I'm tempted to say that every attempt to fix the system from within just becomes another trap down the line, so I would say to you that if you can work on technology that allows someone to survive mostly outside of the system (encrypted communications, small scale clandestine production of food, water, medicine, shelter) then you would be well on your way!
You probably missed a few more but that's the price You pay for being part of a civil society. Just be happy the majority of your list is still being asked of and not forced upon us for the time being.(I stress MOST not all and many on your list are one in the same)
It might seem unfair or tyranny of the majority but even with all the new social rules comming down on us, I believe that I still have more control over my life than anyone else and You do too. I am much happier since I decided to focus on changing "My" world rather than "The" world.
I agree! There's no use in thinking too much about it. But, if you want to boil a frog without him jumping out and running away, first you need to make the water his favorite temperature, and then slowly raise it until it's too late for him!
If he says "people" should switch to synthetic beef, I am willing to listen. But saying "nations" should switch suggests an element of coercion that disturbs me.
Later in the article:
'A: [To offset] my own emissions, I’ve bought clean aviation fuel. I’ve paid to replace natural-gas heating in low-income housing projects with electric heat pumps—where I pay the capital cost premium and they get the benefit of the lower monthly bill. And I’ve sent money to Climeworks [a Switzerland-based company that removes carbon dioxide from the air and stores it permanently underground].
For the carbon emissions I’ve done—and I’ve gotten rid of more than what I emit—it comes out to $400 a ton.'
That's nice, but the average person will note the Bill Gates still consumes far more energy than she does. "Bill Gates owns a mansion that overlooks Lake Washington in Medina, Washington. The 66,000-square-foot (6,100 m2) mansion incorporates technology in its design." Gates could choose to live in the home of a typical upper-middle class American and travel the same amount but does not.
Carbon offsets are just a loophole for the wealthy to excuse their over consumption.
If I extinguish or prevent 100 house fires by installing sprinkler systems in them at my cost, it doesn't give me the right to burn down 10 houses somewhere else.
I think Bill Gates is trying to help and if he wants to focus his time and money doing so that is his right and I am grateful but imposing carbon taxes and offsets is like using the proverbial whip rather than a carrot and worse selling a whip guard to those that can afford it.
The best solution to the problem as I see it would be to fist figure out what the "carrot" is, then offer it in a non transferable way to the population equally for reducing or even better capturing their carbon outputs.
What that "carrot" is, I don't know. It would have to be something universally viewed as having value but at the same time offering no means of transfer. So far the only things I can come up with are once in a lifetime experiences(Maybe) and theocratic based promises such as "Threading a camel through the eye of a needle". I fear that in a society based on capitalism there is nothing of value that can't be bought or sold.
13 comments
[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 53.3 ms ] thread1) Stay at home for two weeks
2) Stay at home indefinitely
3) Wear a mask
4) Wear a second mask
5) Eat bugs
6) Eat synthetic meat
7) Actually can you go vegan?
8) Don't drive a car
9) If you must, it should be an expensive electric one
10) Don't fly
11) Take this vaccine
12) Actually take it twice
13) Actually after you take it you still might get sick
14) Don't say anything mean or it will be on the internet forever
15) If we don't like what you say, you will lose your ability to use our site
16) Pay your federal taxes
17) Pay your state taxes
18) Pay your local taxes
19) Pay your property taxes
20) Pay your sales taxes
21) Get a job, don't be a bum!
Have I missed anything?
5-10 are the only ones that seem to apply and they can all really be summed up as "give up some luxuries to reduce your carbon footprint".
Similarly 17-21[0] can be summed up as "participate in civilization".
[0] 21 is arguable.
It might seem unfair or tyranny of the majority but even with all the new social rules comming down on us, I believe that I still have more control over my life than anyone else and You do too. I am much happier since I decided to focus on changing "My" world rather than "The" world.
Later in the article:
'A: [To offset] my own emissions, I’ve bought clean aviation fuel. I’ve paid to replace natural-gas heating in low-income housing projects with electric heat pumps—where I pay the capital cost premium and they get the benefit of the lower monthly bill. And I’ve sent money to Climeworks [a Switzerland-based company that removes carbon dioxide from the air and stores it permanently underground].
For the carbon emissions I’ve done—and I’ve gotten rid of more than what I emit—it comes out to $400 a ton.'
That's nice, but the average person will note the Bill Gates still consumes far more energy than she does. "Bill Gates owns a mansion that overlooks Lake Washington in Medina, Washington. The 66,000-square-foot (6,100 m2) mansion incorporates technology in its design." Gates could choose to live in the home of a typical upper-middle class American and travel the same amount but does not.
If I extinguish or prevent 100 house fires by installing sprinkler systems in them at my cost, it doesn't give me the right to burn down 10 houses somewhere else.
I think Bill Gates is trying to help and if he wants to focus his time and money doing so that is his right and I am grateful but imposing carbon taxes and offsets is like using the proverbial whip rather than a carrot and worse selling a whip guard to those that can afford it.
What that "carrot" is, I don't know. It would have to be something universally viewed as having value but at the same time offering no means of transfer. So far the only things I can come up with are once in a lifetime experiences(Maybe) and theocratic based promises such as "Threading a camel through the eye of a needle". I fear that in a society based on capitalism there is nothing of value that can't be bought or sold.