It does take an amazing degree of blindness to think we’re doing fine. Like someone on the Titanic who thinks there is no cause for alarm because HIS cabin is still perfectly dry. “Why, Sir, [he] is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature.” — Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). Though I can’t agree with Night Gaunt completely. It will get worse before it gets better, but I have to believe it will get better eventually. In the meantime,however, we are all paying (and are going to pay) a heavy (and increasing) price for allowing fools to run our affairs. Perhaps when ConserveGov says “we” are doing fine, he means that he is confident that he has the resources to remain comfortable for the rest of his life no matter what happens to the rest of the planet, and he doesn’t care what happens after that. After all, no matter what economic, ecological, or political upheavals the degradation of the biosphere may entail, there are those who will ride it out without too much inconvenience. One does wonder why ConserveGov has chosen that name, since no one has see any interest in him in conserving anything. ConserveNot would be more appropriate.
Flee before the boarders are sealed and you are forced to insure yourself so “we” don’t have to pick up the full tab when you have a heart attack, get cancer, break a leg.
Back in the old days we sacrificed virgins to volcanoes. Setting aside the question of why volcanoes liked virgins so much, I wonder “Where have all the virgins gone, long time passing?”
Although I have come to regret it from a personal perspective, seeing what the world is becoming makes me feel that I did the right thing in deciding not to have children.
“What ever happend to that hole in the ozone layer? Weren’t we supposed to be dead from skin cancer by now??”We banned all CFCs. Eliminated them from hundreds of products and refrigerant coolants. Ozone hole now greatly reduced. Through strict international governmental regulations.Corporations said “thousands of jobs will be lost, consumers will pay horrific prices, economy would tank”, etc etc. This was before the economic boom of the late 90s.
Amazing, don’t you think that for hundreds of years farmers were using crop rotation to get the highest yields while also protecting the soil. Then industry took over agriculture, and said ‘you don’t need to do that. Just dump these chemicals on the soil and the crops, and forget about it. Oh … you do have adequate irrigation, I hope?’
Industrial monocropping is damaging our soils. We lost MidWest topsoil in the thirties to ‘new’ agricultural practises, and it looks like this time we haven’t just let the soil blow away, we’ve outright poisoned it.
Yes, the panic which Monsanto and the rest of the industrial agriculture giants is so successfully fostering is just more propaganda, but most of the public, having zero experience with any kind of agriculture is buying in.
We only have one planet. It is only good sense to look after it. Our government doesn’t see it that way. Why should they? They’ve successfully repealed the laws of physics, what’s a little poison between friends?
The catch is that you can lie to the politicians. You can lie to the public. You can’t lie to Mother Nature …
“Or are you suggesting that our dictator-in-chief issue another of his infamous executive orders to make it so?”
I think that would actually lie within Congress’ purvue, but yes, it is actually the government’s job to insure food security for the country.
Yes, it can be done. Pull the subsidies from industrial agriculture, give it to the organic producers, the free range producers, the ‘traditional’, diversified farmers.
That would be a start.
What is it you have against a clean environment, clean water and healthy food? You aren’t getting that from Big Ag.
narrowminded: Arsenic is an essential trace mineral in the human diet. Take a lot to be safe..MortyforTyrant: The “72 virgins” in some Muslim denominations are perpetually virgin, they are made of musk and smoke, and are servants, not sex objects. Faithful women can be awarded them too. Assuming that minor doctrine is correct, of course.
A ship is sinking. Everyone on board is working frantically to bail her out and save her. One man stands apart, looking on. A sailor asks him why he is not helping. “Oh, I’m not a member of the crew,” says he. “I’m just a passenger.” - This appeared in a joke book printed 283 years ago. Even then they got it. This has nothing to do with guilt, is has to do with our mutual self-interest, and the good of those who come after us. For most people that is enough. But I suppose there are those who are so devoid of any sense that they would rather let the ship they are in sink, than co-operate to save her, unless (1) they are paid to do it, or (2) they accept it as a penalty for something that they personally did wrong. I don’t care how you live, and I don’t want to “make” you do anything, except stop … no that’s too much … lessen the number of things that you do that injure me, the society of which I am a part, and the planet on which I live. The refusal to do that does seem to be the essence of some so-called conservative thinking: it is full of rights and liberty and utterly devoid of responsibility or duty. Looking out for Number One at everyone else’s expense. And when someone says, “We’ve all agreed to do this for our general welfare and benefit,” they cry “nanny state”! That is not to say that all laws are wise, necessary, or useful. And I am all for the repeal of any law that does not, in fact, accomplish any good. That’s a garden that needs constant weeding. But even when the weeds get thick, burning the garden is no solution.
