the air? Oh, yeah, they get a pass because they're "developing nations" and it wouldn't be fair to get them to stop (let alone they'll laugh at you or arrest you if you show up and preach to them). Much safer to direct your ire towards the developed Western world... never mind that that world is the one developing technologies that reduce pollution and increase efficiency! It just feels so much better to preach to a bunch of self-loathing white-guilt liberals!
What if societies desire to have and consume more is ultimately stronger than our desire to ensure the world lasts 50,000 more years instead of 2,000 more years?
Could me and my family be safer in a 7 mpg 7,000 lb SUV? Why not?
There are billions of people out here that want what Americans have...
Global Economic Sanctions in respect of nations that don't reduce pollution may be the next step.
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