Polarization

 

1. Here’s the problem: I do think that man causes problems to/for the environment. I do not think we need to go backwards a 100 years or a couple of centuries and that a man who owns 3 homes and sucks up more energy than 20 average families, who jets and limos around the world should tell me how bad I am - neither provides any viable solutions.

   The sad thing is that this (polarization) is in every aspect of life now.

   Poverty is caused by greedy corporations - then explain to me why the most impoverished peoples of the world live under despots, tyrants and thugs and not in corporate controlled hell holes? [Corolary to this is why has welfare, foodstamps, afdc and medicaid not only not wiped out poverty in America but has increased it? - I’d love the answer to that one]

   Illegal immigrants are just looking for work and to make a better life for themselves - then explain why these wonderful, hardworking, eager to be productive, useful citizens did not do it in their own countries?

   There is a vast ground between all or nothing, right and wrong, and give and take. And it does not start with I’m right, you are wrong - so shut up. That is the start of polarization. And the end of solutions.

   Posted by wardmama4       07/15/2007  at  04:44 PM  



2. Children with asthma are now commonplace. It wasn’t like that when I was a kid. We seem to bump into people with life-threatening nut allergies on a more regular basis. It wasn’t like that when I was a kid either. So tell me, are we just getting better at diagnosing these ailments, or is there really an increase? If there is, have we brought it upon ourselves?

   Ok, if you’re stepping into the swampland, let me throw you a rope.

   When you was a kid, there were a lot fewer people on this here mudball. I was born in ‘59, and the world’s population was about 3 Billion, today, about 6.5 Billion. The USA’s population, in 1959, was 177 Million; today, over 300 million. That, coupled with the explosive growth in technology (communicating the information that wasn’t always available at a fingertip...how many WWII newsreels covered Nutty Buddy allergies and Asthma? Until recently, relatively speaking, the newsreels were the primary news dissimination devices) leads us to a severe crunch in resources, and yes, pollution. See this graph and page for some of your answers. Here’s a timeline, based on Geological time, to show you how insignificant we humans are to the history of this planet. Finally, a page bound to inflame those who don’t want to hear what really is reality.

   All I’m saying is, you seem to be struggling with ‘whys’ and ‘who’s to blames’, when I see a crystal-clear reason for many of the problems we’re facing, today, on the planet.

   What shold we do about it? We can’t stop growing; our economin/capitalism system is based on steady growth of the economy. That has driven the current technological boom. We’re in a mad rush to get more, and more, but will cutting back will take away what strides we’ve made?

   All the evidence points to a future disaster, that can’t be denied. I’m not yet ready to return to pre-1960 living conditions (I value my air conditioning) so, what’s next?

   I say this: the Amish will be much better off, in the long run…

   Posted by serr8d       07/15/2007  at  06:31 PM  



3. While we do have many more sources of info these days, I can’t agree that just becaue there wasn’t always room to run the stories that they weren’t as severe back then. Back in the bad old days there’d be a polio story just about every day, every summer.

   It is my opinion that certain ailments are on the rise. Certain other “ailments” are over-diagnosed and over-medicated, and rise mainly from poor parenting. An example would be ADD, which does exist, but not at the 1-in-10 level some folks would have us believe. A third set of ailments and negative societal conditions (eg child abuse) appear to be on the rise because the press is paying them lots of attention finally.

   As for diseases on the rise, I think its the antibiotics and hormones in our food. You have to pay quite a bit more to get “organic” food these days, which is nothing more than crops or livestock raised the way they always were until the mid-70s. Its a con, but agribusiness has way overstepped things and the government has let them. (gak, I think I’m calling for more government regulation on this one!) It’s not like the farmers wouldn’t turn a profit the old way, its just that it would be smaller. Well, too bad. I think it’s way past time we get the “pollution” out of our food.

   Oh, Serr8d, tell me how advances in technology are leading to a crunch in resources? What is it that you feel is in short supply these days because of cell phones, etc?

   Posted by Drew458       07/15/2007  at  07:35 PM  



4. Interesting post. Just as I think blogs have become popular in part becasue we have so little “over the back fence” relationships with people and the resulting ability to discuss issues, I think talk radio, too, fills in as a surrogate for that lack. Unfortunately, it is all too often “yell at everyone” radio or “hey, I know it all because I am the host” radio.

   Is the globe warming? Yes. Is it increasing? Yes, no, maybe so. Is humaity “causing” global warming? yesnodont’knowyouholocasutdenieryoucommirfreak! We do not actually know. How is humanity “causing” global warming? Aren’t the googletone of crap we put into the air having some effect? And where does the money come from? Follow the cash, you find the motivation for some.

   Just have to work out way through the murk as best we can.

   Posted by Rickvid in Seattle       07/16/2007  at  12:10 AM  

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