“Mexico and China are still using CFC’s like crazy”Nope. Wrong. CFCs still banned. Of course there’s still some black market use, but that’s why we have enforcement under the Montreal Protocol.These days the replacement HFCs are a problem. While they don’t affect the ozone layer, they do contribute to global warming.
ahab: 55 mpg? I don’t, and I doubt you do unless you drive an all electric car short distances only. My mpg reading currently shows a miserable 52.8, although I have had it up to 53.3 on numerous occasions, and my record is 53.8. I have a 170 mile trip once or twice a week, which builds it up, but the rest in in town, which drives it back down. I could probably get it higher, but the distance trip is either hilly or on a minimum speed limit highway.
ConserveGov over 10 years ago
So our parents sacrificed us and their parents them yet somehow we’re doing fine?Hmm……
aardvarkseyes over 10 years ago
We passed farce on climate change years ago. Does that mean we’re about to return to tragedy?
Bartmillar over 10 years ago
Not sure max food stamp users and 8 percent unemployment is doing fine.
Doughfoot over 10 years ago
It does take an amazing degree of blindness to think we’re doing fine. Like someone on the Titanic who thinks there is no cause for alarm because HIS cabin is still perfectly dry. “Why, Sir, [he] is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature.” — Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). Though I can’t agree with Night Gaunt completely. It will get worse before it gets better, but I have to believe it will get better eventually. In the meantime,however, we are all paying (and are going to pay) a heavy (and increasing) price for allowing fools to run our affairs. Perhaps when ConserveGov says “we” are doing fine, he means that he is confident that he has the resources to remain comfortable for the rest of his life no matter what happens to the rest of the planet, and he doesn’t care what happens after that. After all, no matter what economic, ecological, or political upheavals the degradation of the biosphere may entail, there are those who will ride it out without too much inconvenience. One does wonder why ConserveGov has chosen that name, since no one has see any interest in him in conserving anything. ConserveNot would be more appropriate.
Odon Premium Member over 10 years ago
Flee before the boarders are sealed and you are forced to insure yourself so “we” don’t have to pick up the full tab when you have a heart attack, get cancer, break a leg.
Godfreydaniel over 10 years ago
Back in the old days we sacrificed virgins to volcanoes. Setting aside the question of why volcanoes liked virgins so much, I wonder “Where have all the virgins gone, long time passing?”
Don Winchester Premium Member over 10 years ago
Obama’s already assured that our children and grandchildren will have no money or economy by borrowing ourselves into oblivion.
lisapaloma13 over 10 years ago
Touché! Good show!
lisapaloma13 over 10 years ago
Although I have come to regret it from a personal perspective, seeing what the world is becoming makes me feel that I did the right thing in deciding not to have children.
corzak over 10 years ago
“What ever happend to that hole in the ozone layer? Weren’t we supposed to be dead from skin cancer by now??”We banned all CFCs. Eliminated them from hundreds of products and refrigerant coolants. Ozone hole now greatly reduced. Through strict international governmental regulations.Corporations said “thousands of jobs will be lost, consumers will pay horrific prices, economy would tank”, etc etc. This was before the economic boom of the late 90s.
Ivan Araque over 10 years ago
Prescient.
Hawthorne over 10 years ago
Science has recently discovered the ‘benefits of crop rotation’.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130718101236.htm
Amazing, don’t you think that for hundreds of years farmers were using crop rotation to get the highest yields while also protecting the soil. Then industry took over agriculture, and said ‘you don’t need to do that. Just dump these chemicals on the soil and the crops, and forget about it. Oh … you do have adequate irrigation, I hope?’
