The World Will End, and We’re All Going to Die
July 18th, 2007 | by Craig |Well, folks, it’s official.
Found this gem over at New Left West today. Here’s some <blockquote>’y goodness.
[R]egardless of this rogue effort and ingenuity, human ineptitude to live within the tides and provisions of the earth and our relentless need for carbon to fuel our current lives will end in our demise.
The standard of living we have does require energy. Simple as that. I have an idea. How about a non-carbon fuel that has a proven track record? Would that do the trick? Like, I dunno, nuclear power? It’s crazy, I know, but it just might work.
The panacea du jour is ethanol. We’re diverting a lot of resources to ethanol as of late. You guys been noticing anything with the price of agricultural goods lately? I know that last summer, I could buy tip steaks for $3.99/lb. pretty regularly, and ribeyes usually hovered around $5.99/lb. This year, those meats are $5.99 and $9.99 respectively. Wonder why that is?
According to the United Nations, agriculture is the most destructive activity on the planet. As we produce the food that is the energy to fuel our lives, we use oil energy to do it.
Oops. So much for ethanol.
On a simpler level, the speakers seem to indicate that necessary change has two clear sides…
1. Use less. At least 50 percent less.
2. Tell everyone you know to do the same. Now. Contact every politician representing you to remake public policy. Now.
I wonder where Pete Talbot stands on this.
Here’s the conclusion:
We are all in this Petri dish together, sliding up the glass edges searching for sugar. But the sugar is almost gone. And no technological prodigy is waiting on the other side to catch us. This time, we have to save ourselves.
Well, no. There’s plenty of “sugar” out there, it’s just that the greenies and the NIMBY’s won’t let us use it. It’s hunky-dory for the NoRK’s and the Iranians, but us? Oh, hell no.
And the right gets accused of fear mongering?
Puh-leeze.
(Also, note Gman’s comment on the post at New Left.)
6 Responses to “The World Will End, and We’re All Going to Die”
By Dave Budge on Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
There’s some priceless stuff over there. Gman gave a yeoman’s effort but he’s delusional if he thinks he’ll change any minds.
I particularly like the ExxonMobile outing of Pete Geddes proving that Exxon only funds shills for the petrol industry. I wonder if the “outer” knows that Pete supports a $2/gal. gas tax as our best worst trade-off for energy innovation? I wonder what Exxon thinks of that? Seems it hasn’t stopped their generosity to FREE.
Anyhow, I wonder where you got the “new left” thing. I kinda like it.
p.s. I’m doing a panel discussion gig with Jonathan Weber, Matt Singer and a couple of others on using the internet for Not-for-profit enterprises next month. I wonder if I’ll feel physically threatened with so much progressivism in the ethos?
By Gman on Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
Well, Dave, I like going into the enemy’s camp to ruffle some feathers. It’s a “calling” thing. Maybe, just maybe, one mind will be changed. One thing I find is that the articulation of the free market position is often subpar. I’m not saying I’m Patrick Henry or anything here. (I often confuse myself!) One thing I try to do is illustrate how the free market actually can achieve the goals that many enviros on the left pursue. For example, enviros want conservation of resources. The pricing mechanism is the most effective way to do that. Enviros want to reduce corporate power. The way to do that is to cut off gov’t largesse and let producers compete. (Of course, they don’t like that free market competition stuff because it’s not utopian enough.) There’s my defense of hanging around at New West. I know some of the journalists over there and they’re good folk. They just don’t understand economics. What’s new?
By Wulfgar on Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
Dave, quit being such a weeny. It really might not be all about you. Just suggesting …
By Dave Budge on Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
Wulfgar, what are you talking about? I can’t even make a joke without you jumping on my shit?
By Craig on Jul 19, 2007 | Reply
>Anyhow, I wonder where you got the “new left” thing. I kinda like it.
I dunno, but the guy who came up with it is pure genius.
By Matt Singer on Jul 20, 2007 | Reply
I s’pose it is not possible that Wulfgar was joking along.