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America Is in Denial

theatlantic.com

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Re: America Is in Denial

#11

Post by krallja »

willio58 wrote: post #9

One beautiful thing about science is that it doesn’t really matter if you believe in it or not. It’s based on the seeking of truth using a proven method. Those who ignore climate change will suffer, especially those who are poor and uneducated. Luckily, this knowledge is not hard to find these days, and I suspect the youth of the coming generations will take a different outlook of climate change, one irrespective of…

“Smart people won’t suffer from climate change because they believe in it” is a pretty wild argument.

Re: America Is in Denial

#12

Post by peeters »

rob74 wrote: post #7

> When entire countries fail to confront serious challenges, it doesn't end well. At least in the case of global warming, the US are in good company: the whole world is failing (some more, some less, but nevertheless all failing) to confront the challenge.

The only flaw in that line of thinking is that the US bears some responsibility in this. As long as the world's biggest powers are willing to exploit the situation, pretending it's a zero-sum game, the smaller powers can't do much. If the US showed true leadership on carbon emissions, it would bring much of the world with it.

Re: America Is in Denial

#13

Post by willio58 »

krallja wrote: post #11
willio58 wrote: post #9

One beautiful thing about science is that it doesn’t really matter if you believe in it or not. It’s based on the seeking of truth using a proven method. Those who ignore climate change will suffer, especially those who are poor and uneducated. Luckily, this knowledge is not hard to find these days, and I suspect the youth of the coming generations will take a different outlook of climate change, one irrespective of…

“Smart people won’t suffer from climate change because they believe in it” is a pretty wild argument.

That’s not my argument. Poor people will suffer more by numbers. Poor people are also less educated by numbers. Those with money can move to avoid the soonest impacts, can pay for AC, can pay for rising food prices, etc.

Re: America Is in Denial

#14

Post by gedy »

rob74 wrote: post #7

> When entire countries fail to confront serious challenges, it doesn't end well. At least in the case of global warming, the US are in good company: the whole world is failing (some more, some less, but nevertheless all failing) to confront the challenge.

I like to think of it as there are no borders in the atmosphere (nor 'per capita').

Re: America Is in Denial

#15

Post by ur-whale »

kory wrote: post #4

> Even as we watch the reservoirs and lakes of the West go dry, we keep watering our lawns, soaking our golf courses, and growing water-thirsty crops. Residential water use has plummeted in the west. Some areas, like vegas, use less water than the 70s, not accounting for population changes. Arizona is the second best residential water manager in the world behind Israel. Agriculture uses the lion's share of water and…

> The US must continue printing debt (expanding money supply)

Can't tell if serious, but if you are, holding that kind of short-sighted opinion, you can be sure to be in most excellent historical company.

I mean it's not like currency debasement causes the fall of empires or anything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denarius

https://www.lietaer.com/2021/11/did-the-romans-debase-the-cu...

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-long-and-sordid-history-...

https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato...

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/intranets/staff/butc...

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-...

Re: America Is in Denial

#16

Post by Skunkleton »

kory wrote: post #4

> Even as we watch the reservoirs and lakes of the West go dry, we keep watering our lawns, soaking our golf courses, and growing water-thirsty crops. Residential water use has plummeted in the west. Some areas, like vegas, use less water than the 70s, not accounting for population changes. Arizona is the second best residential water manager in the world behind Israel. Agriculture uses the lion's share of water and…

> Yet again blaming individuals' choices when large corporations are by far the largest global polluters.

Corporations don’t exist. There are only individual people.

Re: America Is in Denial

#17

Post by antifa »

> I hope for a president who can rise above the din to unite us behind the truth.

That was Bernie Sanders. Every debate, every mud sling, every derail, Sanders was a guy who would put the conversation back on track on doing what's right for the American people.

Re: America Is in Denial

#18

Post by Apreche »

Overtonwindow wrote: post #5

What I find most fascinating is that this reads completely counter to the authors supposed ideology and public positions, in a way that I'm not quite sure where they stand. It keeps changing so much.

The word you’re looking for is hypocrisy. If Mitch really believed in climate change, he could vote to end the fillibuster, pass a green new deal, not appoint judges to the Supreme Court who vote against the EPA. He doesn’t have one ounce of the bravery or leadership he claims to be looking for.

Re: America Is in Denial

#19

Post by finfinfin »

kory wrote: post #4

> Even as we watch the reservoirs and lakes of the West go dry, we keep watering our lawns, soaking our golf courses, and growing water-thirsty crops. Residential water use has plummeted in the west. Some areas, like vegas, use less water than the 70s, not accounting for population changes. Arizona is the second best residential water manager in the world behind Israel. Agriculture uses the lion's share of water and…

> Residential water use has plummeted in the west. Some areas, like vegas, use less water than the 70s, not accounting for population changes.

What's the point of this argument? Vegas population has increased more than 10x since the 70s, why would we not account for population growth when discussing the usage of a limited resource?

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