----- Original Message -----
From: "Kristin A. Ruhle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2001 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge
> Thank you Dolphin.
>
> Have you read Timescape, where the key to preventng ecodisaster was to
> send a message backward intime and change one small thing....
>
> Do you suppose someday someone will try to go backward and get Gore
> elected?
>
No, I really don't believe that Gore losing was a bad thing. I always look
at the long term, and four years is nowhere close to being long term. Bush
may be ultra right-wing, but he can not control the senate, so anything he
does must be beyond partisan lines, and further attacks on the environment
would be political suicide for Bush at this point (meaning an almost
guaranteed victory for the democrats in the next election). Clinton was
notorious for neglecting the environment for most of his 2 terms in office,
and the democrats losing the election because of Ralph Nader's pressence
has, as I previously predicted before the election, forced the democrats to
renew their focus on environmental issues (and many republicans seem to be
more accomidating toward that then before as well). Voting for Nader was
never about this election, it was about sending a message, and the democrats
have quite clearly recieved that message that the environment needs to be
placed in higher priority than it previously was. This is a good thing.
Additionally, over the next decade, we are going to see some very impressive
advances in automobiles, making them much more effecient (and with gas
prices the way they've been, there is much more demand for more efficient
cars), and much less poluting (The Honda Insight, the first hybrid
gas-electric car and most efficient car currently available, is just the tip
of the iceburg, as new technologies advance, we will see even more efficient
cars, cleaner cars). Additionally, solar technology is coming down in price
(slowly, but surely), while non-renewable energy costs are going up, and
soon, it will be more ecconomical to use solar power than to use fossil
fuels for providing
electricity, so that will help shift the ballance to solar power, the least
damaging of all power suplies available to us. I know that it is quite sad
that economic factors are the things that are driving those changes rather
than enlightened self-sacrifice, but as long as it is moving in the right
direction, I will not complain.
> OTOH, the Senate was so UNANIMOUSLY against the Kyoto treaty - even teh
> Democrats - tha itproves money really runs our country.
Actually, I think this is more a product of fear, fear that we could not
meet the terms of the treaty in the time allotted. This is a very
reasonable fear as we are currently the #1 producer of CO2. Bringing CO2
production down without very significant changes (changes that could
seriously damage our economy for a short while, and will likely require
raising taxes, and will cost popularity for all politicians who implemented
such sweeping changes). The changes are happening slowly, the only question
is, "Will the changes happen in time to prevent us from causing serious
damage to ourselves and the world we live in?"
As you can see, I am actually much more optomistic about the future than I
usually seem, but JDG has a habit of bringing out the extremist in me.
> Kristin
>
>
> Yes, I am afraid for the Earth and afraid for myself too, because
> humanity's self destructive path is turning me VERY bitter to the point of
> even saying hateful things - (eg about Texans which if t goes on I'll make
> an enemy out of Julia and that wouldbe baad.) like it is destroying my
> very soul as an individual. Have you read a lot of Sheri Tepper novels?
> It's clear *she* despairs and can't stand her own species.
No, I haven't read her novels. And by the depiction you give, I think I
would rather avoid it. It took a lot to reverse my anger/disgust toward
humans, so the last thing I want to do is read books that will remind me of
that anger/disgust.
> And I hate Bush the more for damaging this list:Bush supporters driving
> others away with their loud conserviative tirades. F***k the Bushes. I
> hope Texas passes a state income tax because it would server George Senior
> RIGHT! (Well that and the federal tax cut would offset each other, right?)
John was like this well before Bush took office. This hasn't changed him
one bit. As for a state income tax in Texas, that is unlikely. Texas
already has a ballanced budget without a state income tax, and a state
income tax would require an amendment to the state constitution, which would
require a vote by Texas citizens, who would not be pleased about a state
income tax (I know all this 'cause I'm from Texas).
> I'm beginning to hate America! This country was FOUNDED by
> Plutocrats! Hey, we make a saint out of George Washington but he married
> money and he was the filthy richest colonist. It was really a few people
> who wantedto protect their all holy property rights.
No country is perfect, and no country is founded for purely idealistic
reasons or by totally idealistic people, but I do know this, if there is one
country
in this world that one could best make a change to benefit the whole world,
this is it. No, I am not just talking about technological/medical advances,
I know that other countries contribute just as much to that. The most
profound way to change the world is to change the way people see the world,
and there are so many media types available in America through which to do
this that can reach the entire world.
> Oh shit, at this rate I am not going to have a friend left, right? First
> renewing (on/off the RFF list) a year old feud with Brin, and then....
>
>
> Something with holes in its spirit...
Your general attitude remind me a lot of me a few years ago. I think the
first thing you have to do is realize that it is not hopeless, nor as close
to the edge as we often believe (when one is afraid of hights the edge
always seems closer than it is). We do need to keep fighting for change,
but if the change doesn't happen overnight, we have to realize that there is
still hope as long as we continue to move toward that change. Also,
something that I realized fairly recently, and has really turned my attitude
around: You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe that one
person (you) can make a change in the world because whether or not you are
aware of it, your actions touch the lives of those around you, and changes
them (I know because I became a vegetarian a few years ago and now my
younger sister is a vegetarian, and the younger of my brothers has
significantly reduced the amount of meat he eats, and I never lectured them
about vegetarianism, I never recommended books to them, they simply saw me
and asked "Why?" I told them it is because I cannot bring myself to kill
animals for food, and as they struggled to understand my reason, they
started to see why themselves).
The Dolphin
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I think I have some animation work to do. Thanks for the reminder. :-)
