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You do realize that the temperature of the Earth has not warmed in over a decade, don't you? That in fact we might be entering a new cooling period? Everyone put down the bongs and step away from the alarm buttons, the Earth will still be here in 2050.
Exactly. I'll start believing in Global Warming when someone can explain how the Vikings were able to farm sheep and grow barley in Greenland during the 10th Century. While they are at it, they can further explain how come the world's coastal regions were not under water during the Medieval Warming Period.
Sorry to be a buzzkill but facts are facts, people.
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The idea that we need the government to intervene right now to save future generations is laughable. They are doing their damn best to make sure future generations will have a worse life than any other Americans of the past.
If you want to get your panties in a wad about the future, you should be screaming about all the unfunded liabilities that the government is racking up and how your children and your children's children are going to be screwed when it comes to SS, Medicare, taxes, government spending, taking care of their old infirm parents who will not give up their SS benefits no matter how much it costs their children, etc. Be angry about that, the idea that we need the U.S. federal government to "SAVE" the planet is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.
How is the U.S. government going to save anything when they can't even agree long enough to put their heads together and make an ass of themselves? Seriously... Since Obama has taken office, the United States has seen more war, more corporate welfare and a national debt that its grandchildren will still be paying off 50 years from now. But hey, at least the President's black. Now *THAT'S* progress!
I wish to state that I do not think Romney's the answer either. It really doesn't matter who wins in November, the U.S. is screwed either way. Welcome to the downfall of the American Empire.
I think it's pretty clear that if we go on the way we are, living the way we do, an industrial, consumerist society that consumes vast resources and pollutes the world, the world will be in begin trouble very, very soon. It may even be too late to fully reverse the effects of things like global warming and climate change, and it's obviously too late to bring back a lot of the eco-systems we have lost. We don't need Al Gore to tell us that. The issue for me is, people on the whole still want to live the same lifestyles: they want cool gadgets, they want to drive cars, we want to build taller and taller skyscrapers, products are getting even more disposable, the net human impact is growing. And that's not even talking about emerging countries like China, India and Latin America. People - Americans in particular - are generally vehemently against these being taken away from them. Look at some of the attitudes towards public transport use...My question is, at one point do governments or governing authorities step in and say, enough and enough? The way you're living is irresponsible? When will politicians grow a pair and stand up to big businesses and other corporate interests, when will they realise that without natural resources a country's GDP's means nothing?
I personally think large-scale, draconian measures need to be put in place NOW, even if it smacks of being interventionist. Fossil fuels will probably be very scarce by 2050, now is the time to start phasing out petroleum on a large scale. We should aim to rely totally on alternative energy sources by 2050., for instance. Packaging is another thing: think of all the oil that plastic bags take to make, and how even now much of it is not recycled and is thrown into the sea. Also shifting from a consumerist, disposable society to one which values and treasures long-lasting things.
I think a total re-structing of the world economy is another thing we need to address. Our reliance on China is plain scary, and in the long run will be beneficial for neither them nor us. We have to think globally, as a global community, not as nations who only care about their own interests. For as we know what is happening to our planet now and what will happen affects all of us. (gets off soap-box)
Issue #1 are lobbyists. Get rid of the lobbyists and things will be different. Perhaps not necessarily better, but just not the same.
Issue #2 are Politicians who have investments in Big Oil and other Big Business. Ethically, a politician should have zero ties with business. Politicians are public servants, our tax dollars pay their salaries yet they have a tendency to represent business, not people.
Issue #3 are the Tea Party and "Libertarians" who want to the Government to leave them alone, yet, feel the need to bar any personal freedoms and attitudes that do not coincide with their own narrow views.
The answer, aside from a shift in public attitude, is an acceptance of science. Science can, sooner or later, fix many of these problems...and they can do so in such a way that would benefit everyone...even financially. But you know, that would be some sort of Socialist-God-Hating-Anti-American-Liberal-BS, so it's not going to happen.
The flip-side on that coin is for the Religious to finally accept that they are God's stewards for Planet Earth, not it's destroyers.
When is it time for the Government to step in and say enough is enough? Well, when people stop fearing the Government and demand that Government do what government is supposed to do, govern.
By the way, off-shore and in-land oil drilling/exploration is more than alive and kicking in U.S. Do not believe the Republicans who lie about it. In fact, there are many jobs available in this field that need filling now. But I guess it is easier to blame Liberals for "blocking" oil exploration and "taking jobs away from Americans" instead of getting a job on an actual oil rig yourself that desperately needs the workers.
America has plenty of oil of its own, enough so that we should not rely on "foreign" oil. Here is the dodge: the Middle East is blowing through their oil supply at a steady, fast, pace by supplying the World. When they run out, guess who is going to become the next oil kingpin?
I believe all the hoopla surrounding climate change, pollution, sustainability, et al is either total BS or wildly overblown. Here is why:
The proposed solution to the stated problem always revolves around the people accepting cutbacks, a smaller piece of the pie, diminished standard of living, forced moving, less rights, etc...
The proposed solution to the stated problem never revolves around the corporations, government, or militaries doing the same thing.
Which takes up more resources- mega corporations, militaries, and governments OR people?
The answer is right there, imo.
dys
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