Industrial monocropping is damaging our soils. We lost MidWest topsoil in the thirties to ‘new’ agricultural practises, and it looks like this time we haven’t just let the soil blow away, we’ve outright poisoned it.
Yes, the panic which Monsanto and the rest of the industrial agriculture giants is so successfully fostering is just more propaganda, but most of the public, having zero experience with any kind of agriculture is buying in.
We only have one planet. It is only good sense to look after it. Our government doesn’t see it that way. Why should they? They’ve successfully repealed the laws of physics, what’s a little poison between friends?
The catch is that you can lie to the politicians. You can lie to the public. You can’t lie to Mother Nature …
Hawthorne over 10 years ago
“Or are you suggesting that our dictator-in-chief issue another of his infamous executive orders to make it so?”
I think that would actually lie within Congress’ purvue, but yes, it is actually the government’s job to insure food security for the country.
Yes, it can be done. Pull the subsidies from industrial agriculture, give it to the organic producers, the free range producers, the ‘traditional’, diversified farmers.
That would be a start.
What is it you have against a clean environment, clean water and healthy food? You aren’t getting that from Big Ag.
Robert C. Premium Member over 10 years ago
The proposal was for returned diversity in agriculture, not method…did you think no one would follow your link?
Robert C. Premium Member over 10 years ago
…Yet YOU expect everyone else to live their lives according to YOUR present standards and needs ? What anti-social, egotistical arrogance!
Gary Williams Premium Member over 10 years ago
@ narrowminded
“Greed is good” Gordon Gekko
hippogriff over 10 years ago
narrowminded: Arsenic is an essential trace mineral in the human diet. Take a lot to be safe..MortyforTyrant: The “72 virgins” in some Muslim denominations are perpetually virgin, they are made of musk and smoke, and are servants, not sex objects. Faithful women can be awarded them too. Assuming that minor doctrine is correct, of course.
Doughfoot over 10 years ago
A ship is sinking. Everyone on board is working frantically to bail her out and save her. One man stands apart, looking on. A sailor asks him why he is not helping. “Oh, I’m not a member of the crew,” says he. “I’m just a passenger.” - This appeared in a joke book printed 283 years ago. Even then they got it. This has nothing to do with guilt, is has to do with our mutual self-interest, and the good of those who come after us. For most people that is enough. But I suppose there are those who are so devoid of any sense that they would rather let the ship they are in sink, than co-operate to save her, unless (1) they are paid to do it, or (2) they accept it as a penalty for something that they personally did wrong. I don’t care how you live, and I don’t want to “make” you do anything, except stop … no that’s too much … lessen the number of things that you do that injure me, the society of which I am a part, and the planet on which I live. The refusal to do that does seem to be the essence of some so-called conservative thinking: it is full of rights and liberty and utterly devoid of responsibility or duty. Looking out for Number One at everyone else’s expense. And when someone says, “We’ve all agreed to do this for our general welfare and benefit,” they cry “nanny state”! That is not to say that all laws are wise, necessary, or useful. And I am all for the repeal of any law that does not, in fact, accomplish any good. That’s a garden that needs constant weeding. But even when the weeds get thick, burning the garden is no solution.
corzak over 10 years ago
“Mexico and China are still using CFC’s like crazy”Nope. Wrong. CFCs still banned. Of course there’s still some black market use, but that’s why we have enforcement under the Montreal Protocol.These days the replacement HFCs are a problem. While they don’t affect the ozone layer, they do contribute to global warming.
fofinho over 10 years ago
You just have to re-define “fine”. 8% unemployment is fine as long has he’s President.
hippogriff over 10 years ago
ahab: 55 mpg? I don’t, and I doubt you do unless you drive an all electric car short distances only. My mpg reading currently shows a miserable 52.8, although I have had it up to 53.3 on numerous occasions, and my record is 53.8. I have a 170 mile trip once or twice a week, which builds it up, but the rest in in town, which drives it back down. I could probably get it higher, but the distance trip is either hilly or on a minimum speed limit highway.