Caius
Posts: 175
Joined: 2/2/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: zumala
First of all, let me say well done, Caius. It's difficult to see what's happening, yet realize that you can do very little about it personally because the majority of people don't want to spoil their way of living just for the sake of the planet and the other people living on it. They don't see disaster RIGHT NOW, so they don't care. They don't believe that the effects will get to them, too.
Thank you, zumula. And yes, it can be difficult at times dealing with such entrenched views. While I was responding to Fangs I couldn't help but recall a qoute I had come accross earlier in the day in an article markign the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic -- a doctor who had worked in San Fransisco during the ealriest appearances of the disease and subsequently in many other communities under the same circumstances observed that there was common reaction to the emergence of this crisis: "First its 'Its not happening.' Then it becomes 'Its happening, but its someone else's problem.' And finally its 'Oh my god, help us!'" On the other hand, strides are being made. Its easy for one to get the impression, especially if they live in the States and if they get the bulk of their information from corporate media, that belief in global warming is a dissident or alarmist view but I don't believe this really in any way now reflects the truth of the matter. However, if understanding is on the rise, priorities seem to be lagging considerably. Unfortuantely, the environmental cause has essentially had its back broken in the U.S., both administraively and as regards the popular movement. The EPA has been gutted and filled with energy industry insiders who barely bother to disguise their corporate agendas and the Green Party is a joke. What remains is the various grass-roots movements, disperate, isolated and fighting the fights they can often while being castigated and demonized.
quote:
ORIGINAL: zumala
As for the comment about the Dust Bowl in the 1930's... Here in central Texas, it's coming. We've had precious little rain. The aquifer level here is dropping about a foot a day. Actually, what little rain we have gotten came in unusually violent and short-lived storms that dropped hail and more rain than this type of soil can handle. So in short, all we got was a flood that then quickly disappeared again. And the aquifer continues to drop. I imagine it won't be more than 10 years or so before the west Texas desert extends itself this way.
And you're nto alone, of course. I've been talking on this subject with friends and aquaintances a lot of late and all over the globe they report seeing, in this last year, some of the most bizzare and uncommon weather they can recall seeing in their lives.
quote:
ORIGINAL: MistressLorelei
Very nice post Caius.... It's great that you had the patience to address many uninformed statements made. A very worthwhile first post. It's difficult to debate with ignorance.... but yet, we try.
Thank you very much. I continually become less inclined to decline to engage in this debate anytime I come accross it. Enough time has been wasted.
quote:
ORIGINAL: lisa1978
At the same time it is an inconveinant truth that we have no real opposing party at this time. No direction, no vision and no public national figures to lead for the Democrats. A majority of people hope and pray that the elctions coming up the Democrats will win back the House and Senate to restore checks and balances, but when reading articles about the election and our historical voting behavior the chance of that might not be as good as many people think. Between the gerrymandering and voting habits things might not change. People hate poloticians but not their poloticians.
Indeed. Actually, I believe the republicans will lose ground this time around but I doubt it will be by any large degree. I'd be surprised if the democrats get back two-thirds of the seats they lost in the last election. But I believe the problem goes significantly deeper still. The democrats don't even represent an opposing view to begin with. Democrats and republicans largely take their marching orders from the same places, of course. Sure this current cabal of neocons may be especially disconnected with reality and the constituency they're meant to represent, but I doubt that whoever replaces them will go far to reverse the positions adopted by the current administration, regardless of their party. These positions will remain markedly fixed so long as Americans remain content with being offered virtual carbon copies and told they're making a choice.
< Message edited by Caius -- 6/6/2006 2:40:36 AM >
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