quote:
so many people on this board are true doomsday advocates and seem to have no faith in mankind. Everything will work out in regard to energy usage. We're human beings with brains, driven to do better and accomplish great things. Relax.
No ..I have full faith in mankind ..to do whatever those in power feel aids their self interests ..which may or may not have any vision beyond the next quarterly report.
Look at the Roman Empire. Technologically advance beyond all the barbarian world ..and master of just about all of it ...yet we had the dark ages.
Don't think for one minute that our future can't look like Blade Runner ..or Soilent Green. In fact ..I bet you can bank on it. There will be authoritarian and socialistic adoptions of governing merely to assure that the society can function ..and that too will be dysfunctional. You are looking at the beginning of much more of the same degradation that we've gotten used to.
We go on the assumption that "magic" will save us. It, for all of known history, has. The mystery of "magic" had been unfolded ..and we've prospered from the expansion of knowledge. This assumes a expotential ..or factorial learning curve ..which doesn't appear to be forthcoming. We've gone from an unthrottled expansionist quest for knowledge ..to "trying to afford to learn" global society where research has to compete to stay alive.
I'm sorry ..but I'm too politically paranoid from a futurist stand point. I view our current consumption mode as a recipe for disaster. When the taps run dry you will have a world population in crisis ..massive industrial populations with dwindling resources ...shortages ..famines...plagues.. and all of it administered by a very few.
quote:
Tax? Punish people? Man oh man, what in the world has gotten into some of you folks.
Why do you call this punishment? It's paying your toll to consume more than you need. Your consumption is a tax on all those who do conserve. If you can't afford the tax ..drive a more economical vehicle. If you need to move more people ..buy a minivan. So do I deseve to be punished for your excessive and self indulgent consumption ..just so you can drive around in a vehicle that is too big and too thirsty? Aren't you riding on sensible people's backs??
I think this attitude stems from two things. Severe adversion to taxes ..and the fact that people feel that they should be able to make whatever choices that they want ..and not suffer the consequences. Everyone wants to "have the other guy" pay for everything ..and if they can get away witout paying for what they want ...great.
It has no hint of global social responsibilty and concern for the future. I'm not going to depend on the future in my attitude on things. You have to look no further that our current debt, ss, medicare ..all these things were in the future ..and we had faith in them ..yet they are going to take their toll upon us ..at least those who expect to live that long. Where is this "future faith" brought us in the present??? What track record do you base any "better" expectations on??
Sorry ..the future is NOW ..and it looks like there is only 'worse' contained within it.